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Myrtle Beach
North Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach was incorporated as a town in 1938 and became a city in 1957. Its name comes from the wax myrtle, a shrub that grows abundantly in the area. Our 25,000 permanent residents welcome millions of visitors to this full-service resort community. Guests come to enjoy the wide beaches, the Atlantic Ocean, and an incredible range of activities, entertainment, golf, shopping and dining.
History records that the first tourists here were a party of Spaniards from Hispaniola, who landed about 50 miles north of present-day Myrtle Beach in 1526 and eventually established the first European settlement in the U.S. about 30 miles to the south. That settlement, San Miguel de Cauldape, was abandoned the following year, though, and the group returned to Hispaniola.
In the next three centuries, the region's population grew, but slowly. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, people began to "vacation" here, although it was quite rustic. Houses and camps were sparse, and there were only few permanent residents at the turn of the century. But, drawn by the ocean, sand and trees, people began to call Myrtle Beach "home" as the 1900s progressed.
Today, Myrtle Beach is a well known destination for vacationers from around the country, Canada and abroad. According to the 2000 Census, the city is at the heart of the 13th fastest growing metropolitan area in the U.S. Our 800 staff members are dedicated to being "First in Service" and are ready to provide assistance and answer your questions at any time.
City of Myrtle Beach website
Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce website
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North Myrtle Beach
The North Myrtle Beach community is one of strength and character. It was originally inhabited by the Winyah and Waccamaw Indians. These Indians called the area “Chicora,” meaning “the land.” The Spanish were next to explore the North Myrtle Beach area as early as 1514, with Blackbeard’s pirates inhabiting the bays and inlets in the 1700s. The Cherry Grove Beach area used to house flourishing indigo plantations; however, due to insufficient means to reach the North Myrtle Beach area, most of the beach remained uninhabited until 1900 when the first railroad was created by the Burroughs & Chapin families. The county North Myrtle Beach is located in, Horry County, was named after a wealthy plantation owner and Revolutionary War General, Peter Horry.
The North Myrtle Beach area has a rich heritage and has come a long way in developing itself into a top tourist destination today. As both economic trends and the needs of the North Myrtle Beach area transform and change, you can be certain that the area’s heritage will remain just as important as the future growth of the North Myrtle Beach community. Planned and sustainable growth will make for a community which will remain committed to strong character and increasing profitability.
North Myrtle Beach Chamber
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