Families began to visit Myrtle Beach more than a century ago. Myrtle Beach was sparsely populated until 1908, when a railroad was built between Conway and Myrtle Beach. The railroad ended in 1899 in the locale of Pine Island, and was extended four miles into the future city. The Pavilion, as well as the Seaside Inn, were built in today's downtown.
The natural beauty of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina has always enticed visitors Throughout the 1930s, the city grew to include areas as far north as present-day Ocean Forest. The Ocean Forest Hotel was built about this time (which was demolished in 1974). The Intracoastal Waterway began construction several years later. Almost a year later, the city was incorporated as a town in 1938 and became a city in 1957. Its name was derived from the wax myrtle shrub that grows throughout the area.
In the 1960s, northern development in what was unincorporated Horry County began to develop, with the newly formed communities of North Myrtle Beach and Briarcliffe Acres. Myrtle Beach continued to grow, and by the 1970s, had become well associated with tourism. Parts of what is now US 17 Bypass were built later in the decade. The building boom along the Grand Strand began in the late 1970s, with many suburbs of Myrtle Beach such as Surfside Beach and North Myrtle Beach. The areas surrounding Myrtle Beach continue to thrive and grow as more families are relocating to the area from the Midwest and Northeast.
Areas just south of Myrtle Beach, like Pawley's Island and Murrell's Inlet, have interesting histories to themselves; far different than that of Myrtle Beach. These communities for centuries were known for their fishing boats and large fishing industry. These areas are historically known to have been favorite hideaways for pirates, including Black Beard himself, but have flourished into successful communities for residents and tourists alike.
Leave a comment