Grand Strand: Carolina Bays Parkway in Horry County

Growth in eastern Horry County and northeastern Georgetown County has been driven by the development of the 60-mile long stretch of beach known as the Grand Strand. From Pawleys Island and Winyah Bay at its southern tip to Little River along the North Carolina border, this offers some of the widest stretches of beaches along the Atlantic and some of the most beautiful vistas, scenic river bluffs and ever-changing marshes along the Intracoastal Waterway.

Although Pawleys Island was one of our country's first vacation spots and Murrells Inlet is the state's oldest fishing village, most of the growth in the Grand Strand did not occur until the first part of the 20th century. In 1912, F.A. Burroughs partnered with New York stockbroker S.G. Chapin to create a resort and land development opportunity known as Myrtle Beach Farms, Inc., changing what had been commonly known as Long Bay to Myrtle Beach for the myrtle trees growing along the coast. After initial dreams to attract the rich and famous were destroyed by Hurricane Hazel in 1954, the area became known for its ability to offer an inexpensive beach vacation for working-class families.

Through the 1980's Myrtle Beach grew with small hotels, a boardwalk, amusement park, and a few regional attractions. Once again change would come with a hurricane. In 1989, Hurricane Hugo hit the South Carolina coast. After which Myrtle Beach promoted less neon and more of its natural beauty with more than 100 golf courses and new development focused along the marsh. What once was a retreat for a few hundred thousand blue-collar families now welcomes more than 12 million visitors annually, who have helped to make the Grand Strand the nation's second-ranked golf destination after Florida.

With more than 15 percent of all beach visitors over the age of 65, the Grand Strand's relatively inexpensive housing and low crime now hosts a growing retirement community. In 1998, U.S. Housing Markets reported that the Myrtle Beach area was second in the nation for per capita housing construction. In the past three years both The Wall Street Journal and Money Magazine have listed Myrtle Beach as one of the top spots in America for retirement. In that same time period, gross retail sales have grown over a billion dollars. The area also has more than 75 manufacturing companies taking advantage of its trained workforce. With one of the fastest-growing airports in the country and two new industrial parks to be opened in the next few years, PARTNERS Economic Development Corporation for Horry County is on it way to meeting goals for economic diversification.

Courtesy www.dot.state.sc.us