Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

File:FGBurroughs.jpg

File:Mbaaf-1943-1.jpg during World War II]]

File:Rainbow_Court_Myrtle_Beach_SC_Jun_10.JPG (built 1935 to 1959), now demolished, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.]]

Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the Long Bay area was inhabited by the historic Waccamaw tribe. The Waccamaw used the river for travel and fished along the shore around Little River. Waties Island, the primary barrier island along Long Bay, has evidence of burial and shell mounds, remains of the visiting Waccamaw.{{Cite web |last=Ben Burroughs |date=29 June 2005 |title=Indian Mounds – Located on Waties Island are several sites that have been identified as mounds built by Native Americans. |url=http://ww2.coastal.edu/ben/other/IndianMounds.pdf |access-date=2 January 2018 |website=2.coastal.edu}}

The first European settlers along Long Bay arrived in the late 18th century, attempting to extend the plantation system outward toward the ocean.Paul H. Voss: Horry County, Mind the H!, page 61, paragraph 7, 1995 Records are sparse from this period, with most of the recorded history pieced together from English colonial land grant documents. These settlers gained mixed results, producing unremarkable quantities of indigo and tobacco, the two major commodity crops. The coast's soil was sandy and most of the crop yields were of inferior quality.

Prior to the American Revolution, the area along the future Grand Strand was essentially uninhabited. Several families received land grants along the coast, including the Witherses: John, Richard, William, and Mary. This family received an area around present-day Wither's Swash, also known as Myrtle Swash or the Eight-Mile Swash. A separate grant was granted to James Minor, including a barrier island named Minor Island, now Waties Island, off the coast near Little River.A. Geff Bedford: The Independent Republic, a Survey History of Horry County, South Carolina, 2nd edition, 1989{{rp|36}}

Mary Withers's gravestone at Prince George Winyah Parish Church speaks to the remoteness of the former Strand: "She gave up the pleasures of Society and retired to Long Bay, where she resided a great part of her life devoted to the welfare of her children."Catherine H. Lewis: Horry County, Mind the H!, page 61, paragraph 8, 1995

As the American colonies gained independence, the area remained essentially unchanged, and the coast remained barren. George Washington scouted out the Southern states during his term, traveling down the King's Highway. He stayed a night at Windy Hill (part of present-day North Myrtle Beach) and was led across Wither's Swash to Georgetown by Jeremiah Vereen.{{rp|51}}

The Withers family remained one of the few settlers around Myrtle Beach for the next half-century. In 1822, a strong hurricane swept the house of R. F. Withers into the ocean, drowning 18 people inside. The tragedy made the Withers family decide to abandon their plots along the coast. Left unattended, the area began to return to forest.{{rp|58}}

The Burroughs and Collins Company of Conway, predecessor of modern-day Burroughs & Chapin, purchased much of the Withers family's land in 1881. The growing community was called "New Town" around the start of the 20th century. A post office named "Withers" was established to serve the site of the old Swash in 1888. On 28 February 1899, Burroughs and Collins received a charter to build the Conway & Seashore Railroad to transport timber from the coast to inland customers. The railroad began daily service on 1 May 1900, with two wood-burning locomotives. One of the engines was dubbed The Black Maria and came second-hand from a North Carolina logging operation.

After the railroad was finished, employees of the lumber and railroad company would take train flatcars down to the beach area on their free weekends, becoming the first Grand Strand tourists.Dr. A. Geff Ballard: The Independent Republic, a Survey History of Horry County, South Carolina, page 128, paragraphs 3, 2nd edition, 1989. The railroad terminus was nicknamed "New Town", contrasting it with the "Old Town", or Conway.

Around the start of the 20th century, Franklin Burroughs envisioned turning New Town into a tourist destination rivaling the Florida and northeastern beaches. Burroughs died in 1897, but his sons completed the railroad's expansion to the beach and opened the Seaside Inn in 1901.{{Cite web |title=Company History - Burroughs & Chapin Company, Inc |url=http://www.burroughschapin.com/AboutUs/CompanyHistory/tabid/143/Default.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124032427/http://burroughschapin.com/aboutus/companyhistory/tabid/143/default.aspx |archive-date=24 November 2010 |access-date=2 January 2018 |website=Burroughschapin.com}}

Around 1900, a contest was held to name the area, and Burroughs's wife suggested honoring the locally abundant shrub, the southern wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera). The Withers post office changed its name to "Myrtle Beach" soon afterward. It incorporated as a town in 1938 and as a city in 1957.{{Cite web |title=City of Myrtle Beach Frequently Asked Questions |url=http://www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/faq.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120409221906/http://www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/faq.html |archive-date=9 April 2012 |access-date=2 January 2018 |website=Cityofmyrtlebeach.com}}

In 1937, Myrtle Beach Municipal Airport was built. It was taken over by the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1940 and converted into a military base. Commercial flights began in 1976 and shared the runway for over 15 years until the air base closed in 1993. Since then the airport has been named Myrtle Beach International Airport. In 2010 plans to build a new terminal were approved. In 1940, Kings Highway was finally paved, giving Myrtle Beach its first primary highway.

The Myrtle Heights-Oak Park Historic District, Myrtle Beach Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Station, Ocean Forest Country Club and Pleasant Inn are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Also listed were the Chesterfield Inn,{{NRISref|version=2010a}} Rainbow Court and the Myrtle Beach Pavilion, all now demolished. The Gay Dolphin Gift Cove on the Boardwalk was built in 1946 and sells seashells and Myrtle Beach souvenirs. It claims to be the "nation's largest gift shop".

{{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=10|id=Q839805|type=shape-inverse|text=Interactive map of Myrtle Beach}}

Myrtle Beach has been separated from the continental United States since 1936 by the Intracoastal Waterway,{{Cite book |last=Lewis |first=Catherine Heniford |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-dUfVeiy4yIC |title=Horry County, South Carolina, 1730-1993 |publisher=University of South Carolina Press |year=1998 |isbn=978-1-57003-207-3 |location=Columbia, South Carolina |pages=xxiii, 192 |format=Google books |access-date=8 February 2009}} forcing the city and area in general to develop within a small distance from the coast. In part due to this separation, the area directly northwest of Myrtle Beach, across the waterway, remained primarily rural for a while, whereas its northeastern and southwestern ends were bordered by other developed tourist towns, North Myrtle Beach and Surfside Beach. Since then, the inland portion of the Myrtle Beach area has developed dramatically.

Myrtle Beach is {{convert|67|mi}} by highway southeast of Florence, South Carolina, {{convert|94|mi}} northeast of Charleston, South Carolina, and {{convert|74|mi}} southwest of Wilmington, North Carolina.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|23.69|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|23.42|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.27|sqmi}} (1.14%) is water.

{{div col|colwidth=12em}}

• Arcadian Shores
• Benton Park
• Booker T. Washington
• Carrie May Johnson
• Carver
• Chestnut Hill
• Dogwood
• Dunes Cove
• East Chester
• Fantasy Harbour
• Forest Acres
• Forest Dunes
• Futrell Park
• Grande Dunes
• Green Bay Park
• Harlem
• Highlands
• Hurl Rocks
• Konig
• Market Common
• Myrtlewood
• Myrtle Heights
• Northwood
• Ocean Forest
• Ocean View
• Old Pine Lakes
• Owens
• Pebble Beach
• Pine Lake Estates
• Pine Lakes
• Plantation Point
• Racepath
• Ramsey Acres
• Seagate Village
• Springmaid Beach
• The Dunes
• Washington Park
• Withers Preserve
• Withers Swash
• Yaupon Circle

{{div col end}}

According to the Köppen climate classification, Myrtle Beach has a humid subtropical climate or Cfa – typical of the Gulf and South Atlantic states. The city enjoys abundant sunshine year-round with more than 2800 hours annually.

File:Beaches of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.jpg.]]

The summer season is long, hot, and humid in Myrtle Beach. Average daytime highs are from {{convert|83|to|91|°F}} and average night-time lows are near {{convert|70|°F}}. The coastal location of Myrtle Beach mitigates daytime summer heat somewhat compared to inland areas of South Carolina: Thus, while nearby Florence averages 65 days annually with high temperatures of {{convert|90|°F}} or higher – Myrtle Beach averages only 21. The Bermuda High pumps in humidity from the tropical Atlantic toward Myrtle Beach, giving summers a near-tropical feel in the city. The warm Atlantic Ocean reaches {{convert|80|°F|°C|abbr=on}} or higher in the summer months off Myrtle Beach, making for warm and sultry summer nights. Summer thunderstorms are common in the hot season in Myrtle Beach, and the summer months from June through September have the most precipitation. In summer, thunderstorms normally build during the heat of the day – followed by brief and intense downpours. On average, September is the wettest month, with August close behind, due to the combination of thunderstorms and tropical weather systems that peaks these months.

Myrtle Beach has mostly mild winters of short duration: Average daytime highs range from {{convert|57|to|61|°F}} and nighttime lows are in the {{convert|36|to|38|°F}} from December through February. Winter temperatures vary more than summer temperatures in Myrtle Beach: Some winters can see several cold days with highs only in the upper 40s F (7–9 °C), while other winter days can see highs in the upper 60s and low 70s F (19–23 °C). Myrtle Beach averages 33 days annually with frost, though in some years less than 15 days will see frost. Snowfall is very rare in Myrtle Beach; however, at least a trace of snow falls a few times each decade. In February 2010, a rare {{convert|2.8|in}} of snow fell in Myrtle Beach.{{Cite web |title=Myrtle Beach gets most snow in 10 years |url=https://www.wbtv.com/story/11980676/myrtle-beach-gets-most-snow-in-10-years |access-date=4 October 2020 |website=wbtv.com |date=13 February 2010 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=US Department of Commerce |first=NOAA |title=Myrtle Beach Snowfall Database since 1940 |url=https://www.weather.gov/ilm/MYRsnowfallDatabase |access-date=4 October 2020 |website=www.weather.gov |language=EN-US}} The spring (March, April and May) and fall (September, October and November) months are normally mild and sunny in Myrtle Beach, with high temperatures in the 60s and 70s. The beach season in Myrtle Beach normally runs from late April through late October. Sea surface temperatures are often in the lower 80's (26–28 °C) off South Carolina in summer and early fall.

The temperature range measured in Myrtle Beach has historically ranged from a record high of {{convert|104|F|C}} on June 26, 1952 and August 5, 1954 to the record winter cold of {{convert|9|F|C}} on February 18, 1958. In spite of the mild winter averages, ice days have been recorded, albeit rarely. The coldest daily maximum was {{convert|25|F|C}} in January 11, 1962 whereas the normal year between 1991 and 2020 had the coldest maximum average of {{convert|37|F|C}}. Overnight lows can be extremely hot and muggy, although the record warm low of {{convert|88|F|C}} on July 12, 1942 is some way above the means of {{convert|81|F|C}} for the warmest annual minimum.

Summer thunderstorms are typically brief, but severe thunderstorms do occur on occasion. Tornadoes are rare, with the most significant event occurring in 2001 when multiple tornadoes touched down in the area. Tropical cyclones occasionally impact Myrtle Beach, though weaker tropical storms and weak tropical lows are more common. Like most areas prone to tropical cyclones, a direct hit by a major hurricane is infrequent in Myrtle Beach. The last hurricane to cause significant damage in Myrtle Beach was Hurricane Hugo in 1989. The worst hurricane in Myrtle Beach's history was Hurricane Hazel in 1954.

{{Weather box

|location = Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1931–present)

|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 81

|Feb record high F = 86

|Mar record high F = 88

|Apr record high F = 92

|May record high F = 99

|Jun record high F = 104

|Jul record high F = 101

|Aug record high F = 104

|Sep record high F = 99

|Oct record high F = 93

|Nov record high F = 86

|Dec record high F = 84

|year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 70.9

|Feb avg record high F = 72.2

|Mar avg record high F = 79.1

|Apr avg record high F = 83.0

|May avg record high F = 90.0

|Jun avg record high F = 92.9

|Jul avg record high F = 95.1

|Aug avg record high F = 93.2

|Sep avg record high F = 90.3

|Oct avg record high F = 84.9

|Nov avg record high F = 78.8

|Dec avg record high F = 73.3

|year avg record high F = 96.4

|Jan high F = 55.5

|Feb high F = 57.8

|Mar high F = 63.7

|Apr high F = 71.5

|May high F = 78.8

|Jun high F = 84.5

|Jul high F = 87.4

|Aug high F = 86.5

|Sep high F = 83.0

|Oct high F = 75.6

|Nov high F = 66.4

|Dec high F = 58.6

|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 44.5

|Feb mean F = 46.6

|Mar mean F = 52.7

|Apr mean F = 61.1

|May mean F = 69.3

|Jun mean F = 76.2

|Jul mean F = 79.5

|Aug mean F = 78.3

|Sep mean F = 74.0

|Oct mean F = 64.7

|Nov mean F = 54.3

|Dec mean F = 47.4

|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 33.6

|Feb low F = 35.5

|Mar low F = 41.8

|Apr low F = 50.6

|May low F = 59.7

|Jun low F = 67.9

|Jul low F = 71.6

|Aug low F = 70.0

|Sep low F = 65.0

|Oct low F = 53.8

|Nov low F = 42.2

|Dec low F = 36.3

|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = 20.9

|Feb avg record low F = 24.8

|Mar avg record low F = 28.6

|Apr avg record low F = 37.5

|May avg record low F = 47.8

|Jun avg record low F = 59.2

|Jul avg record low F = 66.7

|Aug avg record low F = 64.9

|Sep avg record low F = 55.5

|Oct avg record low F = 40.3

|Nov avg record low F = 29.5

|Dec avg record low F = 25.0

|year avg record low F = 19.2

|Jan record low F = 10

|Feb record low F = 9

|Mar record low F = 18

|Apr record low F = 25

|May record low F = 36

|Jun record low F = 48

|Jul record low F = 54

|Aug record low F = 54

|Sep record low F = 43

|Oct record low F = 25

|Nov record low F = 16

|Dec record low F = 10

|year record low F =

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 3.43

|Feb precipitation inch = 3.76

|Mar precipitation inch = 3.71

|Apr precipitation inch = 3.38

|May precipitation inch = 3.80

|Jun precipitation inch = 4.85

|Jul precipitation inch = 6.61

|Aug precipitation inch = 6.27

|Sep precipitation inch = 6.77

|Oct precipitation inch = 4.11

|Nov precipitation inch = 3.06

|Dec precipitation inch = 3.81

|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 inch

|Jan precipitation days = 9.9

|Feb precipitation days = 9.2

|Mar precipitation days = 9.5

|Apr precipitation days = 7.9

|May precipitation days = 9.5

|Jun precipitation days = 10.6

|Jul precipitation days = 12.1

|Aug precipitation days = 11.8

|Sep precipitation days = 10.7

|Oct precipitation days = 8.0

|Nov precipitation days = 8.3

|Dec precipitation days = 10.3

|year precipitation days =

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00386153&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Myrtle Beach, SC

|access-date = September 4, 2023

}}

|source 2 = National Weather Service

{{cite web

|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=ilm

|publisher = National Weather Service

|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Wilmington

|access-date = September 4, 2023

}}

}}

{{Weather box

|location = Myrtle Beach (North Myrtle Beach Airport) 1991−2020 normals, extremes 1999–present

|single line = Y

|collapsed = Y

| Jan record high F = 78

| Feb record high F = 81

| Mar record high F = 88

| Apr record high F = 92

| May record high F = 99

| Jun record high F = 98

| Jul record high F = 101

| Aug record high F = 98

| Sep record high F = 95

| Oct record high F = 91

| Nov record high F = 82

| Dec record high F = 79

|year record high F = 101

|Jan avg record high F = 71.3

|Feb avg record high F = 71.8

|Mar avg record high F = 79.9

|Apr avg record high F = 82.7

|May avg record high F = 90.2

|Jun avg record high F = 93.7

|Jul avg record high F = 94.6

|Aug avg record high F = 92.9

|Sep avg record high F = 90.6

|Oct avg record high F = 86.1

|Nov avg record high F = 78.9

|Dec avg record high F = 74.0

|year avg record high F = 95.7

| Jan high F = 55.7

| Feb high F = 58.2

| Mar high F = 64.7

| Apr high F = 71.8

| May high F = 78.7

| Jun high F = 84.8

| Jul high F = 87.6

| Aug high F = 86.5

| Sep high F = 83.2

| Oct high F = 75.6

| Nov high F = 66.4

| Dec high F = 59.3

| year high F = 72.7

| Jan mean F = 46.2

| Feb mean F = 48.9

| Mar mean F = 55.0

| Apr mean F = 62.5

| May mean F = 70.4

| Jun mean F = 77.5

| Jul mean F = 80.6

| Aug mean F = 79.5

| Sep mean F = 75.5

| Oct mean F = 66.0

| Nov mean F = 56.0

| Dec mean F = 49.6

| year mean F = 64.0

| Jan low F = 36.7

| Feb low F = 39.6

| Mar low F = 45.4

| Apr low F = 53.3

| May low F = 62.1

| Jun low F = 70.3

| Jul low F = 73.7

| Aug low F = 72.5

| Sep low F = 67.7

| Oct low F = 56.3

| Nov low F = 45.6

| Dec low F = 40.0

| year low F = 55.3

|Jan avg record low F = 20.5

|Feb avg record low F = 24.8

|Mar avg record low F = 28.7

|Apr avg record low F = 37.7

|May avg record low F = 48.1

|Jun avg record low F = 60.5

|Jul avg record low F = 65.5

|Aug avg record low F = 66.5

|Sep avg record low F = 57.7

|Oct avg record low F = 40.9

|Nov avg record low F = 29.2

|Dec avg record low F = 25.7

|year avg record low F = 19.1

| Jan record low F = 13

| Feb record low F = 15

| Mar record low F = 21

| Apr record low F = 29

| May record low F = 43

| Jun record low F = 53

| Jul record low F = 59

| Aug record low F = 56

| Sep record low F = 47

| Oct record low F = 30

| Nov record low F = 22

| Dec record low F = 17

|year record low F = 13

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 3.01

| Feb precipitation inch = 3.18

| Mar precipitation inch = 3.59

| Apr precipitation inch = 2.77

| May precipitation inch = 2.96

| Jun precipitation inch = 4.07

| Jul precipitation inch = 5.40

| Aug precipitation inch = 6.25

| Sep precipitation inch = 6.25

| Oct precipitation inch = 4.20

| Nov precipitation inch = 3.29

| Dec precipitation inch = 3.10

|year precipitation inch = 48.47

| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

| Jan precipitation days = 9.8

| Feb precipitation days = 9.3

| Mar precipitation days = 9.8

| Apr precipitation days = 8.4

| May precipitation days = 9.6

| Jun precipitation days = 11.3

| Jul precipitation days = 12.6

| Aug precipitation days = 12.3

| Sep precipitation days = 10.9

| Oct precipitation days = 8.7

| Nov precipitation days = 8.9

| Dec precipitation days = 10.4

|year precipitation days = 122.0

|source 1 = NOAA (mean maxima/minima 2006–2020){{Cite web |title=Station: N Myrtle BCH AP, SC |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00093718&format=pdf |access-date=14 May 2021 |website=U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991−2020) |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration}}

}}

{{US Census population

|1940= 1597

|1950= 3345

|1960= 7834

|1970= 8536

|1980= 18446

|1990= 24848

|2000= 25759

|2010= 27109

|2020= 35682

|estyear=2024

|estimate=40535

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/myrtlebeachcitysouthcarolina|title=QuickFacts: Myrtle Beach city, South Carolina|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 15, 2025}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:45&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=Oct 15, 2022}}

}}

File:Myrtle Beach-Conway-Georgetown CSA.png

Myrtle Beach is the largest principal city of the Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC Combined Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 463,209 in 2023, and includes the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area (Horry County) and the Murrells Inlet, SC Micropolitan Statistical Area (Georgetown County).[https://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/metro_general/2006/List4.txt Metropolitan Statistical Areas And Components] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070526063716/http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/metro_general/2006/List4.txt|date=26 May 2007}}, Office of Management and Budget, 11 May 2007. Accessed 1 August 2008.[https://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/metro_general/2006/List5.txt Micropolitan Statistical Areas And Components] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629011245/http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/metro_general/2006/List5.txt|date=29 June 2007}}, Office of Management and Budget, 11 May 2007. Accessed 1 August 2008.[https://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/metro_general/2006/List6.txt Combined Statistical Areas And Component Core Based Statistical Areas] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629011223/http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/metro_general/2006/List6.txt|date=29 June 2007}}, Office of Management and Budget, 11 May 2007. Accessed 1 August 2008.

As of the 2020 census, there were 35,682 people, 13,817 households, and 7,678 families residing in the city.

At the 2010 census, the population of Myrtle Beach was 27,109.{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census website |url=https://www.census.gov |access-date=14 May 2011 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} At the 2000 census, there were 22,759 permanent residents in Myrtle Beach, 10,413 households, 5,414 families, {{convert|1,356.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}, with 14,658 housing units at an average density of {{convert|873.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.

The city's racial makeup was:

• 72.3% White
• 13.9% Black
• 0.7% Native American
• 1.5% Asian
• 0.3% Pacific Islander
• 8.7% from other races
• 2.7% from two or more races.

Hispanic or Latino residents, of any race, were 13.7% of the population.

Of the total Myrtle Beach population:

• 18.0% were 1–17
• 11.0% were between 18 and 24
• 33.6% were between 25 and 44
• 22.5% were between 45 and 64
• 15.0% were 65 or older
• Median age was 37 years
• 103 males per 100 females overall
• 101 males per 100 females age 18 and over

• Overall median income for a household in the city was $50,173
• Median income for a family was $43,900
• Males had a median income of $26,039
• Females had a median income of $22,473
• The per capita income for the city was $23,214.
• About 7.6% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.1% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

Crime rate levels in Myrtle Beach are high compared to the rest of South Carolina.{{Cite web |title=Myrtle Beach Crime Rates and Statistics - NeighborhoodScout |url=https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/sc/myrtle-beach/crime |access-date=30 July 2018 |website=www.neighborhoodscout.com |language=en}} The FBI reported 583 cases of violent crime in the year 2016, of which 5 were murder, 46 were rape and 139 were robbery. Aggravated assault 348, property crime 4395, burglary 469, larceny theft 3555, motor vehicle theft 371, and arson 10 were also reported.{{Cite news |title=South Carolina |language=en-us |work=FBI |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2016/crime-in-the-u.s.-2016/tables/table-6/table-6-state-cuts/south-carolina.xls |access-date=30 July 2018}}

The average number of crimes per thousand population is 0.16 murders, 1.43 rapes, 4.31 robberies and 10.83 assaults.

The FBI reported 483 violent crimes in 2000, of which 1 was murder and 39 were rapes.{{Cite news |title=Table 8 - South Carolina |language=en-us |work=FBI |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/tables/table-8/10tbl08sc.xls |access-date=30 July 2018}}

Myrtle Beach's economy is dominated by the tourist industry;{{Cite web |title=Horry County South Carolina |url=http://www.sciway.net/cnty/horry.html |access-date=11 August 2015 |website=SCIWAY}} hotels, motels, resorts, restaurants, attractions, and retail developments exist in abundance to serve visitors.

{{See also|Economy of South Carolina#Lowcountry_tourism|List of attractions in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina|label 1=Economy of South Carolina}}

Hosting over 20 million visitors annually,{{Cite web |title=Industry Research |url=https://www.myrtlebeachareacvb.com/industry-research |access-date=3 January 2020 |website=Myrtle Beach Area CVB Partner Connect |language=en-US}} the Grand Strand is home to an array of tourist attractions, and the area receives a large influx of visitors during all seasons. It is estimated that nearly 100,000 visitors a year are international travelers, including tourists from Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom.{{Cite web |title=Myrtle Beach Hotels and Tourism |url=http://www.myrtlebeachschotels.org |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831002250/http://myrtlebeachschotels.org/ |archive-date=31 August 2011 |access-date=2 January 2018 |website=Myrtlebeachschotels.org}}

File:Ocean-ave-myrtle.jpg

Myrtle Beach hosts a variety of special conventions, events, and musical concerts. The area's attractions include its beaches and courses, amusement parks, an aquarium, Legends in Concert, retail developments, shopping complexes and over 1,900 restaurants{{Cite web |title=Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce - MBACC Research & Statistics - 2007 Data & Statistics |url=http://www.myrtlebeachareachamber.com/research/data_and_statistics.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318081722/http://www.myrtlebeachareachamber.com/research/data_and_statistics.html |archive-date=18 March 2009 |access-date=10 March 2009}} including seafood restaurants. The area also has dinner theaters, nightclubs, and many tourist shops. Myrtle Beach has approximately 425 hotels, with many on the beachfront, and approximately 157 accommodation units in total. The area is also home to over 80 golf courses and over 30 miniature golf courses.File:Margate Tower 6-7-17.png Live shows are offered year round at theaters including the Alabama Theatre, Carolina Opry, Asher Theater, Calvin Gilmore Theater, Legends in Concert, and Medieval Times Family Dinner Theater. Several shows offer special holiday themed shows.{{Cite web |title=Myrtle Beach Shows & Theaters |url=https://www.myrtlebeach.com/shows-and-theaters/ |website=myrtlebeach.com}}

The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk opened in 2010 and has been recognized as the nation's #3 boardwalk by National Geographic{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Lorena |date=18 July 2010 |title=Boardwalk buoys business for Myrtle Beach |work=The Sun News |url=http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/07/18/1591600/boardwalk-buoys-business-for-mb.html |url-status=dead |access-date=18 July 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912071638/http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/07/18/1591600/boardwalk-buoys-business-for-mb.html |archive-date=12 September 2012}} and one of the best US boardwalks by Travel + Leisure magazine.{{Citation |last=Orcutt |first=April |title=America's Best Beach Boardwalks |date=1 June 2010 |url=http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/americas-best-beach-boardwalks/ |work=Travel + Leisure |access-date=27 August 2010}} The Myrtle Beach Skywheel opened at the boardwalk in May 2011, and is a {{convert|200|ft|m|adj=on}} observation wheel, similar to a ferris wheel, with glass gondolas that look over the Atlantic Ocean. This is the first wheel of its kind in the U.S. Myrtle Beach State Park, established in 1935, has just under a mile of Grand Strand beach and is a prime location for camping, swimming, hiking, biking, and fishing. Pier 14 by the Boardwalk.

File:Atlantic Ocean shoreline in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.jpg

File:Myrtle_Beach_South_Carolina_100420-F-4155R-026.jpg]]

File:Myrtle_Beach_SkyWheel.jpg]]

File:Splashes_Oceanfront_Water_Park.jpg]]

File:Family_Kingdom_Amusement_Park_3.jpg opened in 1966]]

The Myrtle Beach Convention Center is a large facility that hosts a variety of meetings, conferences, exhibits, and special events every year. The expansive center, which opened in 2003, has a Sheraton hotel and resort.

Each March since 1951 during Ontario's spring break, Myrtle Beach has hosted Canadian-American Days, also known as Can-Am Days. Tens of thousands of tourists flock to the area for a week's worth of special events.{{Cite book |last1=Kimberly Allyson Duncan |url=https://archive.org/details/insidersguidetom0000dunc_g2w6 |title=Insiders' Guide to Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand |last2=Lisa Tomer Rentz |last3=Janice McDonald |publisher=Insiders' Guide |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-7627-4407-7 |edition=9th |page=[https://archive.org/details/insidersguidetom0000dunc_g2w6/page/10 10] |quote=Myrtle Beach Canadian-American Days. |url-access=registration}} Myrtle Beach is also home to Coastal Uncorked, a food and wine festival held in the late spring annually. The city hosts Sun Fun Festival early each June.{{Cite news |date=25 February 2016 |title=Sun Fun Festival returning to Myrtle Beach |work=Myrtle Beach Sun |url=https://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/business/tourism/article62549037.html}} Later in June, Myrtle Beach is a popular destination for recently graduated high school seniors for Senior Week.{{Cite news |last=Bryant |first=Dawn |date=13 June 2002 |title=Senior Week: A blessing, a curse |page=7B |work=Morning Star |agency=Knight Ridder |location=Wilmington, NC |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bMpOAAAAIBAJ&pg=6416,3287832&dq=senior-week+beach&hl=en |access-date=18 February 2013}}

Carolina Country Music Fest (CCMF) is an outdoor country music festival that takes place in June of each year and was founded in 2015 by Charlotte-based company Full House Productions. Due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic the festival wasn't held in 2020, but is scheduled to return in 2021 and take place on 10–13 June 2021.

Myrtle Beach International Airport serves the city and surrounding area. With regular flights to and from destinations such as Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, New York and Washington, the airport is well connected for both domestic and international tourists. It also serves as a seasonal gateway to and from the likes of Chicago, Dallas and Toronto.

The city is between Wilmington, North Carolina and Charleston, South Carolina with U.S. Route 17 serving as the main transport link for those journeying between those cities.

Thongs (or any swimwear revealing any portion of the buttocks) are not permitted in public in Myrtle Beach, including all beaches.{{Cite web |last=City of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina |date=11 June 2013 |title=Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Code of Ordinances >> - CODE OF ORDINANCES >> Chapter 14 - OFFENSES AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS >> ARTICLE V. OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC MORALS >> |url=https://library.municode.com/sc/myrtle_beach/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH14OFMIPR_ARTVOFAGPUMO_S14-83PUEXSPANPAUN |access-date=3 July 2014 |pages=Sec. 14–83. Public exposure of specified anatomical parts unlawful |quote="It shall be unlawful for any person to intentionally appear in any public place in such a state of dress or undress so as to expose to the view of others the human male or female genitals, pubic area, pubic hair, buttocks, anus, vulva or any portion of the female breast at or below the areola thereof." (Ord. No. 2013-28, 6-11-13)}}{{Cite web |last=Myrtlebeach.com |title=Myrtle Beach laws: Swimming / Sun Bathing |url=http://www.myrtlebeach.com/site/pages/myrtle-beach-laws/ |access-date=4 July 2014 |quote="Swimwear is subject to city ordinances in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Surfside Beach. It is illegal for anyone to wear a thong bathing suit."}} Violators of the ban may be arrested, jailed, or fined.{{Cite news |last=WMBF News Staff |date=24 May 2013 |title=Woman arrested in Myrtle Beach for wearing thong |publisher=WMBF-TV |url=http://www.wect.com/story/22414283/woman-arrested-in-myrtle-beach-for-wearing-thong |url-status=dead |access-date=4 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714165256/http://www.wect.com/story/22414283/woman-arrested-in-myrtle-beach-for-wearing-thong |archive-date=14 July 2014 |quote="A North Carolina woman was arrested Friday morning for indecent exposure after officers saw her wearing a thong swimsuit."}}{{Cite news |last=Lee Moran |date=27 May 2013 |title=Woman, 22, arrested for wearing a thong bathing suit at Myrtle Beach |work=NY Daily News |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/woman-arrested-wearing-thong-myrtle-beach-article-1.1355434 |access-date=4 July 2014 |quote="Cops in South Carolina busted a 22-year-old woman for wearing a thong bikini on the beach."}} The city's "thong ordinance" has been in effect since the 1990s.via Associated Press. [http://thetandd.com/news/myrtle-beach-may-adjust-thong-law-toss-warnings/article_e42c0a91-ff25-50e3-98fd-c9d266f7fff6.html "Myrtle Beach may adjust 'thong law,' toss warnings"], Times and Democrat, 10 February 2009. Accessed 24 November 2015. "The Sun News of Myrtle Beach reports that the current so-called 'thong ordinance' requires officers to issue a warning before issuing tickets. Myrtle Beach has banned thongs on the beach for 16 years."

File:Yellow and black and silver Suzukis Black Bike Week 2008.jpg]]

Myrtle Beach Bike Week, also called "Harley Bike Week", is a week-long motorcycle rally first held in 1940, the same year Kings Highway was paved.{{Cite news |title=Myrtle Beach Bike Week 2015 - Myrtle Beach, SC - MyrtleBeach.com |work=MyrtleBeach.com |url=http://www.myrtlebeach.com/myrtle-beach-bike-week/}} The event has attracted as many as 200,000 visitors to the city every May. Black Bike Week, founded in 1980, takes place the weekend around Memorial Day Weekend and is the largest African American motorcycle rally in the US and attracts as many as 400,000 visitors. The event was created in response to a history of discrimination against African-American visitors and riders to Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand Area.{{Citation |last=Gettleman |first=Jeffrey |title=Suit Charges Bias at Rally for Black Bikers |date=21 May 2003 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/21/us/suit-charges-bias-at-rally-for-black-bikers.html?fta=y |work=The New York Times |page=A22 |access-date=31 January 2010}}{{Citation |title= Claims of Bias Cloud an American Dream for Black Bikers |first= Jeffrey |last= Gettleman|date= 25 May 2003 |newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/25/us/claims-of-bias-cloud-an-american-dream-for-black-bikers.html?pagewanted=1|access-date=31 January 2010 |page=122 }}{{Citation |title=First-Wave Feminist Struggles in Black Motorcycle Clubs |access-date=30 January 2010 |url=http://ijms.nova.edu/Fall2009/IJMS_Artcl.Conner.html |journal=International Journal of Motorcycle Studies |date=Fall 2009 |first=M. Shelly |last= Conner}}

The Myrtle Beach government created 15 new laws aimed at preventing all sanctioned motorcycle events within the city in response to controversy including accusations of racism by African-American riders during their event and complaints of lawlessness and poor behavior during all highly attended events. Several lawsuits by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) against Myrtle Beach businesses were settled with agreements that discrimination cease, compensation be given to some plaintiffs, and employees be given diversity training.{{Citation |last=Knight Ridder |title=Myrtle Beach, S.C., resort hotel settles NAACP discrimination lawsuit |date=21 October 2004 |newspaper=Sun News |location=Myrtle Beach, South Carolina |author-link=Knight Ridder}}{{Citation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vGOPa23uAYUC&pg=PA410 |page=410 |title=NAACP: celebrating a century : 100 years in pictures |author1=National Association for the Advancement of Colored People |author2=The Crisis Publishing Co |publisher=Gibbs Smith |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-4236-0527-0 }} The NAACP suit against the City of Myrtle Beach was settled in 2006 without the city paying damages, but with the agreement police would use the same traffic control rules during both the black and the white motorcycle rallies.{{Citation |last=Kruea |first=Mark |title=NAACP Offers to Settle Lawsuit (press release) |date=2 February 2006 |url=http://www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/naacp.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708161223/http://www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/naacp.html |publisher=The City of Myrtle Beach |access-date=12 April 2010 |archive-date=8 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}

The South Carolina Supreme Court in June 2010 unanimously overturned one of the 15 ordinances, which had required all motorcyclists to wear helmets, on the grounds that the state law, requiring helmets only for riders under age 21, cannot be preempted by a city ordinance. In addition, the Court ruled that the ordinance created undue confusion, and that the city itself had invalidated their own helmet law and some other ordinances in a subsequent amendment.{{Citation |last=Harley |first=Bryan |title=S.C. Court Overrules Myrtle Beach Helmet Law |date=9 June 2010 |url=http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/4/7177/Motorcycle-Article/S-C--Court-Overrules-Myrtle-Beach-Helmet-Law-.aspx |work=MotorcycleUSA.com |access-date=14 June 2010}}{{Citation |last=Anderson |first=Lorena |title=Myrtle Beach helmet law quashed; High court backs state standard |date=9 June 2010 |url=http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/06/09/1521080/mb-helmet-law-quashed.html?storylink=mirelated#ixzz0qrIO8v00 |work=Myrtle Beach Sun News |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912185849/http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/06/09/1521080/mb-helmet-law-quashed.html?storylink=mirelated%23ixzz0qrIO8v00 |access-date=14 June 2010 |archive-date=12 September 2012 |url-status=dead}} The law had been challenged by a group of motorcyclists and a group of Myrtle Beach businesses called BOOST, Business Owners Organized to Support Tourism, who opposed the city's anti-motorcycle tourism policy.{{Citation |last=Harley |first=Bryan |title=Court to Rule on Myrtle Beach Helmet Law |date=3 February 2010 |url=http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/4/472/6/Motorcycle-Blog-Post/Court-to-Rule-on-Myrtle-Beach-Helmet-Law-.aspx |access-date=4 February 2010 |archive-date=9 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209032717/http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/4/472/6/Motorcycle-Blog-Post/Court-to-Rule-on-Myrtle-Beach-Helmet-Law-.aspx |url-status=dead}}{{Citation |title=SC high court judge questions motives of MB helmet law |url=http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11765299 |access-date=4 February 2010 |date=3 February 2010 |publisher=WIS News 10 Television |location=Columbia, South Carolina |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609140728/http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11765299 |archive-date=9 June 2011 |url-status=dead }}{{Citation |title=SC Supreme Court hears Myrtle Beach helmet law cases |first=Adam |last=Fogle |date=4 February 2010 |url=http://www.palmettoscoop.com/2010/02/04/sc-supreme-court-hears-myrtle-beach-helmet-law-cases/ |access-date=4 February 2010 |archive-date=20 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420115942/http://www.palmettoscoop.com/2010/02/04/sc-supreme-court-hears-myrtle-beach-helmet-law-cases/ |url-status=dead}}{{Citation |date=4 February 2010 |title=High court hears Myrtle Beach helmet law cases; Justices grill attorneys, hold off on decisions |first=Lorena |last=Anderson |access-date=4 February 2010 |url=http://www.thesunnews.com/news/local/story/1296783.html |newspaper=The Sun News }}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

File:Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.jpg

File:Alabamatheatre.JPG at Barefoot Landing]]

Major shopping malls in Myrtle Beach include:

• Barefoot Landing is an outdoor shopping complex that consists of several divided sections on filled land over top of Louis Lake, next to the Intracoastal Waterway. It contains many stores and attractions such as House of Blues (opened in 1997) and the Alabama Theatre. Opened in 1988.
• Broadway at the Beach is a shopping complex set on {{convert|350|acre|km2}} along the U.S. 17 Bypass surrounding the {{convert|23|acre|ha|adj=on}} Lake Broadway. It is the largest festival entertainment complex in South Carolina.{{Cite web |title=Broadway at the Beach {{!}} Myrtle Beach, SC |url=https://www.visitmyrtlebeach.com/listing/broadway-at-the-beach/244/ |access-date=2022-11-06 |website=www.visitmyrtlebeach.com |language=en-us}}
• Coastal Grand Mall opened in 2004 and is the second largest indoor malls in the state. The mall, which has indoor and outdoor shopping areas, has a gross leasable area of {{convert|1047732|sqft|m2|sigfig=3}}. The single-story facility has five anchor stores (including Sears, Belk, JCPenney, and Dillard's), a 14-screen movie theater, a food court, and roughly 170 stores in total.
• The Market Common is a lifestyle district housing several upscale retail and apartments. It is on the site of the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base.
• Myrtle Beach Mall is {{convert|525385|sqft|m2|sigfig=3}}, and has three anchor stores, Bass Pro Shops, Belk and JCPenney. The single-story mall also has a 12-screen movie theater, a food court, and other specialty stores. It used to be known as Colonial Mall, and was built as Briarcliffe Mall.
• Tanger Outlets is a shopping outlet center. There are two locations, one near Briarcliffe Acres and one near Carolina Forest.{{Cite web |title=Tanger Outlets - Myrtle Beach - Hwy 17, South Carolina |url=http://www.tangeroutlet.com/myrtlebeach17 |access-date=2 January 2018 |website=Tangeroutlet.com}}

File:Pelicans Ballpark.jpg home of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans]]

File:NASCAR Racing Experience 24.jpg]]

The area is home to numerous golf courses and mini-golf courses along the Grand Strand and further inland. Myrtle Beach has been called the "Golf Capital of the World"{{Cite web |last=Howen |first=Vern L. W. |title=Golf Capital of the World |url=http://www.travelworldmagazine.com/contributors/detail.php?ArticleID=607 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217164916/http://travelworldmagazine.com/contributors/detail.php?ArticleID=607 |archive-date=17 February 2009 |access-date=2 January 2018 |website=Travelworldmagazine.com}} because of the roughly 100 golf courses there, the record 4.2 million rounds played, and many miniature golf courses. 3.2 million total rounds of golf were played in 2017, down a "few hundred rounds" from a decade earlier. The number of golf courses more than doubled to over 120 over a 20-year period before declining late in the first decade of the 21st century. Tiger Woods declared Myrtle Beach "the mecca of golf" when visiting in 1997.{{Cite news |last=Bestler |first=Bob |date=13 July 2018 |title=With Woods, economy back, is that a good sign for MB area golf courses? Let's hope so |work=The Sun News |url=https://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/bob-bestler/article214845760.html |access-date=17 July 2018}} The majority of the area's golf courses are public. The Grand Strand is home of "Hootie and the Blowfish Day After the Masters Tournament". Extensive Chinese investment to the Myrtle Beach area golf market has resulted in a significant surge of Chinese tourists to the area and also resulted in 25+ golf courses being owned and/or operated by Chinese nationals.

Some of the notable golf courses and/or resorts include Barefoot Resort & Golf and TPC of Myrtle Beach.

From 1998 to 2009 and again starting in 2011 (no Saturday races were held in 2010 due to snow), the area hosted the Bi-Lo Myrtle Beach Marathon presented by Chick-Fil-A, every February featuring (since 2004) the Friday night Royal Bank of Canada 5K and the Saturday Dasani Half Marathon and Bi-Lo Marathon (from 1998 until 2008, a relay was held but dropped because of the popularity of the other events). Marathon day draws the limit of 6,000 runners annually (2,500 full, 3,500 half) and results usually in an unusual dawn as the race starts before dawn (6:30 am) in order to finish by 2:30 pm.

Myrtle Beach is home to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, a Carolina League baseball team and a Chicago Cubs farm franchise. It was also home to the Myrtle Beach Mutiny, a pro soccer team playing in the Premier Development League until 2018.

Pelicans Ballpark is the home field of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. It opened in 1999. It is the finish point of the Bi-Lo Myrtle Beach Marathon. Pelicans Ballpark is also home of the annual "Baseball at the Beach" collegiate baseball tournament. Hosted by Coastal Carolina University each year, the tournament pits participating NCAA Division I baseball programs in the United States.

NASCAR-sanctioned Stock car racing was held at Myrtle Beach Speedway, a {{convert|.538|mi|m|adj=on}}, semi-banked, asphalt-paved oval track lon US 501. Drivers in the Late Model classes will compete (against those of Greenville-Pickens Speedway) for the South Carolina Championship in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. South Carolina Champions' scores will be calculated against other state and provincial champions for a continental championship.

It hosted the 2010 UOA Nationals where 8 collegiate ultimate teams from 5 conferences will be represented.

The city of Myrtle Beach has a council-manager government.{{Cite web |title=Myrtle Beach Form of Government |url=http://www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/govinfo.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906214517/http://www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/govinfo.html |archive-date=6 September 2017 |access-date=5 February 2017 |website=The City of Myrtle Beach}} The Mayor sits as a Council member-at-large and presides over City council meetings. If the Mayor cannot preside over a City Council meeting, the Mayor Pro-Tem is the presiding officer of the meeting until such time as the Mayor returns to the seat. The City Manager is responsible for the administration and the day-to-day operation of all of the municipal services and city departments. The City Manager also maintains intergovernmental relationships with federal, state, county and other local governments. The city of Myrtle Beach reformed into a council-manager government system in 1974 under the administration of Mayor Bob Hirsch and city manager David Stradinger, who moved away from the city's former strong-mayor form of government.{{Cite web |last=Prabhu, Maya T. |date=10 March 2013 |title=Former Myrtle Beach mayor reflects on establishment of a professional government |url=http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/article16643870.html |access-date=5 February 2017 |website=Myrtle Beach Sun News}}

Brenda Bethune is the mayor of Myrtle Beach. She has served since 2018.{{Cite web |title=Mayors of Myrtle Beach, SC |url=http://www.hchsonline.org/officials/mayormb.html |access-date=5 February 2017 |website=Horry County Historical Society |archive-date=19 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419123950/http://www.hchsonline.org/officials/mayormb.html |url-status=dead }}

Myrtle Beach is served by a single public school district. Horry County Schools educates around 40,000 students and is the third largest school district in South Carolina.

Below is a list of private schools and charter schools within or near the city of Myrtle Beach.

{{Div col}}

• Bridgewater Academy (K–8)
• Coastal Leadership Academy (9–12)
• Calvary Christian School (PK–12)
• Chabad Academy (PK–7)
• Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach (K–12)
• Holy Trinity Catholic School (PK–5)
• Myrtle Beach Seventh-Day Adventist Christian School (K–8)
• North Myrtle Beach Christian School (PK–12)
• Risen Christ Christian Academy (PK–12)
• St. Andrew Catholic School (K–8)
• St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic High School (6–12)
• St. Michael Catholic School (K–8)
• Valorous Academy (PK–12)

{{Div col end}}

Myrtle Beach has the following college and post-secondary schools:

{{Div col}}

• Golf Academy of America
• Palmetto School of Career Development – Myrtle Beach campus
• Horry-Georgetown Technical College – Myrtle Beach campus (main campus in Conway)
• Webster University – Myrtle Beach campus

{{Div col end}}

The Grand Strand and Florence, South Carolina, share a common defined market by Nielsen Media Research in Horry, Marion, Dillon, Darlington, Marlboro, Scotland, Robeson, and Florence counties. Two major stations are licensed to Myrtle Beach: NBC affiliate WMBF-TV 32 and Fox affiliate WFXB 43. Myrtle Beach is also served by PBS member stations WHMC/WJPM-TV 23/33, licensed respectively to Conway and Florence, and two commercial stations licensed to Florence: CBS affiliate WBTW 13 (with MyNetworkTV on DT2) and ABC affiliate WPDE-TV 15, (with The CW on 15.2). WBTW has moved most of its operations to Myrtle Beach, while WPDE is now based in Conway.

The Myrtle Beach area is served by the following full power FM radio stations:

Weather Radio Frequencies: 162.4, 162.5, 162.55

AM Radio Rrequencies: 900, 1050, 1200

The Sun News has traditionally been the largest daily paper published along the Grand Strand, with a readership base extending from Georgetown, South Carolina, to Sunset Beach, North Carolina. The paper has been in existence since the 1930s and was formerly published by Knight Ridder before that company was bought by The McClatchy Company. Like many newspapers, the paper has declined in recent years due to shifts in readership and financial pressures at its parent company. It stopped local printing operations and downsized its newsroom in May 2020.{{Cite web |title=The Sun News moving to new Myrtle Beach, SC, location |url=https://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/article227252949.html |access-date=1 December 2020 |website=MyrtleBeachOnline.com}}

Myrtle Beach is also served by The Myrtle Beach Herald, a weekly newspaper that is part of the Waccamaw Publishers group. The Herald also produces a newspaper targeted at tourists called Visit!.

In 2020, Charleston-based The Post and Courier set up an official bureau in Myrtle Beach, after years of attempting to move into the market and purchasing The Georgetown Times, which it merged with the new operation.{{Cite web |last=Masuda |first=Nick |title=Welcome to The Post and Courier Myrtle Beach |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/myrtle-beach/welcome-to-the-post-and-courier-myrtle-beach/article_50ac2dc0-d2d3-11ea-9c6b-0fe76108853c.html#:~:text=Starting%20Aug.,Post%20and%20Courier%20Myrtle%20Beach.&text=Welcome%20to%20the%20new%20Post,covering%20the%20entire%20Grand%20Strand |access-date=1 December 2020 |website=Postandcourier.com}}

Grand Strand Medical Center (GSMC) is a 369-bed acute care hospital and Level 1 Adult Trauma Center known for its programs in cardiology, heart surgery, and stroke treatment. It was opened on 21 April 1978 to succeed the former Ocean View Memorial Hospital (1958-1978), the first major hospital in Myrtle Beach. GSMC contains the only cardiac surgery and neurosurgery programs in the greater Myrtle Beach area and was a recipient of the Healthgrades 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery in 2012 and 2013. As a teaching hospital, Grand Strand Medical Center is the home of ACGME accredited residency training programs (internal medicine, general surgery, emergency medicine, and family medicine), and hosts rotating medical students from the University of South Carolina and Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM). Over 270 physicians and 1,400 staff serve at the facility.{{Cite web |title=Profile: Grand Strand Medical Center |url=https://www.schospitaljobs.com/hospital-profiles/view?id=540 |access-date=22 April 2018 |archive-date=23 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423102206/https://www.schospitaljobs.com/hospital-profiles/view?id=540 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |title=Welcome From Our Program Director |url=https://mygrandstrandhealth.com/gme/emergency-medicine/ |access-date=19 July 2018 |publisher=Grand Strand Health}}

File:Myr-marketcommon-commerce.jpg was once the location of Myrtle Beach AFB.]]

Myrtle Beach International Airport is a county-owned public-use airport {{convert|3|mi|spell=in}} southwest of the central business district of Myrtle Beach. It was formerly known as Myrtle Beach Jetport (1974–1989) and is on the site of the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. The {{convert|11500|sqft|adj=on}} general aviation terminal, opened in May 2010, is located on the opposite side of the airport on Airdrome Street, near The Market Common. The terminal replaced a building previously used as base operations for the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base.{{Cite web |author=Continuous News Desk Staff |date=May 21, 2010 |title=Myrtle Beach Airport celebrates new general aviation terminal |url=https://scnow.com/news/local/myrtle-beach-airport-celebrates-new-general-aviation-terminal/article_85e96597-812c-5c45-9d64-4c0a23851364.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=February 22, 2024 |website=SCNow |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Airport Information |url=http://www.myrtlebeachaviation.com/airport-information/index.html |access-date=February 22, 2024 |website=Myrtle Beach Aviation}}{{Cite web |title=MYR History |url=http://www.myrtlebeachaviation.com/military-service/index.html |access-date=February 22, 2024 |website=Myrtle Beach Aviation}}

The Waccamaw Coast Line Railroad is a {{convert|14.1|mi|adj=on}} short-line railroad division of the Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad,{{Cite web |title=07/13/2001 - Decision - 31983 |url=http://www.stb.dot.gov/decisions/ReadingRoom.nsf/WEBUNID/49AB8944EA286EE985256A84005B9330?OpenDocument |access-date=2 January 2018 |website=Stb.dot.gov}} extending from a connection with the Carolina Southern Railroad, another division of that company, at Conway to Myrtle Beach. The line was opened in 1900 by the Conway Coast and Western Railroad, a predecessor of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad.Interstate Commerce Commission, 38 Val. Rep. 503 (1932): Valuation Docket No. 930, Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company et al. The Seaboard System Railroad sold the line to Horry County in November 1985, and it was operated by the Horry County Railway until October 1987, when the WCLR took over.Edward A. Lewis, American Shortline Railway Guide, 5th Edition, Kalmbach Publishing, 1996, pp. 324, 357 The Carolina Southern Railroad acquired the WCLR in September 1995, and since then it has been a division of the Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad.Railroad Retirement Board, [http://www.rrb.gov/pdf/bcd/bcd98-20.pdf Employer Status Determination: Waccamaw Coastline Railroad, Inc.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060923044012/http://www.rrb.gov/pdf/bcd/bcd98-20.pdf |date=23 September 2006 }}, 1998 Horry County owns the line but leased it to the Carolina Southern Railroad in 2000.

Carolina Southern Railroad is a short line rail operator running on less than {{convert|95|mi|km}} of rail at a maximum speed of {{cvt|10|mi/h|km/h}}. It transports mostly freight brought to it from national rail operators. The company makes one scheduled delivery per month into the City of Myrtle Beach.{{Cite web |title=Archived copy |url=http://carolinasouthernrailroad.com/sun_news_trains.pdf |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008222709/http://carolinasouthernrailroad.com/sun_news_trains.pdf |archive-date=8 October 2011 |access-date=4 November 2011}} It is off of Main Street in Conway, South Carolina, and is one of the few remaining train depots in South Carolina. It has been painstakingly restored to its former glory and the Carolina Southern Railroad has become one of the frequent destinations for freight services as well as passenger cars and observational locomotives. The railroad was originally erected in late 1886 and the first train steamed into the Conway Depot in December 1887.

The Carolina Southern Railroad stands as a permanent landmark in Southern History. Carolina Southern Railroad is a member of the Carolina Rails system with connections that run from Whiteville, North Carolina, to Mullins, South Carolina, and also from Chadbourn, North Carolina, to Conway. Carolina Southern railroad is also responsible for operation of the Waccamaw Coast Line Railroad, which is a railway that runs from Conway to Myrtle Beach.

On August 30, 2011, Carolina Southern Railroad voluntary shut down because several bridges along the rail were overdue for maintenance. The shutdown caused Carolina Southern Railroad to lay off nearly all of its employees. On May 24, 2012, the Federal Railroad Administration commenced a bridge inspection on the CSR and the Waccamaw Coastline Railroad (the Horry County portion of rail). Fifty-two of 187 bridges were inspected and seven had critical defects. On May 26, 2011, the CSR voluntarily ceased operation, so that they could bring in a certified bridge engineer to inspect the seven critical bridges and prepare a plan for their repairs. Based on the engineer's recommendations, CSR made the necessary repairs on the bridges and CSR resumed operations August 8, 2011. The FRA returned to inspect the bridges and made a recommendation that CSR cease operations until all bridge repairs were completed.{{Cite web |title=Horry County South Carolina and Carolina Southern Railroad Infrastructure Project 2012 |url=http://www.horrycounty.org/depts/finance/cdbg/Narrative.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516150335/http://www.horrycounty.org/depts/finance/cdbg/Narrative.pdf |archive-date=16 May 2012 |access-date=9 October 2012}} There are efforts to bring the railroad back online.{{Cite news|last=Jones|first=Steve |date=2 November 2011 |title=Horry County seeking $20 million for rail system upgrades |work=The Sun News |url=http://www.thesunnews.com/2011/11/02/2478397/horry-county-seeking-20-million.html |access-date=3 November 2011}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Cite news|date=30 December 2011 |title=TIGER grant efforts fall short for Carolina Southern Railroad |work=WMBF News|url=http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/16416301/tiger-grant-efforts-fall-short-for-carolina-southern-railroad |access-date=7 September 2012}}{{Cite news |last=Gable |first=Paul |date=13 February 2012 |title=I&R Committee Hears Railroad Update |work=Grand Strand Daily |url=http://grandstranddaily.com/ir-committee-hears-railroad-update/ |access-date=7 September 2012}}{{Cite web |last=Gable |first=Paul |title=The Carolina Southern Railroad Problem |url=http://schotline.us/solving-the-carolina-southern-railroad-problem/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005015643/http://schotline.us/solving-the-carolina-southern-railroad-problem/ |archive-date=5 October 2012 |access-date=9 October 2012}}{{Cite news |last=Cartrette |first=Nicole |date=25 July 2012 |title=Railroad passed over again for TIGER grant |work=The News Reporter-Whiteville |url=http://www.whiteville.com/news/railroad-passed-over-again-for-tiger-grant/article_ab159718-d58b-11e1-818c-0019bb2963f4.html |url-status=dead |access-date=9 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730040154/http://www.whiteville.com/news/railroad-passed-over-again-for-tiger-grant/article_ab159718-d58b-11e1-818c-0019bb2963f4.html |archive-date=30 July 2012}}{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Steve |date=29 September 2012 |title=Conway-based railroad's future under scrutiny |work=The Sun News |url=http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2012/09/29/3085445/conway-based-railroads-future.html |url-status=dead |access-date=30 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025105221/http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2012/09/29/3085445/conway-based-railroads-future.html |archive-date=25 October 2012}}{{Cite web |title=Carolina Southern Railroad FreightRail and Bridge Revitalization Project -Cost Estimate |url=http://www.horrycounty.org/depts/finance/cdbg/AppendA.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516150954/http://www.horrycounty.org/depts/finance/cdbg/AppendA.pdf |archive-date=16 May 2012 |publisher=Horry County Government}}{{Cite news |last=Biance |first=Heather |date=8 October 2012|title=Efforts alive to get Carolina Southern RR back on track |work=WMBF-TV |url=http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/19760255/happening-today-getting-the-carolian-southern-rr-back-on-track |access-date=8 October 2012}}{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Drew |title=Horry, Marion and Columbus leaders want rail service back |url=http://www2.wbtw.com/news/grand-strand-wbtw/2012/oct/08/horry-marion-and-columbus-leaders-want-rail-servic-ar-4711085/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209022502/http://www2.wbtw.com/news/grand-strand-wbtw/2012/oct/08/horry-marion-and-columbus-leaders-want-rail-servic-ar-4711085/ |archive-date=9 February 2013 |access-date=10 October 2012 |publisher=WBTW News 13}}{{Cite web |last=Rocky |first=Dohmen |title=Railroad funding in #MYR could help with "real" jobs (Update: Three Counties, Two states, committee meets) |url=http://myrtlebeach.thedigitel.com/politics/railroad-funding-myr-could-help-real-jobs-37265-0827 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102045945/http://myrtlebeach.thedigitel.com/politics/railroad-funding-myr-could-help-real-jobs-37265-0827 |archive-date=2 November 2012 |access-date=10 October 2012 |publisher=The Digital Myrtle Beach}}

In 2015, railroad operator RJ Corman acquired the former CSR line and re-opened it freight service in early April 2016.{{Cite web |date=29 February 2016 |title=Rail line connecting NC and Myrtle Beach area to open soon |url=http://wncn.com/2016/02/28/rail-line-connecting-nc-and-myrtle-beach-area-to-open-soon/}}

File:Myrtle Beach Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Station 01.JPG]]

Until 1955 the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad ran passenger rail service from the Myrtle Beach Station to Chadbourn, where a connection could be made to interstate ACL train service.Official Guide of the Railways, December 1954, Atlantic Coast Line section, Tables 37, 46Atlantic Coast Line timetable, 17 June 1955, freight only on the line

File:CarolinaBaysPkwy22.jpg serves as a bypass for a majority of the Grand Strand.]]

• {{Jct|state=SC|I-Future|73}}
• {{Jct|state=SC|I-Future|74}}
• {{Jct|state=SC|US|17}}
• {{Jct|state=SC|US-Bus|17|dab1=Myrtle Beach}}
• {{Jct|state=SC|US|501}}
• {{Jct|state=SC|SC|31}}
• Farrow Parkway
• Grissom Parkway
• Harrelson Boulevard
• Ocean Boulevard

Within the last decade, new roads have been created to ease congestion caused by the yearly influx of visitors. Most of these roads follow the Metro Loop Road Plan, organized in 1997 to improve the traffic flow of Myrtle Beach. Some of the roads included have either been funded through Road Improvement Development Effort (RIDE I) funding or through the City of Myrtle Beach.

RIDE II plans include the third phase of SC 31, a graded separation of Farrow Parkway and US 17 Bypass at the back gate of the former Air Force base, and many other projects. The county is debating where to allocate the $400 million generated through a proposed 1-cent sales tax.{{Cite web |last=Urich |first=Justin |date=2009-02-24 |title=One-cent local option sales tax to affect Myrtle Beach condo rentals March 2009 |url=https://www.condolux.net/vacations-blog/2009/02/24/one-cent-local-option-sales-tax-to-affect-myrtle-beach-condo-rentals-march-2009/ |access-date=2022-11-06 |website=Myrtle Beach Vacations |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=October 22, 2022 |title=Everything Horry residents need to know about the penny sales tax referendum on the ballot |url=https://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/education/article267471948.html |access-date=November 6, 2022 |website=The Sun News}} Other road projects in Horry County, including some in Aynor and Conway, will be included when voted upon.

Plans exist for Myrtle Beach to be served by two interstates, I-73 and I-74. The Robert Edge Parkway will connect I-74 to downtown North Myrtle Beach.

Myrtle Beach is served by the Coast RTA and the Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority.{{Cite web |title=Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority: Be Transported |url=http://www.pdrta.org/ |access-date=2 January 2018 |website=Pdrta.org}}

• Sigmund Abeles, American figurative artist
• Ryan Arambula, soccer player{{Cite news |last=McKinnon |first=Max |date=July 11, 2015 |title=Arambula using time with Myrtle Beach Mutiny to fuel senior season at South Carolina |url=https://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/sports/college/article27010267.html |access-date=December 26, 2024 |work=The Sun News}}
• Meher Baba, spiritual master who said he was the Avatar of the age and established the Meher Spiritual Center near Myrtle Beach. He remained silent from 1925 until his death in 1969.
• Steve Bailey, bassist
• Madison Iseman, actress
• Robert H. Brooks, founder of Naturally Fresh, Inc. and Hooters of America chains
• Dusty Button, ballet dancer
• Shane Carruth, filmmaker
• Brandon Frye, former NFL player, drafted by the Houston Texans
• Everett Golson, active CFL quarterback and starting quarterback for Notre Dame team that played in the 2013 BCS National Championship Game
• Anthony James, character actor in films and television
• Dustin Johnson, PGA Tour player (attended Coastal Carolina University)
• Ewa Laurance, professional billiards player
• Elliot Levine, keyboardist and member of Heatwave{{Cite web |title=Elliot Levine – Sugar Honey Iced Tea |url=https://www.cultuurmania.com/music/music-2023 |access-date=September 7, 2023 |website=www.cultuurmania.com |language=nl}}
• Clint Newton, rugby league player for the Penrith Panthers
• Nancy O'Dell, television Personality
• Hunter Renfrow, NFL wide receiver and return specialist for the Las Vegas Raiders
• Brian Rutenberg, American painter
• Ramon Sessions, NBA player for the Washington Wizards
• Kelly Wearstler, interior designer and judge on Bravo's Top Design

{{SisterCities|Myrtle Beach|five}}{{Cite web |title=Interactive City Directory |url=http://www.sister-cities.org/interactive-map/Myrtle%20Beach,%20South%20Carolina |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820123248/http://www.sister-cities.org/interactive-map/Myrtle%20Beach,%20South%20Carolina |archive-date=20 August 2014 |access-date=11 March 2014 |website=Sister Cities International}}

• {{flagdeco|Canada}} Burlington, Ontario, Canada
• {{flagdeco|United Kingdom}} Keighley, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
• {{flagdeco|Argentina}} Pinamar, Argentina
• {{flagdeco|Ireland}} Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland
• {{flagdeco|Israel}} Tiberias, Israel{{Cite web |title=Myrtle Beach signs sister city agreement with Tiberias, Israel |url=http://wpde.com/news/local/myrtle-beach-signs-sister-city-agreement-with-tiberias-israel |access-date=2 January 2018 |website=Wpde.com|date=18 September 2015 }}

• List of municipalities in South Carolina

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

{{Wikivoyage|Myrtle Beach}}

• {{osmrelation|193842}}
• {{Official website|http://www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com}}

{{Geographic Location

| Centre = Myrtle Beach

| North = Carolina Forest
Grissom Parkway

| Northeast = Briarcliffe Acres
US 17

| East = Atlantic Ocean

| Southeast = Atlantic Ocean

| South = Atlantic Ocean

| Southwest = Surfside Beach
U.S. Route 17 Bus.

| West = Socastee
SC 707

| Northwest = Conway
US 501

}}

{{Grand Strand transportation}}

{{Grand Strand}}

{{Horry County}}

{{South Carolina}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in South Carolina

Category:Myrtle Beach metropolitan area

Category:Seaside resorts in the United States

Category:Populated coastal places in South Carolina

Category:Cities in Horry County, South Carolina

Category:Beaches of South Carolina