Hello everyone. I was doing some research on the history of Myrtle Beach and found this article. I was going to take multiple sources and consolidate them. The article (below), I found to be short, well written and very informative. I found it at
http://www.visitmyrtlebeach.com/ . I hope you enjoy it!
Legendary History Of The Grand Strand (Myrtle Beach)The Myrtle Beach area and the Grand Strand have a storybook history. Indeed, dozens of books have been written about the long-lost Indian tribes, colorful pirates, and roaming ghosts. But, for the most part, these stories have been shared orally, told and retold over hundreds of years, generation after generation. Not surprisingly, the stories change over time, as different
story tellers add their own embellishments. As a result, there are many different versions of the same tale. However, this hasn't diminished the importance of these tales to our local culture, or the enjoyment of hearing, reading, or re-telling them.
Early History. The ares first inhabitants were the
Waccamaw and
Winyah Indians, who named the region
Chicora, Meaning "The Land". King's Highway, a major
thoroughfare through the Myrtle Beach area, began as an Indian trail, long before Europeans settled along the Grand Strand. Later this trail became the route
from the northern states to Charleston and Savannah. These first inhabitants are the subject of the oldest and perhaps most elusive stories. While much has been written about the Native Americans, documented facts about local tribes in the Myrtle Beach area are scarce. Physical evidence of their existence and way of life has been more forthcoming, as arrowheads, pottery, and other artifacts continue to turn up.
Spanish Settlement.Early attempts by European explorers to settle along the Grand Strand were disastrous. Spaniard Lucas
Vasques de Allyon founded the first colony in North America here in 1526, but the settlement was ravaged by disease, and the inhabitants perished within the first year.
English Settlement and Colonial History.A new chapter in the area's history and lore was introduced after English colonists settled in the area. Suddenly, goods and supplies
needed to be imported and exported across the ocean. By the 1700's scores of pirates had taken to the high seas to intercept cargo vessels and make off with the goods. The South Carolina coastal waters were especially productive for pirates. The coves and inlets along the Grand Strand provided great hiding places for these marauders. Pirates who became local legends
include Edward Teach, called Black Beard because of his coal-black beard, and Drunken Jack, who was left behind on an island with a huge stash of stolen rum. Drunken
Jack was rumored to have died with a smile on his face. Meanwhile, in 1730 English colonists formed Prince George Parish and laid out plans for Georgetown, the states 3rd oldest city. Surrounded by rivers and marshlands, Georgetown became the center of America's rice empire.
Initial Development.Until the 1900's, the
beaches of
Horry County were virtually uninhabited due to the county's geographical inaccessibility and poor economy. Near the turn of the century, the Burroughs & Collins Company (now known as Burroughs and
Chapin), a timber/turpentine firm with extensive beachfront holdings, began developing the Myrtle Beach area as a resort. In 1901, the company built the beach's first hotel, The Seaside Inn. At that time, oceanfront lots sold for $25, and buyers received an extra lot if they built a house valued at $500 or more. Previously known as Long Bay, Withers, or Withers Big Swamp, the fledgling beach community was simply called "New Town", until the
Horry Herald sponsored a contest to officially name the area. Mrs. F.E. Burroughs, wife of the founder of Burroughs & Collins, won with the name "Myrtle Beach", which she chose for the many wax myrtle trees growing wild along the shore.
Further Development and Expansion.In the 1920's, a group of businessmen began building an upscale resort called
Arcady, at the north end of the community.
Arcady featured the present Pine Lakes International Country Club, home of the
Strand's first golf club and birthplace of the magazine Sports Illustrated, as well as the legendary Ocean Forest Hotel. Several major developments took place along the Grand Strand during the 1930's and 1940's. In 1936 the
Intracoastal Waterway was opened to pleasure boats and commercial shipping. During the 1940's an Air Force base was established and used for training and coastal patrols during World War II. The base was closed in 1993. The Myrtle Beach Pavilion was built in 1949, and the historic band organ and carousel were installed in 1954. Myrtle Beach was incorporated in 1938 and became a
city in 1957.
Hurricane Hazel & Reconstruction.In 1954, Hurricane Hazel demolished buildings and trees along the Grand Strand, clearing the way for new hotels and homes.During the rebuilding phase of the 1960's, a golf boom began, with new courses being built each year. The number of golf courses now totals around 115.
Modern History & Development.The Myrtle Beach Convention Center, which houses the official South Carolina Hall of Fame, opened in 1970. During the 1970's, new construction in the area topped 75 million, and the permanent population tripled. In the 1970's and 1980's construction of attractions, homes, retail shops and other
amenities increased steadily, paving the way for another boom in the 1990's. The Grand Strand currently attracts millions of visitors and thousands of new residents to the area each year.
I have lived in Myrtle Beach since 1996 and have seen drastic changes, both good and bad. One of the nice things (for me) is that the city offers most things you find in a major city, but 2o minutes away you can find rural areas that can remind you of where you came from. I hope all of you can find enjoyable things to do as you live/visit in the Myrtle Beach area.
Hope all is well with you and yours, God Bless, Hug a Vet. or Soldier, Sugar.
ere on the coast of the Carolina's.
ere on the coast of the Carolina's.
