Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is located on the Atlantic Coast in Horry County. It is the accepted center of the Grand Strand, a string of beach towns and islands stretching from Little River to Georgetown, South Carolina.

Prior to the arrival of European settlers, the area was inhabited by the Waccamaw people. They used the river for travel and as a food source. Signs of the Waccamaw still exist today in the form of shell mounds, or possibly burial mounds located on Waites Island, the main barrier island of Long Bay.

Prior to the American Revolution, the islands along Long Bay were basically uninhabited. However, the Withers Family, John, Richard, William and Mary, did obtain a land grant for the very remote area that would become the Grand Strand. During this time, James Minor received a land grant for Minor Island, now called Waites Island, near Little River.

It wasn’t until the late 1700s that settlers arrived in hopes of establishing a plantation in the area. Due largely to the type of soil in the area, crops were a failure with small amounts of indigo and tobacco produced. Other crops were generally of such low quality that they were considered unmarketable.

The Withers Family remained in the desolate area for over fifty years. In 1822, Richard Withers lost his home when a hurricane destroyed it, killing eighteen persons who were inside. With this tragedy, the Withers Family decided to abandon their homestead and nature began to reclaim it.
Mary Withers is buried in the Prince George Winyah Episcopal Church in Georgetown, South Carolina. The inscription on her tombstone reads, “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.”

The area remained remote, almost inaccessible throughout the Civil War. Following the Civil War, F.G. Burroughs and the Conway Lumber Company purchased most of the abandoned land in the area then known as Withers Swash. In time, the lumber company built the Conway and Seashore Railroad for the purpose of moving timber inland from the coast.

As the lumber company employees from Conway came into the area to harvest trees, they discovered a great place to spend the day or week at the beach. In this manner, the area began to be known as a resort area with the lumbermen as its first tourists. In time, the Withers Post Office was opened there. The lumbermen nicknamed the area at the end of the railroad track, “New Town”. The sons of F.G. Burroughs extended the railroad down to the beach, where they opened the Seaside Inn in 1901. The area began to attract newcomers.

In 1937 an airport was built, but it was taken over by the government for use as a military base during World War II. Today, it is Myrtle Beach Municipal Airport.

In 1940, the Kings Highway was paved, allowing easier access to the area.

Finally in 1957, it was incorporated. In a contest to pick a name for the town, F.G. Burroughs’ wife suggested that the wax myrtle shrub, which was abundant in the area, be used. The newly-incorporated town was named, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Since that time, Myrtle Beach has grown as a beach resort, first attracting tourists from neighboring states and now attracting visitors worldwide. It is estimated that ten million tourists visit Myrtle Beach each year.