North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

North Myrtle Beach
—  Resort City  —
City of North Myrtle Beach
Seal
Location of North Myrtle Beach in South Carolina
Coordinates: 33°49′20″N 78°40′52″W / 33.82222°N 78.68111°W / 33.82222; -78.68111Coordinates: 33°49′20″N 78°40′52″W / 33.82222°N 78.68111°W / 33.82222; -78.68111
Country	United States
State	South Carolina
County	Horry
Government
– Mayor	Marilyn Hatley
Area
– Total	13.5 sq mi (35.0 km2)
– Land	13.0 sq mi (33.8 km2)
– Water	0.5 sq mi (1.2 km2)
Elevation	7 ft (2 m)
Population (2000)
– Total	10,974
– Density	841.5/sq mi (324.9/km2)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
– Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes	29582, 29597, 29598
Area code(s)	843
FIPS code	45-51280[1]
GNIS feature ID	1251574[2]
Website	www.n-myrtle-beach.sc.us

North Myrtle Beach is a coastal resort city in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. It was created in 1968 from four existing municipalities north of Myrtle Beach, and serves as one of the primary tourist towns along the Grand Strand. The population was 10,974 at the 2000 census.

Geography

North Myrtle Beach is located at 33°49′20″N 78°40′52″W / 33.82222°N 78.68111°W / 33.82222; -78.68111 (33.822216, -78.680974).^[3] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.5 square miles (35.0 km²), of which, 13.0 square miles (33.8 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.2 km²) of it (3.48%) is water.

The area is divided into four separate areas based on its former municipalities. These are Windy Hill, Crescent Beach, Ocean Drive, and Cherry Grove, a spit bordering North Carolina. Atlantic Beach, which lies inside of North Myrtle Beach, chose to remain its own town during the merger.

The current city government has pursued a policy of growth through annexation and in October 2008 annexed 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²) that resulted in the city extending from the North Carolina state line to the city limits of Myrtle Beach.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 10,974 people, 5,406 households, and 3,130 families residing in the city. The population density was 841.6 people per square mile (324.9/km²). There were 18,091 housing units at an average density of 1,387.5 per square mile (535.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.50% White, 2.31% African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 1.06% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.36% of the population.

There were 5,406 households out of which 15.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.5% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.1% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.03 and the average family size was 2.53.

In the city the population was spread out with 13.8% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 32.8% from 45 to 64, and 21.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,787, and the median income for a family was $46,052. Males had a median income of $30,189 versus $22,119 for females. The per capita income for the city was $27,006. About 5.1% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.

Neighborhoods

• Cherry Grove
• Crescent Beach
• Ocean Drive Beach
• Windy Hill Beach

Schools

• North Myrtle Beach Primary School (K-1)
• North Myrtle Beach Elementary School^ (2-3)
• North Myrtle Beach Intermediate School^ (4-5)
• North Myrtle Beach Middle School^ (6-8)
• North Myrtle Beach High School^ (9-12)

^In neighboring Little River, South Carolina

Government

North Myrtle Beach adheres to the Council-Manager form of government. The current mayor is Marilyn Hatley. The current council members are Terry White (Mayor pro tempore), J.O. Baldwin, Robert Cavanaugh, Greg Duckworth, Hank Thomas, and Doris Williams. The current City Manager is Michael Mahaney.

On May 7, 1968, the SC Legislature passed legislation incorporating the four towns of Cherry Grove, Ocean Drive Beach, Crescent Beach and Windy Hill into one city – the City of North Myrtle Beach. The city's celebration of its 40th anniversary is recorded in article entitled 'North Myrtle Beach celebrates forty years of incorporation'.

Notable natives

• Kelly Tilghman - Golf Channel broadcaster & PGA tours first female lead golf announcer.
• Vanna White - Television personality known for co-hosting Wheel of Fortune (US game show)

Transportation

Road

• S.C. Hwy. 9
• U.S. Route 17
• S.C. Hwy. 31
• S.C. Hwy. 65
• S.C. Hwy. 90
• Robert Edge Parkway

Air

North Myrtle Beach is home to a single terminal, the Grand Strand Airport, serving primarily banner planes and small aircraft. The airfield is located in the heart of the city. The airport generates over $10.1 million in local economic output.

Bus

North Myrtle Beach is serviced by the Coast RTA, formerly Waccamaw RTA or Lymo.

Adjacent towns and communities

(In order of location)

• Atlantic Beach
• Briarcliffe Acres
• Little River

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
3. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 

External links

• North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce
• South Carolina Wildfires Spread - NYTimes.com
• North Myrtle Beach news and information
• North Myrtle Beach Times