North Myrtle Beach is a city in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. It was created in 1968 from four existing municipalities, and is located about 15 miles (24 km) northeast of Myrtle Beach. It serves as one of the primary tourist destinations along the Grand Strand.
In 1737, William Gause obtained a grant to 250 acres (100 ha) of land near Windy Hill Beach. He farmed the area and also established a tavern for travelers along the Kings Highway.[8]
North Myrtle Beach was created in 1968 with the consolidation of Cherry Grove Beach, Crescent Beach, Ocean Drive Beach, and Windy Hill Beach.[9]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.7 square miles (45.8 km2), of which 17.1 square miles (44.3 km2) are land and 0.62 square miles (1.6 km2), or 3.39%, are water.[10]
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 is bordered on three sides by North Myrtle Beach, chose to remain its own town during the merger.
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 18,790 people, 7,558 households, and 4,583 families residing in the city.
2000 census
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 10,974 people, 5,406 households, and 3,130 families residing in the city. The population density was 841.6 inhabitants 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 distribution by age was 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.
Arts and culture
North Myrtle Beach has a public library, a branch of the Horry County Memorial Library.[13]
Government
North Myrtle Beach adheres to the Council-Manager form of government. The current mayor is Marilyn Hatley. The current council members are J.O. Baldwin (Mayor pro tempore), Bubba Collins, Trey Skidmore, Nikki Fontana, Hank Thomas, and Fred Coyne. The current City Manager is Michael Mahaney.
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.[14]
Bus
North Myrtle Beach is served by the Coast RTA, formerly Waccamaw RTA or Lymo.
