Myrtle Beach is a resort city on the east coast of the
United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is located in the
center of a long and continuous 60-mile stretch of beach known as the
"Grand Strand in the northeastern part of the state. It does have
a year-round population.
Myrtle Beach is one of the major centers of tourism in
South Carolina. The city's warm subtropical climate, miles of beaches,
86 golf courses, and 1,800 restaurants attract over 20 million visitors
each year, making Myrtle Beach one of the most visited destinations
in the country.
Located
along the historic King's Highway (modern U.S. Route 17), the region
was once home to the Waccamaw people. During the colonial period, the
Whither family settled in the area, and a prominent local waterway,
Wither's Swash, is named in their honor. Originally called alternately
"New Town" or "Withers", the area was targeted for
development as a resort community by Franklin Burroughs, whose sons
completed a railroad to the beach and the first inn, Seaside Inn. His
widow named the new community Myrtle Beach after the local wax-myrtle
shrubs.
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