LEXINGTON COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA

Transcription

2005-2010 Consolidated Plan
Community Profile
PART THREE. COMMUNITY PROFILE
A. Overview
Based on 2000 Census figures, Myrtle Beach now anchors the 13th fastest growing
metropolitan region in the United States. The City of Myrtle Beach, along with the cities of
Conway and Georgetown, are the primary urban centers in the three-county Waccamaw
region that includes Horry, Georgetown and Williamsburg Counties. Myrtle Beach is the
most populous city within Horry County, which is one of South Carolina’s fastest growing
counties and the largest in land area. The County’s growth rate of more than 36% over the
last decade significantly outpaced the statewide average of only 15% for the same period –
giving Horry the second highest increase of all 46 counties. This rapid population growth
has been accompanied by an unprecedented demand for land, housing, and infrastructure.
Rising development pressures and a growing housing market – prompted in large part by
the continued influx of retirees and expansion of the Grand Strand as a year-round tourist
destination – have consequently fueled increases in housing and land costs.
Sustained population growth and a steady rise in housing costs have also contributed to a
housing market in which some residents – such as the elderly, low income, minorities,
disabled, and other populations with special needs – are more likely to experience
challenges in finding and maintaining affordable, safe and convenient housing options.
Map 3-1 delineates the Consolidated Planning area, including the City of Myrtle Beach, the
Myrtle Beach Housing Authority (MBHA) Service Area, neighboring municipalities and
communities, and major features such as highways.
City of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
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Community Profile
Map 3-1. Municipalities, Communities and Major Features
City of Myrtle Beach and the MBHA Service Area
No
rth
701
Horry County
C
ar
ol
in
SC
re
tu
17
US
22
1
50
905
SC
Fu
9
US
US
SC
a
US 378
US
MBHA Service
Area
SC 544
1
50
kwy
Bay s P
ina
rol
a
C
US
US
70
1
US
17
17
Future
Surfside
Beach
Georgetown
County
North
Myrtle Beach
Atlantic Beach
Briarcliffe Acres
17
Myrtle
Beach
US
7 07
SC
90
n
SC
tic
n
ea
c
O
At
la
Co nway
US Highways
SC Highways
AI Study Area
City of Myrtle Beach
Neighboring Municipalities
Outside of Study Area
The City of Myrtle Beach includes more than 16 square miles and stretches along a 10-mile
uninterrupted beachfront within the Myrtle Beach Housing Authority’s service area. The
MBHA service area encompasses most of a linear urban area that parallels the Atlantic
Ocean from the Little River community at the North Carolina border southward to the
Georgetown County line at Garden City and Murrell’s Inlet. The MBHA service area covers
the eastern third of Horry County – the State’s largest county in land area and slightly
larger in land area than the State of Rhode Island.
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Community Profile
1. Government Structure
The City of Myrtle Beach operates under a Council-Manager form of government, in which
the City Council sets policy and hires a full-time professional City Manager as chief
executive officer to oversee day-to-day operations of the City and its staff. The sevenmember City Council includes six council members and a mayor, all elected at-large and for
staggered terms. All members of Council, including the Mayor, vote equally on all matters
before the Council. The City Council also appoints numerous boards, commissions and
committees to assist with the work of governing the City. Immediately after election to
Council, the members elect one member of their body as a Mayor Pro Tempore to serve as
such for two years. The Mayor Pro Tempore acts as Mayor during the absence or disability
of the Mayor, and in the event that the Mayor leaves office, serves in that capacity until a
successor is elected. In addition to oversight of day-to-day operations of the City, the City
Manager provides administrative oversight to the City’s 12 Department Directors. The
City of Myrtle Beach employs more than 800 staff and provides a complete range of
traditional municipal functions including police and fire protection, water and sewer
service, solid waste and recycling collection, planning and zoning services, and parks and
recreational opportunities.
2. City of Myrtle Beach Today
Myrtle Beach is at the heart of the tourism-rich 60-mile stretch of the South Carolina coast
known as the Grand Strand. Myrtle Beach incorporated as a town in 1937 and became a
city less than 20 years later in 1957. The City is now the County’s largest in terms of both
land area and population. The Grand Strand and Myrtle Beach have emerged as a major
tourist center, drawing more than 13.7 million visitors annually from around the nation
and abroad to enjoy the temperate weather, beaches, and a wide range of entertainment
and recreation opportunities. One-fourth (25%) of Horry County’s employment is tourismrelated. The County leads the State in tourism income, employment, lodging and visitor
spending. Long known as a golf destination, more than 4.2 million rounds of golf are played
on the 120 golf courses throughout the area annually. Myrtle Beach was named by the
Travel channel as the Best Family Beach and one of the nation’s top overall beaches. The
area is ranked the second most popular summer vacation destination by AAA, surpassed
only by Orlando, Florida, and followed by Washington, DC, and Niagara Falls, and
Williamsburg, Virginia.
City data shows that the Myrtle Beach area has experienced significant economic and
population growth since 1990. This growth is evidenced in the construction of several
major mixed-use retail, lodging and entertainment developments that include Broadway at
the Beach, Seaboard Commons, the baseball stadium, the Grande Dunes residential
development, and Coastal Grande Mall. The area now offers visitors and residents alike a
wide variety of accommodations that offer more than 72,400 rooms, more than 300 outlet
stores, more than 1,700 full service restaurants, and live entertainment in 8 theaters.
However, as the hub of a coastal resort destination, the Myrtle Beach area experiences
dramatic seasonal fluctuations in population. Renters must compete with vacationers for
housing and residents must seek rewarding employment within a predominantly tourist
economy that is characterized by service jobs at or just above minimum wage. Seasonal
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Community Profile
population swings contribute to temporary jobs with little to no benefits or opportunities for
advancement. Homelessness is also a concern as people are drawn to the area by the
attractive climate and the perceived promise of work, yet find themselves without adequate
or permanent wages to afford housing.
B. Demographics
Socio-economic data provide a necessary foundation for effective community development
needs assessment and planning efforts and help local decision-makers and service providers
develop a clear picture of the human characteristics of the community. Information such as
the number of residents, along with their race, age composition, and family status; income
and employment data; health and public safety statistics; household characteristics; and
information on educational attainment and other related factors are instrumental in
guiding the development of relevant policies, programs and services to meet the housing
and associated needs of low income and special populations.
1. Population
Horry County is the 6th fastest growing county in South Carolina, experiencing a 36%
population increase from 1990 to 2000. This rate of population growth is nearly double the
statewide growth rate during the same decade. The Myrtle Beach Metropolitan Statistical
Area (MSA) includes all of Horry County and is projected to be the second fastest growing
urban area in the United States over the next decade. Horry County is the largest county
in the South Carolina in land area and had a total estimated population in 2003 of more
than 210,000 residents. However, this permanent population swells to more than 400,000
to 500,000 during the height of the tourist season. As one of the most popular coastal
destinations in the US, the area attracts more than 13.7 million visitors annually.
The City of Myrtle Beach is the State’s 15th largest municipality and the largest
municipality in the County with an estimated permanent, year-round population in 2003 of
23,691 residents. The Myrtle Beach Housing Authority service area includes a significant
portion of the urbanized area, excluding the municipalities of Conway, Briarcliffe Acres,
Atlantic Beach, and North Myrtle Beach. The total 2000 population for the MBHA service
area at the census block level is 120,720 residents. The population of the Census tracts
that include the MBHA service area as shown in Map 3-2 is 140,387 and includes portions
of several Census tracts that extend outside the MBHA Service Area into other jurisdictions
including the City of Conway.
As shown in Table 3-1, the City of Myrtle Beach experienced a slight decline in population
from 1990 to 2000, while the County grew by 36% during the same time frame. However
estimates provided by Claritas, a national marketing information resources firm, project a
16.8% population increase within the City of Myrtle Beach from 2000 to 2009 – lower than
the projected growth countywide at 18.5% but significantly higher than projected growth
statewide of only 10.8%.
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Community Profile
Table 3-1. Population Growth and Projections, 1990 to 2009
City of Myrtle Beach, Horry County and South Carolina
Jurisdiction
Myrtle Beach
1990
24,848
2000
22,759
% Change
1990-2000
-8.4%
Horry County
144,053
196,629
36.5%
233,038
18.5%
3,486,703 4,012,012
15.1%
4,446,240
10.8%
South Carolina
2009
Projected
26,587
% Change
2000-2009
16.8%
Source: US Census, 2000 and Claritas, 2005.
Map 3-2 illustrates the population distribution within the MBHA Service Area. The
Census 2000 tracts with highest density are located mostly within the City of Myrtle Beach
and surrounding communities east of the Intracoastal Waterway and along the Highway 17
corridor. This area includes tracts 504, 505, 506, 507, and 509, along with tract 512
(Surfside Beach) and tracts 513, 51401, 515 that fall outside the incorporated area. The
tracts with lowest density are concentrated in the northern half of the MBHA Service Area
to the west and east of Conway and west of the City of Myrtle Beach to include tracts 301,
60202, 603, and 701.
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Community Profile
Map 3-2. Population Density (Persons per Square Mile), 2000
City of Myrtle Beach and the MBHA Service Area (Census Tracts)
Horry County
301
N
or
th
701
301
401
701
402
603
403
MBHA Service
Area
60401
601
603
1
50
60201
51
40
1
51602
At
la
an
ce
O
c
nti
504
505
509
515
510
51
40
2
51601
503
60202
502
402
404
405
405
601 60402
C
ar
ol
in
a
506 Myrtle
507 Beach
508
511
512
513
Georgetown County
Population Density
56 - 200
201 - 600
601 - 1,500
1,501 - 2,622
Myrtle Beach
MBHA Service Area
Source: US Census, 2000.
As shown on Map 3-3, the tracts with higher growth rates over the last 10 years have been
hot growth areas for residential development. The areas that posted population losses are
in the vicinity of the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. These areas contained many
military families living off base, who relocated to other air bases when the installation
closed in 1993. Also, a high percentage of these military families were young families with
children, creating an average number of persons per household that was higher than the
2.4 persons per household city-wide. The Census tracts (based on 1990 Census tract areas)
with the greatest growth rate during the decade include 603 and 516 at more than a 100%
population increase, followed by tracts 301, 401, 501, 514, 602, and 604 that posted a 50%
to 100% increase. The tracts with the lowest growth rates included 508 (all within the
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Community Profile
City), 510 (within the City and including the former Air Base) and 511 (a significant
portion within the City).
Map 3-3. Population Growth, 1990-2000
City of Myrtle Beach and the MBHA Service Area (1990 Census Tracts)
Horry County
301
No
rth
301
701
401
402
701
403
603
MBHA Service
Area
604
C
ar
ol
in
a
603
404
405
604
405
503
402
502
A
ean
Oc
c
nti
tla
601
602
504
505
506 Myrtle
509
507
515
516
501
510
514
512
513
Georgetown County
511
Beach
508
Percent Change
-73.3 - 0%
0.1 - 50%
50.1 - 100%
100.1 - 194%
Myrtle Beach
MBHA Service Area
Source: US Census, 1990 and 2000.
Table 3-2 lists each Census tract located entirely or partially in the MBHA Service Area.
The tracts with the highest growth rate – tract 516 with 194% and tract 603 with 100.7% –
significantly outpaced most of the other tracts. The tracts experiencing population loss all
included portions of the City of Myrtle Beach – tract 510 (within the City and including the
former Air Base) with a -73.3% growth rate, tract 511 (mostly within the City) with a -18%
rate, and tract 508 (all within the City) with a -2.2% growth rate.
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Community Profile
Table 3-2. Population Growth, 1990-2000
City of Myrtle Beach* and the MBHA Service Area (1990 Census Tracts**)
Census
1990
2000
Tract Population Population
30100
3,338
5,625
40100
6,556
12,738
40200
2,536
3,428
40400
2,950
3,417
40500
3,487
3,777
50100
1,547
2,650
50200
909
1,475
50300
2,304
2,534
50400
3,917
4,328
50500
3,945
4,568
50600
3,538
3,705
50700
1,386
1,442
50800
941
920
50900
4,883
5,312
51000
5,493
1,467
51100
1,247
1,022
51200
3,815
4,127
51300
3,523
4,396
51400
8,254
13,528
51500
8,905
12,204
51600
3,370
9,909
60100
2,947
4,373
60200
4,521
8,353
60300
3,569
7,163
60400
6,302
11,750
70100
4,617
6,176
Total
*98,800
*140,387
% Change
1990-2000
68.5%
94.3%
35.2%
15.8%
8.3%
71.3%
62.3%
10.0%
10.5%
15.8%
4.7%
4.0%
-2.2%
8.8%
-73.3%
-18.0%
8.2%
24.8%
63.9%
37.0%
194.0%
48.4%
84.8%
100.7%
86.4%
33.8%
42.1%
* Shaded rows indicate tracts that are included (all or part) in the City of Myrtle Beach.
** Population totals are for Census tracts and include areas outside of the MBHA Service Area.
Source: US Census, 1990 and 2000.
2. Age
Due its warm climate and coastal amenities, the Grand Strand region has become a
relocation magnet for retirees. The Myrtle Beach area was named as one of the 100 Best
Retirement Towns in America by Where to Retire magazine. Continued marketing efforts
to attract this population, along with continued growth in housing developments designed
for this market segment, will fuel the continued in-migration of older residents. Most of
these senior residents are financially able to afford area housing.
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Community Profile
The City of Myrtle Beach, MBHA Service Area, and Horry County have an older population
than the State as a whole. Horry County significantly outpaced both the State and the
nation in the growth in population aged 55 and older over the last decade, with an increase
of nearly 60%. The 65 and older segment grew by more than 62%, with the number of
residents between 65 and 74 growing by nearly 4 times the State rate. This demographic
shift is expected to continue as a dramatic increase of 85% to 115% is expected in the age
group including residents aged 65 and over by 2025.
Within the City of Myrtle Beach, 15% of residents are aged 65 and older – slightly lower
than the percentage within the MBHA Service Area at 16.1%, equal to that of the County
and higher than the percentage statewide of only 12.1%. The percentage of residents
between the ages of 45 and 64 in the City approaches 23%, which is nearly equal to the
percentage statewide but lower than the MBHA Service Area at 25.5% and the County at
25%. Less than one-fifth of residents in the City (18%) and the MBHA Service Area (19.7%)
are under 17 years compared to more than one-fourth (25.2%) of State residents within this
age group.
Table 3-3. Age Characteristics, 2000
City of Myrtle Beach, MBHA Service Area (Census Tracts), Horry County & S.C.
Age
Total
17 yrs & under
18 to 24
25 to 44
45 to 64
65 yrs & over
MBHA Area Horry County South Carolina
Myrtle Beach
#
%
#
%
#
%
#
%
22,759 100.0% 140,387 100.0% 196,629 100.0% 4,012,012 100.0%
4,095 18.0% 27,670 19.7% 41,929 21.3% 1,009,641 25.2%
2,502 11.0% 13,020
9.3% 18,421
9.4% 407,851 10.2%
7,637 33.6% 41,321 29.4% 57,623 29.3% 1,185,955 29.6%
5,112 22.5% 35,781 25.5% 49,186 25.0% 923,232 23.0%
3,413 15.0% 22,592 16.1% 29,470 15.0% 485,333 12.1%
The median age for Horry County residents mirrors the national trend towards an aging
population. Median age in Myrtle Beach rose by 5.6 years to nearly 37 years from 1990 to
2000 – surpassing the State median of 35.4 years. The Horry County median rose by 4.5
years to 38.3 years.
Table 3-4. Median Age, 1990 and 2000
Jurisdiction
1990
2000
Myrtle Beach
31.3
36.9
Horry County
33.8
38.3
South Carolina
32.0
35.4
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Community Profile
As detailed in Map 3-4, the highest median age in the MBHA Service Area is found in
tracts 401, 402 (one-half in North Myrtle Beach), 405 (more than one-half in North Myrtle
Beach), 502, 503 (mostly in the City), 511 (small portion in the City), 513, 51401, and
51602. Tracts with the lowest median age include 301, 506 and 510 (within the City and
including the former Air Base), 515, 51601, 60201, and 60202.
Map 3-4. Median Age, 2000
Horry County
301
N
or
th
701
301
C
ar
ol
in
a
401
701
402
603
403
MBHA Service
Area
60401
601
603
60202
50
60201
509
515
40
2
510
51
51601
51
40
1
51602
503
511
512
513
1
502
At
an
ce
O
tic
l an
504
505
506 Myrtle
507 Beach
508
404
405
405
601 60402
402
Median Age
29.5 - 34 years
34.1 - 36 years
36.1 - 45 years
45.1 - 60 years
Myrtle Beach
MBHA Service Area
Georgetown County
3. Race
The City of Myrtle Beach has a predominantly Caucasian population with more than 81%
white, 12.7% black, 4.7% Hispanic, and 1.4% other races. A slightly higher percentage of
the residents of the MBHA Service Area are Caucasian (85.8%), while percentages of other
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Community Profile
racial groups are slightly lower. The racial composition of Horry County is similar to the
City, with 81% white, 15.5% black, 2.6% Hispanic and 0.9% other races. The State of South
Carolina reflects a higher minority composition with a statewide average of 67.2% white,
29.5% black, 2.4% Hispanic and 0.9% other races.
Table 3-5. Racial Composition, 2000
City of Myrtle Beach, the MBHA Service Area and Horry County
Race
Total
White
Black
Hispanic
Other
Myrtle Beach
#
%
22,759 100.0%
18,472
81.2%
2,903
12.7%
1,062
4.7%
322
1.4%
MBHA Area
#
%
120,720
100.0%
103,626
85.8%
12,350
10.2%
3,247
2.7%
1,497
1.2%
Horry County
Number Percent
196,629
100.0%
159,363
81.0%
30,468
15.5%
5,057
2.6%
1,741
0.9%
South Carolina
Number Percent
4,012,012
100.0%
2,695,560
67.2%
1,185,216
29.5%
95,076
2.4%
36,160
0.9%
As shown in Map 3-5, portions of the MBHA Service Area with higher minority
concentrations are primarily located west of Myrtle Beach in the unincorporated areas west
of the Waterway and northeast of the City of Conway in tracts 301 and 603 (small portion
in the City), as well as in the southern portion of the City of Myrtle Beach in tract 506. The
tracts with the lowest percentage of minority residents include 501 (significant portion in
the City), 503 (mainly in the City), 511 (small portion in the City), 512 (Surfside Beach),
513 and 51401.
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Community Profile
Map 3-5. Percentage Minority Population, 2000
Horry County
301
N
or
th
701
301
401
701
402
603
403
MBHA Service
Area
60401
601
603
60202
1
50
60201
At
504
506 Myrtle
507 Beach
508
40
2
510
51
51
40
1
51602
502
n
ea
Oc
c
ti
lan
505
509
515
51601
503
402
404
405
405
601 60402
C
ar
ol
in
a
511
512
513
Georgetown County
Percent Minority
2.1 - 5.0%
5.1 - 15.0%
15.1 - 39.0%
39.1 - 61.2%
Myrtle Beach
MBHA Service Area
Although Horry County’s African-American population grew from 1990 to 2000 by more
than 5,300, the City’s African-American population declined by nearly 600 residents. The
Caucasian population in Horry County grew during the same time period, but also dropped
within the City of Myrtle Beach by more than 2,300 residents. However, both the County
and the City experienced a significant increase in the Hispanic population during the past
decade, with the Hispanic population nearly tripling, rising by 400% in the County and
nearly 300% in the City of Myrtle Beach.
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Community Profile
Table 3-6. Change in Racial Composition, 1990-2000
City of Myrtle Beach and Horry County
Race
Total
White
Black
Hispanic
Other
Myrtle Beach
1990
2000
Change
24,848
22,759
-2,089
20,801
18,472
-2,329
3,499
2,903
-596
382
1,062
680
166
322
156
Horry County
1990
2000
Change
144,053
196,629
52,576
117,098
159,363
42,265
25,160
30,468
5,308
1,259
5,057
3,798
536
1,741
1,205
The majority of County and City residents are not life-long members of the community. In
2000, 96% of Horry County residents and 91.6% of Myrtle Beach residents were US natives,
compared to 97.1% of South Carolinians who were US natives. Only 47.2% of County
residents who were natives to the United States were also born in South Carolina,
compared to only 38.2% of Myrtle Beach residents who are both US and South Carolina
natives.
Table 3-7. Place of Birth, 2000
Myrtle Beach
Place of Birth
Total
Native to US
Number
22,607
Percent
100.0%
Horry County
Number
196,629
South Carolina
Percent
100.0%
Number
4,012,012
Percent
100.0%
20,703
91.6%
188,823
96.0%
3,896,034
97.1%
South Carolina
7,911
38.2%
89,197
47.2%
2,568,954
65.9%
Different State
12,488
60.3%
97,812
51.8%
1,293,518
33.2%
294
1.4%
1,814
1.0%
33,562
0.9%
1,904
9.2%
7,806
4.0%
115,978
2.9%
Outside of US
Foreign Born
4. Educational Attainment
Educational attainment is a key indicator of future earnings potential. A large portion of
the region's incumbent workforce now needs a minimum of 14 years of education to be
successful in an increasingly technology-driven economy. For example, the lifetime
earnings for a college graduate with a bachelors degree is nearly $1 million greater than
that of a high school graduate. In a typical working lifetime, a high school graduate will
earn $1.1 million for a lifetime of work; a college graduate will earn $2.1
million; a graduate degree holder will earn $2.5 million; and an individual with an
advanced professional degree, such as a doctor or lawyer, can earn an average of $4.4
million.
Unemployment is also lower for individuals having higher degrees. At the national level,
US Department of Labor data indicate that residents with no high school diploma
experience an unemployment rate of nearly 7%, while adults with a two-year associate
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Community Profile
degree had a rate of only 2.3% and those with a bachelor’s degree had a rate of less than
2%.
This explains in large part why, despite sustained economic growth in Horry County and
Myrtle Beach, a number of area residents continue to face formidable barriers to increased
job opportunity due to lower educational achievement levels, lower functional literacy, and
lack of advanced education and training. For the many residents lacking postsecondary
training, especially women and minorities, local jobs are limited to lower-wage, lower-tech
employment that offers limited security, benefits, and advancement opportunities. Without
the successful completion of high school, followed by pursuit of advanced education and
training in higher demand occupations, significant numbers of residents will be restricted
to less-secure, minimum wage jobs.
Annual earnings also increase across literacy levels. The National Institute for Literacy
(NIFL) estimates that 20% of Horry County’s population is at the lowest proficiency level
(Level 1) and that 50% of the total population is only at Level 1 or 2. Adults at Level 1
proficiency are severely limited in reading ability – they can not fill out a job application,
read a food label, or even read a story to their child. Individuals at Level 2 can perform
more difficult reading tasks than Level 1 and can compare, contrast, and integrate basic
information – but they can not successfully perform higher level reading and problemsolving skills. Adults with low literacy skills at only Levels 1 and 2 are considered to be
lacking a sufficient foundation of basic skills to function successfully in society – a
foundation that is needed to find and keep decent jobs, support their children's education,
and participate actively in civic life. Whereas, residents at Levels 3 through 5 have the
literacy skills to perform more complex tasks using increasingly lengthy and dense texts
and documents.
When looking at high growth occupations through 2005, the minimum literacy proficiency
requirement has increased by one level (from Level 2 to Level 3) over jobs with a declining
demand. This can have a significant economic impact in both the State and County, where
56% and 50% of adults are estimated to be below Level 3 proficiency, respectively.
National data reveals that high school graduates from low-income families are far less
likely to continue directly to college upon graduation, whereas as many as three-fourths of
graduates from high-income families enter college upon graduation. Nearly one out of
every five Horry County residents (19%) over the age of 25 lacks a high school diploma, as
compared to a State average of 23.7%. Of the total County population aged 25 and older,
less than 19% (18.7%) have a bachelors degree or higher.
However, Myrtle Beach residents have higher educational attainment levels on average
than County residents as a whole. The percentage of residents holding a college degree
(associate or higher) at 30.2% is higher than both the County percentage at 25.7% and the
State percentage of 27.1%.
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Community Profile
Table 3-8. Educational Attainment for Persons 25 and Older, 2000
Educational Attainment
Less than 9th Grade
High School, No Diploma
High School Graduates
College, No Diploma
College Graduate - Associate Degree
College Graduate - Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
City of
Myrtle Beach
4.1%
10.9%
30.2%
24.5%
7.3%
15.8%
7.1%
Horry County
5.6%
13.3%
32.2%
23.2%
7.0%
12.8%
5.9%
Horry County ranks above State averages in many measures of academic success. The
dropout rate for students in Horry schools is the lowest in the State at 24% (2000-2002),
compared to 31.9% statewide. SAT and other standardized test scores among Horry County
Schools have exceeded the national average for several years in a row. The District’s SAT
scores are above the national average at 1031, five points above the national average and
42 points ahead of the State average. Eighty percent (80%) of Horry County Schools’ 10thgraders passed the state’s new high school exit exam on their first attempt.
Efforts to attract new employers to the region will continue to be impacted in part by the
educational attainment levels of area residents. The local economy remains characterized
by a dependence on lower wage, seasonal jobs. By increasing the educational levels of
residents and encouraging postsecondary training, the Myrtle Beach community can help
the County alleviate a major roadblock to building a prosperous and sustainable community
and offer residents new and rewarding job opportunities.
5. Household and Family Status
Household and family status are key indicators of social and economic conditions in the
community. There are 81,800 households in Horry County, with more than 10,000 of these
within the City of Myrtle Beach. Nearly 67% of County households and 52% of City
households are families. The MBHA Service Area contains 52,396 households, with 33,865
(64.6%) of these households comprised of families.
More than 25.4% of County and 24% of City households include individuals aged 65 and
older – almost one-fourth of all households. More than 10% of City households are
comprised of a person over 65 who lives alone. Almost 30% of households in the County
include children under 18 years of age. Nearly 12% of County households and 11% of City
households are headed by a single female.
3- 15
Community Profile
Table 3-9. Household Type and Characteristics, 2000
Myrtle Beach
%
#
10,413 100.0%
Household Type
Total households
Family households (families)
Horry County
%
#
81,800 100.0%
5,410
52.0%
54,515
66.6%
1,156
11.1%
9,418
11.5%
5,003
48.0%
27,285
33.4%
3,553
34.1%
21,075
25.8%
1,083
10.4%
6,984
8.5%
Households with individuals under 18 yrs
2,372
22.8%
24,156
29.5%
Households with individuals 65 yrs & over
2,504
24.0%
20,745
25.4%
Female householder, no husband present
Non-family households
Householder living alone
Householder living alone: 65 yrs & over
Average household size
2.17
2.37
Average family size
2.79
2.84
The number of births to single mothers has increased steadily over the past four decades.
In 1998, Horry County experienced births to single mothers at 41.5%. The number of
children born to single-parent homes increases significantly when examining births to
young mothers under age 20. In Horry County, 15.7% of all children were born to mothers
20 or younger. Of the babies born to young mothers under 20 years, 86.8% were born to
single mothers.
Children born to single-parent households are more vulnerable to child abuse, poverty,
academic failure, and other challenges. Nearly half (42%) of the reported child abuse cases
in the target area involved children in single parent households (SC Kids Count, 2003).
Single parent families are also more likely to live in poverty. Data from the SC Campaign
to Prevent Teen Pregnancy note that nearly half of all teen mothers and three-fourths of all
unmarried teen mothers rely on welfare within 5 years of the birth of their first child.
Campaign data also reveals that students born to single mothers are twice as likely to drop
out of high school and to have a child before age 20. More than 18% of all children in Horry
County live below poverty. However, this number rises dramatically among single-parent
families. There are 11,433 single-parent families with children in the County. The
percentage of single-parent households with children living below the poverty level is
staggering at 36.9% in Horry County. Among the County’s minorities, single parent
families living in poverty are even higher at 50%. More than half (58.6%) of the children
living in poverty in Horry County live in single-parent families.
Housing unit occupancy is a concern, since crowded housing conditions can amplify the risk
of domestic violence, child abuse and other health and social problems. The number of
persons living in each housing unit in Horry County is 2.37 persons with an average family
size of 2.84 persons. Household size and family size averages slightly smaller in the City of
Myrtle Beach at 2.17 and 2.79, respectively.
3- 16
Community Profile
C. Income and Employment
Employment data is an important indicator and factor in planning for community
development activity. The location and accessibility of major employment centers affects
employability and access to jobs for lower income residents, including minorities, women,
and special populations. In particular, the proximity of employment to housing, also known
as the employment opportunity/housing linkage, impacts housing choice among these
groups, as well as the need for additional support services such as transportation.
Paralleling the expansion of state economies throughout the South, South Carolina
experienced heightened social and economic growth during the previous two decades.
Emerging from an agrarian tradition, the State as a whole has successfully launched the
transformation of its economy into a diversified base of manufacturing, trade, health care,
services, and tourism activity. Horry County, in particular the Myrtle Beach area, has
shared in this economic growth. The area continues to pursue economic development
strategies that will strengthen and diversify the tax base and increase the number and
quality of job opportunities available to residents.
1. Income and Poverty
Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) data is a special tabulation and
adjustment of 2000 Census household and income data commissioned by HUD for use by
CDBG grantees in the development of local consolidated plans. This data includes valuable
information on household income for low income residents and provides information on the
percentage of households within each income category that are cost-burdened. It should be
noted that the Census Bureau uses a special rounding scheme on special tabulation data
such as the CHAS data, resulting in small discrepancies between the CHAS data and the
data provided in conventional Census data files. HUD defines cost burden as the fraction of
a household’s total gross income that is spent on housing costs. For renters, housing costs
include rent paid by the tenant plus utility costs. Housing costs for owners include
mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, and utility costs. A household is considered costburdened if its occupants are paying more than 30% of their income for housing costs.
Tables 4-10 and 4-11 depict income as a percentage of the Median Family Income (MFI) for
the City of Myrtle Beach and Horry County. HUD defines low and moderate income (LMI)
households as those households with incomes below 80% of MFI. Nearly 28% of all Myrtle
Beach households and nearly 37% of households countywide are considered to be LMI.
Poverty is more prevalent in rental households, with more than half (53.5%) of renter
households in Horry County and nearly half (47.8%) of the renter households in Myrtle
Beach considered to be LMI. By contrast, less than one-third (30.8%) of owner households
in the County and 27.9% of owner households in the city are LMI. Overall, renters in
Myrtle Beach comprise the majority (71.6%) of extremely low income households, nearly
61% of very low income households and 56.7% of low income households. Renters comprise
a much smaller percentage of LMI households in the County, accounting for only 46.5% of
extremely low income, 42.1% of very low income and 33.5% of low income households.
3- 17
Community Profile
Table 3-10. CHAS Household Tenure and Income Estimates, 2000
Income Categories
Extremely Low Income
0-30% MFI
Renters
Total
% Renters
Renters
of HH's
Owners
Total
% Owners
Owners
of HH's
Total
Households
632
71.6%
251
28.4%
883
684
60.8%
441
39.2%
1,125
1,056
56.7%
806
43.3%
1,862
Greater than 80% MFI
2,589
40.1%
3,871
59.9%
6,460
Total Households
4,961
48.0%
5,369
52.0%
10,330
Very Low Income
31-50% MFI
Low Income
51-80% MFI
Source: US HUD, State of the Cities Data Systems, Comprehensive Housing
Affordability Strategy Data, 2005.
Table 3-11. CHAS Household Tenure and Income Estimates, 2000
Horry County
Income Categories
Extremely Low Income
0-30% MFI
Renters
Total
% Renters
Renters
of HH's
Owners
Total
% Owners
Owners
of HH's
Total
Households
3,493
46.5%
4,018
53.5%
7,511
3,463
42.1%
4,769
57.9%
8,232
4,835
33.5%
9,610
66.5%
14,445
Greater than 80% MFI
10,265
19.9%
41,300
80.1%
51,565
Total Households
22,056
27.0%
59,697
73.0%
81,753
Very Low Income
31-50% MFI
Low Income
51-80% MFI
Source: US HUD, State of the Cities Data Systems, Comprehensive Housing
Affordability Strategy Data, 2005.
In 1999, the City’s per capita personal income was $23,214, compared to $19,949 for Horry
County residents. The per capita income for the City was 123% of the State average, while
the County per capita income was 106% of the State average of $18,795. Table 3-12
provides per capita income data for Myrtle Beach, Horry County and South Carolina. The
City’s per capita incomes for White and African-American residents was also higher than
the State and County levels, but considerably lower than State and County levels for
Hispanic residents.
3- 18
Community Profile
Table 3-12. Per Capita Income, 1999
Myrtle Beach
Horry County
South Carolina
Total
$23,214
$19,949
$18,795
White
$25,503
$22,044
$22,095
Black
$12,295
$10,390
$11,776
Hispanic
$10,951
$12,534
$12,143
An individual is described as living in poverty when he/she has insufficient resources to
meet basic living expenses – including the costs of food, shelter, clothing, transportation
and medical expenses. Poverty thresholds as determined by the Census Bureau for 2003
indicate that 4 person family earning less than $18,810 (combined income excluding food
stamps and housing subsidies) is considered to be living in poverty. A 2-person household
with at least one member age 65 or older would be considered to be living in poverty with a
combined income of less than 11,133. Table 3-13 includes 2003 poverty thresholds as
determined by the Census Bureau for families of various sizes.
Table 3-13. Poverty Thresholds, 2003
Families and Persons in the United States
Size of Family
One Person
Under 65 years
65 years and older
Two Persons
Householder under 65 years
Householder 65 years and older
Three Persons
Four Persons
Five Persons
Six Persons
Seven Persons
Eight Persons
Nine or more Persons
Poverty Threshold
(weighted average)
$9,393
$9,573
$8,825
$12,015
$12,384
$11,133
$14,680
$18,810
$22,245
$25,122
$28,544
$31,589
$37,656
In 1999, 12% of City residents were living below poverty status – the same as the
percentage countywide (Table 3-14). The percentage of residents statewide living in
poverty in 1999 was higher at 14.1%. Census figures indicate that of the persons living in
poverty, 8% of Myrtle Beach residents, 9.5% of persons in the MBHA Service Area, and
10.7% of County residents are aged 65 or older.
3- 19
Community Profile
Thirty-nine percent (39%) of City residents living in poverty and 44% of County residents
living in poverty are children under the age of 18. Within the MBHA Service Area, nearly
40% of children under 18 are in poverty. Free or reduced lunch data for local schools also
indicate a significant number of low-income households. More than half (56%) of students
in Horry County schools are eligible for free or reduced lunch. The student eligibility rate
statewide is 49.9%.
Table 3-14. Income Below Poverty by Age, 1999
City of Myrtle Beach, MBHA Service Area (Census Tracts), and Horry County
Total Population
Below poverty level
Under 5 years
5 years
6 to 11 years
12 to 17 years
18 to 64 years
65 to 74 years
75 years & over
Myrtle Beach
#
%
100.0%
22,531
12.0%
2,702
220
8.1%
42
1.6%
273
10.1%
187
6.9%
1,762
65.2%
77
2.8%
141
5.2%
MBHA Area
#
%
100.0%
138,755
10.3%
14,292
1,267
8.9%
248
1.7%
1,424
10.0%
1,279
8.9%
8,718
61.0%
674
4.7%
682
4.8%
Horry County
#
%
100.0%
193,974
12.0%
23,356
2,042
8.7%
468
2.0%
2,669
11.4%
2,384
10.2%
13,296
56.9%
1,239
5.3%
1,258
5.4%
In 1999 the estimated median household income for the City of Myrtle Beach was $35,498 –
low when compared to median household income for the County at $36,470 and the State at
$37,082. As illustrated on Map 3-6, the Census tracts with highest median income – tracts
501 (significant portion in the City), 502, 503 (most in the City) and 51402 – are located
relatively close to the beachfront. The tracts with the lowest median family incomes (and
80% or below of median household income for Horry County) are tracts 506 and 507 – both
located mostly within the southern area of the City along the coast.
3- 20
Community Profile
Map 3-6. Median Household Income, 1999
Horry County
301
No
rt
h
701
301
401
701
402
603
403
MBHA Service
Area
60401
601
603
60202
1
50
60201
51
40
1
51602
502
A
an
ce
O
c
nti
tla
504
505
509
515
510
51
40
2
51601
503
402
404
405
405
601 60402
Ca
ro
l in
a
506 Myrtle
507 Beach
508
511
512
513
Georgetown County
Median Household Income
$22,202 - $29,176
$29,177 - $36,597
$36,598 - $42,752
$42,753 - $47,617
Myrtle Beach
MBHA Service Area
Low and moderate income data provided by HUD enables communities to determine the
location of areas with at least 51% of households having low or moderate incomes (LMI).
Table 3-15 lists the Census tract and block groups that are considered to be LMI using the
HUD definition. Tracts 506 and 507 are the only tracts within the City that are LMI, with
61.8% of the population in the tract 506 and 59.6% of the population in tract 507 living
outside of group quarters considered to be LMI. LMI percentages range from 53.3% in
block group 4 of tract 509 to 75.3% in block group 1 of tract 509. Nearly 61% of the
population (4,709 persons) in the designated LMI areas of the City are considered to be
LMI. The total population (not living in group quarters) of the LMI areas in Myrtle Beach
3- 21
Community Profile
is 7,771. Within the greater MBHA Service Area, tract 301 is also a designated LMI area,
with 51.8% of its population considered to be LMI.
Table 3-15. Areas of Low and Moderate Income
by Census Block Group and Tract, 2000
Census
Block
Tract
Group
506
Entire Tract
507
Entire Tract
508
1
509
1
509
3
509
4
Total all LMI Areas
LMI
Population
2,215
837
316
61
969
311
4,709
Population
not in
Group
Quarters
3,584
1,405
511
81
1607
583
7,771
% Persons
LMI
61.8%
59.6%
61.8%
75.3%
60.3%
53.3%
60.6%
Source: US HUD, Low and Moderate Income Summary Data, 2005.
LMI areas are delineated in Map 3-7, with LMI block groups and tracts that are within the
City of Myrtle Beach highlighted. LMI areas encompass most of the southern half of the
City and include Census tracts 506, 507, and block groups 505001, 509001, 509003 and
509004. LMI areas are also shown in more detail in Appendix D.
3- 22
Community Profile
Map 3-7. Areas of Low and Moderate Income
by Census Block Group and Tract, 2000
MBHA Service Area
an
ce
At
la
nt
ic
O
1
17
U
S
50
17
US
US
US
17
Myrtle Beach
US
17
MBHA Service Area
LMI Tracts and Blocks
Myrtle Beach
Municipalities
Source: US HUD, Low and Moderate Income Summary Data, 2005.
2. Unemployment
Horry County has 110,408 residents in the civilian labor force (2003 average), ranking 6th in
labor force size statewide. More than 20% of the labor force is employed in arts,
entertainment, recreation, accommodations and food service; 15.7% in retail trade; 14.2% in
education, health and social services; and 11.4% in construction.
The County consistently maintains one of the lowest unemployment rates in the State. The
current (2003) annualized unemployment rate of 5.1% ranks 9th lowest statewide and is
substantially lower than both the State and the nation. Early figures for 2004 indicated a
further drop in unemployment for Horry County to 4.9% – much lower than the State at
6.5% and the nation at 5.5%. Figure 3-1 depicts unemployment trends from 1998 to 2004 in
3- 23
Community Profile
Horry County. Unemployment rose substantially from 3.6% in 2000 to 4.7% in 2001,
dropped slightly in 2002 to 4.5%, then peaked in 2003 at 5.1%.
The City of Myrtle Beach had 13,183 residents in the civilian labor force in 2000,
representing 69.2% of persons age 16 and older. More than 4.4% of the labor force was
unemployed in 2000.
However, the relatively low average unemployment rate masks a vulnerable economy that
is heavily dependent on tourism and seasonal activity. The area’s heavy dependence on
tourism and retail sector employment translates into lower wage job opportunities that rely
on fluctuating demand and are susceptible to economic downtowns. Many of these jobs are
part-time or temporary and lack key benefits such as health insurance.
Figure 3-1. Horry County Unemployment Rates, 1998-2004*
6.0%
5.1%
4.7%
Unemployment Rate
5.0%
4.0%
3.8%
3.9%
1998
1999
4.9%
4.5%
3.6%
3.0%
2.0%
1.0%
0.0%
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Year
* Unemployment rate for 2004 is estimated pending completion of data analysis.
Source: South Carolina Employment Security Commission, 2005.
3. Major Employers and Employment Centers
The Grand Strand, anchored by Myrtle Beach, is a major tourist destination. Recent
accolades from such noted travel resources as The Travel Channel, AAA, and Southern
Living rank Myrtle Beach as one of the best beaches and most frequently visited vacation
destinations in America. In 2003, domestic expenditures in Horry County exceeded $2
million and employee compensation and proprietors income directly related to tourism
exceeded $1 billion. Data from the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and
Tourism indicates that 27,000 jobs (approximately one-fourth of the County workforce)
were directly related to tourism in 2002.
3- 24
Community Profile
As the hub of the 13th fastest growing Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) in the country,
Myrtle Beach is attractive to many sectors of the economy, not just those that are directly
related to tourism. Forbes magazine rated the City 29th among the Top 200 Metro Areas for
Business and Careers – ahead of Charleston (47th), Columbia (96th), and the
Greenville/Anderson/Spartanburg corridor (106th).
The County’s largest employment sectors are: wholesale/retail comprising nearly 36% of
earnings, the service sector at 29.4%, and State and local government at 10.9%. As shown
in Table 3-16, while the retail trade sector provides the largest number of jobs and has the
largest payroll within the County, the accommodations and food service sector follows
closely and has a substantial impact on the local economy in both categories.
Table 3-16. Horry County Economic Sector Data, 1997
Sector
Manufacturing
Wholesale trade
Retail trade
Real estate & rental & leasing
Professional, scientific, &
technical services
Administrative/support/waste
management/ remediation
services
Educational services
Health care & social assistance
Arts, entertainment, & recreation
Accommodation & foodservices
Other services (except public
administration)
Number of
Establishments
160
230
1,522
360
Number of
Paid
Employees
6,687
1,824
14,457
3,026
Annual Sales, receipts
Payroll
or shipments
($1000)
($1000)
$173,408
$927,797
$49,515
$481,540
$230,737
$2,505,210
$59,655
$259,636
400
1,766
$53,822
$135,532
283
20
326
212
1,044
3,274
137
4,036
4,628
20,246
$58,644
$2,324
$117,786
$66,196
$228,524
$137,434
$6,656
$295,870
$268,422
$881,722
336
1,477
$25,508
$91,496
Source: 1997 Economic Census, Summary Statistics for Horry County, SC.
In an effort to develop a county-wide strategy for attracting new business and industry
throughout Horry County and its municipalities, Partners Economic Development
Corporation was formed in 1994 as a public/private partnership. Representatives include
businesses, chambers of commerce, higher education institutions, and utility providers.
Now in its 11th year of supporting the County’s economic growth, Partners and its affiliated
organizations have facilitated more than $700 million dollars in investments in the County
and helped bring 8,000 new jobs to the area.
Horry County is a member of the North Eastern Strategic Alliance (NESA) – a nonprofit
organization organized for the purpose of promoting the joint development of the 10-county
region of northeastern South Carolina through coordinated and planned sharing of
3- 25
Community Profile
resources to address common needs. The alliance fosters public and private partnerships to
coordinate resources from Chesterfield, Clarendon, Darlington, Dillon, Florence,
Georgetown, Horry, Marion, Marlboro and Williamsburg Counties. NESA addresses vital
issues that impact the current economy and the future growth of the region, such as
education, labor, tourism, infrastructure and economic development. Specific areas of focus
for the Alliance include economic development, infrastructure, improved educational
opportunities, and labor force preparedness. A current issue that NESA is involved in of
significant importance for Myrtle Beach is the proposed location and construction of
Interstates 73 and 74, which will provide interstate access to the Grand Strand. NESA is
also working on another critical issue for the Myrtle Beach area – the planning for and
location of a new regional airport that will significantly lessen aircraft noise in the beach
resort area and open new opportunities for economic development by providing local access
to commercial carriers currently serving the Florence, Myrtle Beach and Wilmington
airports.
The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce (through information provided by
PARTNERS Development Corp.) lists the 4 largest manufacturing sector employers in
Horry County as AVX Corporation with facilities in Myrtle Beach and Conway (1,380
employees), Conbraco Industries, Inc. in Conway (410 employees), CHF Industries, Inc. in
Loris (187 employees), Wolverine Brass in Conway (175 employees), and New South in
Conway and Myrtle Beach (159 employees). Major employers in Horry County are listed in
Table 3-17.
Table 3-17. Major Employers in Horry County, 2004
Number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Employer
Horry County School District
Burroughs & Chapin Company
Wal-Mart
Horry County Government
AVX
Conway Hospital
Grand Strand Regional Hospital
Myrtle Beach National
Blue Cross/Blue Shield
Verizon
Loris Health Care System
Sands Oceanfront Resorts
HTC Communications
Coastal Carolina University
Santee Cooper Electric
Ocean Lakes Family Campground
Conbraco Industries, Inc.
Kingston Plantation
Sun Publishing
# Employees
4,000
2,214
1,792
1,470
1,380
1,000
1,000
960
900
891
856
825
766
650
638
530
420
410
350
255
Source: Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce (2004 SC Manufacturers Register), 2005.
3- 26
Community Profile
Map 3-8 depicts the location of the County’s major employers as listed and numbered in
Table 3-15 above. The largest employer in the County is the Horry County School District,
with 45 schools located throughout Horry County. The District is South Carolina’s third
largest school district with a PK-12 enrollment of more than 31,000 students. The District
operates 24 elementary schools, 9 middle schools, and 9 high schools and had more than
4,100 full time staff members as of February, 2005. As shown on Map 3-8, 9 of the County’s
major employers are located or have locations within the City of Myrtle Beach and 16 are
located within the MBHA Service Area, with all but one of the remaining major employers
– Loris Health Care – located adjacent to the MBHA Service Area.
Map 3-8. Location of Major Employers in the Myrtle Beach Area*
3
Conway
16
SC
90
4
15
6
North
Myrtle
Beach
MBHA
Service Area
16
8
18
3
19
US
wy
13
2
20
3
1016
13
Fut u
r
14
C
US
1
7
S
17
93
US
70
7
5
17
7
12
an
Pk
e
Ca
ro
l in
SC 544
1
a
ys
Ba
17
c
ti
an
ce
O
A
tl
50
US
Myrtle
Beach
Legend
Municipalities
Outside of AI Study Area
AI Study Area
* Names of major employers are listed by number in Table 3-15.
4. Occupation
As provided in Table 3-18, sales and office occupations, management and professional
occupations, and service occupations employ the largest percentages of persons aged 16 and
older in the City of Myrtle Beach and Horry County. By comparison, occupations with the
largest percentages of employees statewide are management and professional, sales and
office, and production, transportation and material moving. While manufacturing and
3- 27
Community Profile
transportation occupations employ 19% of persons statewide, only 6.7% of persons in the
City and 10.1% of persons countywide are employed in those occupations. Nearly 24% of
employees in Myrtle Beach and 20.1% of employees in Horry County are in service
occupations – significantly higher than statewide at only 14.7%.
Table 3-18. Occupation for Employed Civilians 16 years and older, 2000
Occupation
All Employees 16+ Years
Management, Professional, and
Related Occupations
Service
Sales and Office
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
Construction, Extraction, and
Maintenance
Production, Transportation, and
Material Moving
Myrtle Beach
12,608 100.0%
Horry County
97,577 100.0%
South Carolina
1,824,700 100.0.%
3,364
26.7%
25,558
26.2%
530,117
29.1%
3,014
3,886
7
23.9%
30.8%
0.1%
19,589
29,113
523
20.1%
29.8%
0.5%
268,661
459,724
10,679
14.7%
25.2%
0.6%
1,487
11.8%
12,927
13.2%
209,048
11.5%
850
6.7%
9,867
10.1%
346,471
19.0%
The average weekly wage for persons employed in the service sector in South Carolina was
$523 in 2001 – low when compared to the average wage for persons employed in all
industries at $562 and much lower than the average wage for manufacturing employees at
$692. The higher percentage of persons in lower paying jobs in the Myrtle Beach area is of
particular concern when considered in light of overall wages in South Carolina, which are
the lowest in the Southeast (May 2001 Employment and Earnings, US Department of
Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics). Table 3-19 provides average weekly wage information
by sector for South Carolina.
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Community Profile
Table 3-19. South Carolina Average Monthly Employment,
Total Annual Payroll and Average Weekly Wage by Sector, 2001
Sector
All Industries
Construction
Manufacturing
Transportation, Communication,
Public Utilities
Wholesale Trade
Retail Trade
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate
Services
Federal Government
State Government
Local Government
Average
Monthly
Employment
1,788,845
109,358
326,608
Total Annual
Payroll
$52,280,618,922
$3,369,159,945
$11,752,821,102
Average
Weekly
Wage
$562
$592
$692
93,396
$3,710,173,210
$764
75,341
354,541
81,262
410,494
28,676
90,650
190,454
$2,920,101,501
$5,973,315,088
$3,033,157,077
$11,171,679,393
$1,234,106,867
$2,964,073,440
$5,533,149,871
$745
$324
$718
$523
$828
$629
$559
Source: SC Office of Research and Statistics, SC Statistical Abstract 2004, 2005.
Another key concern is underemployment. According to the SC Department of Commerce,
approximately 29.5% of the State’s labor force (550,000 persons) are considered to be
underemployed. These workers, whose individual earnings are $12,000 or less, tend to
have more skills than their jobs require. It is likely that in the service driven economy of
the Myrtle Beach area there are many members of the workforce who are underemployed.
5. Occupational Outlook
As described earlier, the Myrtle Beach area was recently rated among the Top 200 Metro
Areas for Business and Careers by Forbes magazine – well ahead of Charleston, Columbia,
and the Greenville/Anderson/Spartanburg area. However, the occupational projections for
the region continue to reflect the dominant tourism, service, and retail economy. Out of the
12 jobs listed in Table 3-20 as having the most growth potential locally, at least 6 are linked
to tourism and retail, while 3 are related to education and social services and 2 reflect
growing health care needs. Educational requirements for these jobs range from on-the-job
training to a Bachelors degree.
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Community Profile
Table 3-20. Occupational Demand for the Waccamaw Region – Top 12 Jobs
Occupation
Top Executives
Marketing/Sales
Restaurant Cooks
Registered Nurses
Food/Lodging Managers
Teachers, Secondary
Counter/Retail Clerks
Office Managers
Child Care Workers
Guards
Nursing Aides
Social Workers
Annual
Openings
162
134
127
83
76
75
74
64
63
60
46
29
Average
Wage Range
$20.23-$48.01
$10.55-$16.21
$7.96-$9.91
$16.53-$23.26
$9.86-$15.36
$37,370/year
$6.46-$10.80
$10.99-$19.24
$6.11-$8.01
$6.98-$8.43
$6.33-$8.78
$11.36-$15.84
Minimum
Education Level
Experience/degree
Related experience
On the job training
Associate degree
Related experience
Bachelors degree
On the job training
Related experience
On the job training
On the job training
Certificate/OJT
Bachelors degree
Source: Waccamaw Workforce Investment Area, SC Employment Security Commission, 2005.
Tourism and related employment will continue to grow as the region grows in popularity as
a year-round destination for tourists, golfers and retirees. For instance, statewide 10-year
growth projections for Food Preparation and Service workers exceed 33%, Restaurant
Cooks surpass 22%, and Hotel, Motel and Resort Clerks approach 31%. The employment
growth for Security Guards is more than 41%.
Employment in the health care sector will continue to offer economic opportunity for Myrtle
Beach area residents as the growth in local health care systems, coupled with continued
population growth and a steady influx of retirees into the region, will fuel a high demand
for nursing and allied health professionals. South Carolina’s per capita growth in health
services jobs is double the national rate, with employment in the State’s health service
sector rising by 71% over the last decade. Statewide projections indicate a 30% increase in
jobs for Registered Nurses, a 29% increase for Emergency Medical Technicians, 48% growth
in Medical Assistant positions, and a 36% rise in jobs for Dental Hygienists. Local access to
advanced education and training in higher demand occupations such as nursing and allied
health will open new opportunity for a significant number of County residents, while
alleviating the regional shortage of qualified health care workers.
Teachers and child care workers will also be in high demand in the area, as the Horry
County School District enrollment has increased by more than 8,000 students over the last
decade and is projected to grow by another 5,000 students over the next 4 years. The
District is the State’ third largest with more than 30,000 students in 2004-2005. On the
heels of a recently completed capital expansion program, the School District has plans to
launch another building program that includes 6 new schools and renovations at 20 others
in the County. The expansion effort is impacting the Myrtle Beach area with the
construction of new schools and renovations to existing schools to accommodate enrollment
growth. Opportunities for educators will grow in the County, with statewide employment
projections for Secondary Teachers at 40%, Kindergarten Teachers at 34%, Elementary
Teachers at 34%, Preschool Teachers at 40%, Middle School Teachers at 29%, Counselors at
37%, and Child Care Workers at 29%.
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Community Profile
Construction trades will also continue to grow in the region, as housing and commercial
construction consistently outpace State averages by nearly double. State occupational
projections indicate a 21% to 32% increase in demand for construction trade labor over the
next 10 years. This will be even higher in the Grand Strand since regional demand for new
construction and infrastructure development will continue to rise, based on projections that
the region will lead the State in overall percentage increases in population and employment
growth from 2000 to 2015.
D. Transportation
The lack of accessible and reliable transportation is a major barrier that disproportionately
impacts low-income residents and special populations. Greater demands are placed on
transportation services as area residents move from government assistance programs to the
workplace, with the creation of employment and job training resources being of little help to
those residents who can not access them. Approximately 6.5% of Horry County households
and 9.3% of City of Myrtle Beach households lack access to a personal vehicle. The lack of
reliable transportation can greatly impede individual efforts to seek and retain
employment, access critical health care, obtain support services, and pursue advanced
education and training opportunities. Such transportation access includes a broad, multimodal network of transit options that include reliable and responsive public transit systems
and safe and interconnected pedestrian and bicycle pathways.
1. Public Transit
Affordable and reliable transportation is a necessity for all residents. However, the lower
incomes and limited access of special needs populations makes the availability of affordable
and reliable transit a greater necessity to maintain employment, receive support services,
and access health care and other needed programs.
Coastal Rapid Public Transit Authority (CRPTA) was founded in May of 1983 with the goal
of providing transportation for residents of and visitors to Horry and Georgetown Counties.
CRPTA became Waccamaw Regional Transportation Authority in 1997 and is now known
as Lymo. More than 823,000 persons use Lymo services annually. Lymo vehicles travel
more than 2,170,000 miles each year. LYMO transit routes are shown in Map 3-9.

Lymo Services
Fixed route bus service seven days a week, 365 days a year
Myrtle Beach Neighborhood Lymo circulator
Myrtle Beach International Airport Shuttle
Van pool commuter services
Door-to-door Paratransit Lymo service for physically-challenged
customers
Numerous community service shuttles
Ocean Boulevard Lymo circulator
Dash About for Seniors door-to-door service
Key Attractions Lymo
Broadway at the Beach Trolley
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Community Profile
The Fixed Route System operates more than 50 vehicles ranging from air conditioned
coaches to vans equipped to accommodate physically disabled passengers. The system
travels 22 routes throughout the two-county region including Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle
Beach, Surfside Beach, Conway, Loris and Aynor. Frequency of service averages once each
hour. However, peak frequency on heavily used routes is every 30 minutes. The Lymo
buses are maintained and cleaned daily and are wheelchair accessible.
Dash About for Seniors (DAS) is a demand-response service designed to provide
transportation for citizens over age 60, the disabled and the general public on a spaceavailable basis. Transportation may be provided for any destination within Lymo’s service
delivery area and includes travel to and from Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside,
Murrell’s Inlet, Georgetown, Conway, Aynor, Loris and Little River. Clients must register
for the program. Services are available seven days a week from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm,
excluding holidays and inclement weather. Requests for rides must be made no earlier
than 10 days in advance and no later than 48 working hours before the requested time for
transportation.
Neighborhood Lymo began service in 2002 and provides transportation on two routes
throughout the area from the Booker T. Washington and Pine Lakes neighborhoods to the
Grand Strand Regional Medical Center, Plantation Point Plaza, Myrtle Square Mall,
Seaboard Commons, Broadway at the Beach and other common destinations.
Fares range from $1.00 for shorter routes to $3.00 for the longest routes, with most fares
averaging $1.00. Reduced fare passes are available for senior citizens, persons with
disabilities, students and Medicare card holders and are valid on all fixed routes during
regular operating hours. Fares for DAS are $12 for a round trip and $6.00 for a one-way
trip. Neighborhood Lymo fares are $1.00.
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Community Profile
Map 3-9. LYMO Transit Routes
No
rth
US
701
Horry County
C
ar
ol
in
a
SC 905
C 9
S
US
1
50
Co nway
SC
North
Myrtle Beach
90
US 378
MBHA Service
Area
Atlantic Beach
Briarcliffe Acres
17
17
70
7
US
17
US
Surfside
Beach
Georgetown
County
At
la
n
US
70
1
US
17
1
50
SC 544
US
US
Myrtle
Beach
SC
17
US
tic
n
ea
c
O
LYMO Transit Routes
US Highways
SC Highways
AI Study Area
Source: Waccamaw Regional Transportation Authority, 2004.
2. Commuting Patterns
According to the 2000 Census, 31.4% of Horry County workers and 49% of Myrtle Beach
workers traveled less than 15 minutes to work, while only 5.5% of Horry County workers
and 3.7% of Myrtle Beach workers traveled an hour or more to work. More than 51% of
County workers and 42% of City workers traveled between 15 and 34 minutes to work.
Most residents in the area are employed in the local economy, with 90.6% of Horry County
workers and 95.2% of Myrtle Beach workers commuting to jobs within the County. Only
6.7% of County workers and 3.7% of City workers travel outside of Horry County.
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Community Profile
2000 Census figures confirm that public transportation is more accessible in an urban
environment, with public transportation accounting for less than one half of one percent of
all work commutes in the County and 1.3% of commutes in Myrtle Beach. More than 93%
of County workers and nearly 88% of Myrtle Beach workers travel to work by car and only
14.4% of County drivers and 13.4% of City drivers participate in carpools.
E. Support Services
Access to support services, health care, police protection, and other resources are key
considerations in assessing community development needs. Special populations – such as
the elderly, veterans, low income, and residents with disabilities – generally experience a
need for greater levels of support services than the population as whole.
1. Public Safety
A safe and secure environment that projects a climate of health, vitality and community
spirit among residents of all ages is integral to building a strong community. The need for
a safe living environment is especially vital to the most vulnerable of the citizenry – the
elderly, the young, the disabled, the ill, the poor, and other special populations.
The Myrtle Beach Police Department is housed in the Ted C. Collins Law Enforcement
Center on Oak Street. The department has more than 230 officers and staff and provides a
wide range of protection and enforcement services. The Police Department has a
community-oriented policing philosophy and provides around-the-clock patrols. Other
services include crime prevention programs, such as Neighborhood Watch; D.A.R.E.;
Animal Control, Beach Patrol, 911 emergency communications, and the City switchboard.
The Police Department also operates a 48-hour detention facility at the Law Enforcement
Center.
The incidence of criminal activity is closely associated with other community social and
economic factors such as poverty, poor educational achievement, unemployment and
substance abuse. Crime index rates are a key indicator of the prevalence of serious crime
activity, both violent and non-violent. The crime index does not include all crimes reported,
but focuses on seven crime categories – murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault,
breaking and entering, larceny and motor vehicle theft. However, it should be noted that
these statistics are based on crimes actually reported to law enforcement agencies and do
not include the many cases, especially for rape and assault, that are often unreported by
victims.
South Carolina’s overall crime rate decreased by more than 14% (from 613.3 to 526.5 per
10,000 persons) between 1994 and 2003. During this period the State’s crime volume for
murder decreased 18%, robbery decreased 18%, rape decreased 11.8%, aggravated assault
decreased by 15.2%, and non-violent crimes decreased by 0.5%. SLED data for 2003 shows
a total crime rate for Horry County of 834.7 per 10,000 residents, a rate significantly higher
than the statewide rate of only 526.4 per 10,000 residents. A breakdown by type of crime
per 10,000 residents for Horry County is detailed in Table 3-21.
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Community Profile
Table 3-21. Crime Rates per 10,000 Residents, 2003
Horry County and South Carolina
Crime Category
Murder
Rape
Robbery
Aggravated Assault
Breaking & Entering
Larceny
Motor Vehicle Theft
Index Total
Horry County
Rate
0.6
8.3
17.8
65.1
142.5
531.3
69.1
834.7
South Carolina
Rate
0.7
4.5
13.9
60.8
103.3
305.2
38.0
526.4
Source: SC Law Enforcement Division, Crime in SC Book, 2003.
Criminal activity among the County’s younger residents is a concern. The statewide
delinquency rate in 2002 was 70.9 per 1,000 children. Horry and Marlboro Counties tied
with the highest delinquency rates at 126.7 per 1,000 children. More than 11% of Horry
County youth between the ages of 15 and 19 were considered idle – not in school or
working. More than 10% of County youth between these ages had been referred to court –
the highest rate in the State. In 2002-2003, there were 2,030 juvenile justice cases referred
to the Solicitor in Horry County, with 99 of these cases (or 5%) classified as violent and
serious.
The Myrtle Beach Fire Department has more than 140 staff members and provides fire
suppression and protection services to the community from 5 fire stations located
throughout the City. The Department also is a "First Responder" on medical calls, with
nearly all of the city's firefighters certified as Emergency Medical Technicians or
Paramedics. Firefighters provide a wide range of special services, such as hazardous
materials response and confined space rescue. Fire prevention and public education are
established priorities of the Department. The Fire Department has a Class 1 Insurance
Services Office (ISO) rating, the highest rating available in South Carolina.
2. Health and Medical
There are 349 physicians, 1,264 registered nurses and 73 dentists practicing in Horry
County in a variety of private, governmental and non-profit settings.
The Grand Strand Regional Medical Center (GSRMC) is a 219-bed acute care hospital
serving residents and visitors of Horry and surrounding counties. The Hospital has the
only cardiac surgery program in Horry and Georgetown counties and is a designated
trauma center. Located in the heart of Myrtle Beach on 82nd Parkway, GSRMC has a
medical staff of more than 275 physicians, 900 staff members and 350 hospital volunteers.
The Medical Center has six affiliates throughout the Grand Strand to provide quality,
convenient health care. These include the Grand Strand Regional Diagnostic & Women's
Center, South Strand Ambulatory Care Center, Grand Strand Regional Medical Center
Wound Care Program, North Strand Diagnostic Center, North Strand Senior Health
3- 35
Community Profile
Center, and the South Strand Senior Health Center on the campus of the Community
Medical Center - South Strand.
The Conway Medical Center (CMC) – based in Conway – is a private non-profit
institution with more than 125 physicians and 160 private rooms. It has 80
medical/surgical beds, 29 obstetrical/gynecological beds, 18 pediatric beds, and 10 beds
equipped for intensive/coronary care. A one-day surgery unit is available and includes a
local procedure area as well as endoscopy suites. There are 6 operating rooms, a 10-bed
telemetry unit and providing 24-hour emergency and urgent care, chemotherapy
administration, a cardiac rehabilitation program, and physical and respiratory therapy.
The Hospital is certified as a Level III trauma center and Level II perinatal center.
The non-profit Loris Health Care System is based in northwest Horry County and has
grown to include the Loris Community Hospital, the Loris Extended Care Center, 2 Family
Health Centers (rural health clinics) in Loris and Green Sea, a Center for Health and
Fitness, Alliance Home Care, and the Seacoast Medical Center located in the MBHA service
area in Little River. The Community Hospital is a 105-bed general short-term, acute care
facility that has consistently served the community for more than 50 years. Hospital
services include inpatient and outpatient services, ICU, obstetrics, cardiac rehabilitation,
and a Level III Trauma Center. The Seacoast Medical Center is a 24-hour emergency and
same-day surgery facility in Little River, which serves the northern coastal communities
from North Myrtle Beach to southern Brunswick County in North Carolina.
The Myrtle Beach Veterans Administration (VA) Clinic – provides primary care for
veterans and is operated by the Veterans Administration. Due to technology and changes
in national and VA health care trends, the VA has moved from a hospital-based system to a
primarily outpatient-focused system in recent years. In South Carolina, the VA operates
major medical centers in Charleston and Columbia. In 2001, there were 8,046 inpatient
admissions, while outpatient visits were 667,600 in South Carolina VA facilities. To
provide more care for veterans, especially those living in rural areas, the VA operates
outpatient clinics in Myrtle Beach, Beaufort, Florence, Greenville, Rock Hill, Sumter and
Orangeburg. Area veterans also have access to the Fayetteville medical center, located 93
miles to the northwest in neighboring North Carolina.
Horry County Fire/Rescue is a combination career/volunteer department tasked with
providing fire protection to the unincorporated areas of Horry County and pre-hospital
emergency medical care for the entire County (approximately 1200 square miles). Staffing
for the department consists of approximately 250 fulltime employees and more than 200
volunteers. Currently, the department operates 14 advanced life support ambulances (24
hours per day) from 14 stations throughout the County. Seven of these stations are solely
ambulance sites and seven also double as fire stations with the additional 24-hour staffing
of either a fire engine or ladder truck. Personnel assigned to dual role stations are required
to have both fire and medical training. One other fire station is staffed with 24-hour
personnel capable of providing Advanced Life Support (ALS) as well as fire suppression,
though they cannot transport. Additionally, there are 18 more fire stations strategically
located throughout the County that are solely dependent on volunteers for fire protection
and first-responder medical support from these locations. On average, Horry County
Fire/Rescue handles 40,000 incidents per year. The City of Myrtle Beach also provides
3- 36
Community Profile
EMS services to augment the County system and to provide timely response to medical
emergencies. An Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance is stationed at Fire Station No. 2
on North Kings Highway.
The Myrtle Beach and Little River Offices of the SC Department of Health and
Environmental Control provide adult and child immunizations, blood tests,
environmental health, family planning and other services for Horry County residents.
3. Social Services
The Horry County Department of Social Services (DSS) has a Temporary Assistance for
Needy Families (TANF) caseload averaging of 859 cases. The TANF program provides
assistance to needy families with children, providing parents with job preparation,
employment, and support services to enable them to leave the program and become selfsufficient. A monthly average of 17,985 Horry County residents (8.7% of the total County
population) receive food stamp benefits. More than 28,910 Horry County residents are
eligible for Medicaid subsidies each month, representing approximately 14.7% of the total
County population. Horry County ranks 4th highest in the State in the number of TANF
recipients, 5th in the number of food stamp recipients and 6th in the number of persons
enrolled in Medicaid statewide. The DSS office for Horry County is located on Industrial
Park Boulevard in Conway.
4. Training and Education
Education is key to achieving higher incomes and an improved quality of life and the
importance of job-preparation and training in improving individual and family socioeconomic conditions is paramount. For those who are trying to pull out of the cycle of
dependence, finding a job with adequate earnings to support a family is a daunting
challenge. Without access to advanced education and training, lower income and other
disadvantaged residents can be restricted to less secure, minimum wage jobs with little
opportunity for advancement. However, the myriad of employment and training resources
offered by state and local agencies are of little assistance to residents who can not readily
access them.
The persistent barriers posed by geography, infrastructure, family
responsibilities, previous educational attainment, income, and work schedules can impede
access to higher education for some residents. The provision of learner-centered access to
postsecondary outlets such as the technical college system, adult literacy programs, quality
day care, transportation, and the use of new information technologies for flexible learning
alternatives can significantly reduce the traditional barriers of time and place and
contribute to educational success and participation in lifelong learning opportunities.
The Horry County School District is the 3rd largest in the State, serving more than 30,000
students in Grades 5K through 12. The District’s student population has grown
tremendously in recent years, gaining more than 8,000 students in the past 10 years. The
District’s 46 schools include 24 elementary, 9 middle, 9 high schools, 2 career centers, a
Scholars Academy, and an alternative school. Table 3-26 provides enrollment data for the
Horry County School District and Map 3-10 includes locations of K-12 schools in the MBHA
Service Area.
3- 37
Community Profile
Table 3-26 Horry County School District Enrollment, Spring 2004
Grade
Total
Attendance
31,018
Pre-kindergarten
772
Grades K-2
6,937
Grades 3-5
6,993
Grades 6-8
7,503
Grades 9-12
8,813
Average daily attendance rate
96%
Source: Horry County School District, 2005.
The area is also host to three post-secondary institutions. Coastal Carolina University is a
public institution offering both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Horry-Georgetown
Technical College is a public, two-year college and Webster University is a private
institution offering master’s degrees in business oriented fields of study.
Coastal Carolina University (CCU) is a public, predominantly undergraduate, liberal
arts institution with a current graduate and undergraduate enrollment of nearly 7,000
students. Fifteen percent (15%) of CCU students are minorities and 58% are female. CCU
has posted a record increase in enrollment over the last 5 years. Founded in 1954 as an
independent, two-year college, the institution became a part of the University of South
Carolina (USC) system in 1961 and awarded its first four-year degrees in 1975. In 1994,
CCU became independent of the USC system, but remains a state-assisted university with
its own Board of Trustees.
The University offers 37 baccalaureate degree programs, with more than 31% of its
undergraduates enrolled in one of 8 Natural and Applied Science programs that include
biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and marine science. In addition,
Coastal Carolina offers a Master of Science degree in coastal marine and wetlands studies
and Master of Education degrees include the Master of Arts in Teaching, and the Master of
Education in Educational Technology.
The University serves its immediate five-county area through its 272-acre main campus in
Conway and at satellite campuses in Myrtle Beach at the Coastal Carolina University
Higher Education Center and in Georgetown.
Horry-Georgetown Technical College (HGTC) is a comprehensive community college
serving the residents of northeastern coastal South Carolina and is one of 16 colleges that
comprise the South Carolina Technical College System. Now in its fourth decade of service,
HGTC is one of the fastest growing of all public higher education institutions in South
Carolina, with a Fall 2004 credit enrollment of 5,100 students. Mirroring the development
trends of its coastal service area, the College continues to grow at an astounding rate,
experiencing a 105% increase in total headcount over the last 10 years. The College offers
3- 38
Community Profile
84 degree, diploma and certificate programs. HGTC maintains 4 campus sites throughout
its two-county service area, with its main campus located in Conway.
As the only public, two-year college in South Carolina’s northeastern coastal region, the
College provides a key entry point to higher educational opportunity for residents, many of
whom would not have access to affordable and accessible education without the open
admissions policy of HGTC. A majority of these residents are low-income and the first in
their families to attend college. More than 60% of HGTC students receive needs-based
support to attend college and nearly 90% rely on some form of financial assistance. Nearly
two-thirds of the student body is female (64%) and more than one-fourth (26%) are
minorities (African-American and Hispanic).
HGTC has a long history of partnering with community-based and private organizations to
improve educational opportunity, mitigate barriers to postsecondary access, and prepare
students for academic and career success. Some of the key programs and resources that
contribute to educational opportunity in area include the Program for Accelerated College
Enrollment (PACE). The PACE initiative allows qualified high school students in target
schools to enroll in university transfer courses to get a head start on their college degrees.
HGTC currently offers 74 college-level courses acceptable for transfer to all public colleges
and universities in South Carolina. HGTC is also one of only 3 two-year colleges in the
State providing an on-campus child development center and the only college in the region
offering child care to students as a support service. The Center is operated in partnership
with Head Start.
HGTC also administers several federally-funded programs designed to serve at-risk middle
and high school students in rural and disadvantaged areas of Horry and Georgetown
counties including Educational Talent Search, Student Support Services, Upward Bound
and GEAR UP. The programs support the successful transition of students from middle to
high school, graduation of students from high school, and post-secondary enrollment.
Participants receive tailored services that include career assessment, tutoring, test
preparation, parent/student workshops, and financial aid assistance.
The College is also in the early stages of a partnership with the Horry County School
District and other public and private organizations to develop an Early College Initiative.
The Early College will allow talented, but at-risk, students to earn college and high school
credits simultaneously so that upon graduation, the students will have a high school
diploma and a two-year degree, with the option of entering the workforce or continuing
their education at a four-year institution.
Webster University provides additional graduate education opportunity to Grand Strand
area residents through its Myrtle Beach campus. Webster initially established a graduate
program in 1976 to serve military personnel stationed at the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base.
Now available to the broader community, the University offers a Master of Business
Administration and Master of Arts degree in Business, Management, Human Resource
Development, Computer Resources and Information Management and Counseling.
Students who have earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or
university are eligible to apply for admission to Webster. Classes are scheduled to
accommodate working adults through weeknight and weekend sessions. Enrollment at the
University’s new campus located on the US 17 Bypass includes more than 500 students,
3- 39
Community Profile
drawing from a service area that includes Horry, Georgetown, Williamsburg, Florence, and
Marion Counties in South Carolina (approximately 2/3 of the total enrollment) and
southeastern North Carolina (approximately 1/3 of Webster’s total enrollment).
Map 3-10 includes locations of institutions of higher education in the MBHA Service Area.
Map 3-10. Public Education Facilities, 2004
City of Myrtle Beach and the MBHA Service Area
701
Horry County
Con$
way
MBHA Service
Area
$
Coastal Carolina
University
ÑÑ HGTC - Main Campus
US
$
US
70
1
SC 544
1
50
Ñ
$
$
$$
$
$$
Future
17
17
US
US
7 07
C
S
Ñ
$
$
$$
US
17
Myrtle
Beach
tic
n
ea
c
O
HGTC - Grand Strand
$
$
$
re
Atlantic Beach
Briarcliffe Acres
Ba
na
ol i $
Ca r
Webster
University
$
$
$
North
Myrtle Beach
At
la
n
$ $$
$
Pk
wy
US 378
90
SC
ys
$
tu
C 9
S
22
$
$
Fu
905
SC
SC
1
50
$
9
US
US
SC
Surfside
Beach
Georgetown
County
Legend
Ñ
Ñ
$
Universities
US Highways
HGTC
SC Highways
Public
Schools
AI Study Area
Source: USC GIS Data Server, 2004.
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