Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach is a resort town on the east coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is located in the center of a long and continuous beach of 97 km known as the "Grand Strand" in the northeastern part of the state.

Myrtle Beach is one of the main centers of tourism in South Carolina and the United States. The city's warm subtropical climate, miles of beaches, 86 golf courses and 1,800 restaurants attract more than 20 million visitors each year, making Myrtle Beach one of the most visited destinations in the country.

Located along the historic King's Highway (today's US 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, was named in their honour. Originally called alternately "New Town" or "Withers," Franklin Burroughs, whose sons completed the railroad to the beach and the first inn, the Seaside Inn, earmarked the area for resort development. His widow named the new community Myrtle Beach after the local wax myrtle bush.

The Myrtle Beach metropolitan area is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country.