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 northeast of Myrtle Beach. It serves as one of the primary tourist destinations along the Grand Strand.

As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,790. It is part of the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a combined population of 449,295 as of 2016.

History

In 1737, William Gause obtained a grant to of land near Windy Hill Beach. He farmed the area and also established a tavern for travelers along the Kings Highway.

North Myrtle Beach was created in 1968 with the consolidation of Cherry Grove Beach, Crescent Beach, Ocean Drive Beach, and Windy Hill Beach.

Geography

North Myrtle Beach is located in eastern Horry County. It is bordered to the southwest by Briarcliffe Acres and to the northeast by Little River. Via US 17, it is northeast of Myrtle Beach and southwest of Wilmington. Via SC 9 it is southeast of I-95 near Dillon.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which are land and , or 3.39%, are 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 is bordered on three sides by North Myrtle Beach, chose to remain its own town during the merger.

Neighborhoods

  • Barefoot
  • Bell's Lake
  • Cherry Grove Beach
  • Crescent Beach
  • Ingram Beach
  • Little River Neck
  • Ocean Creek
  • Ocean Drive Beach
  • Park Pointe
  • Seabrook Plantation
  • Tidewater
  • Windy Hill Beach

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 18,790 people, 9,714 households, and 4,583 families residing in the city.

The median age was 62.5 years. 8.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 43.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.7 males age 18 and over.

Of those households, 10.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.8% were married-couple households, 16.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

|-

| White || 16,997 || 90.5%

|-

| Black or African American || 419 || 2.2%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 79 || 0.4%

|-

| Asian || 148 || 0.8%

|-

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 11 || 0.1%

|-

| Some other race || 331 || 1.8%

|-

| Two or more races || 805 || 4.3%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 799 || 4.3%

|}

2000 census

As of the census

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 Ryan Fabbri.

Education

  • Ocean Drive Elementary School
  • Riverside Elementary School
  • Waterway Elementary School
  • North Myrtle Beach Middle School
  • North Myrtle Beach High School (in nearby Little River)

Infrastructure

Transportation

Road

  • 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 served by the Coast RTA, formerly Waccamaw RTA or Lymo.

Notable people

  • Alyssa Arce, fashion model, Playboy Playmate for July 2013
  • Ryan Quigley - football punter who has played for various teams.
  • Lou Saban, former football coach; lived here until his death
  • Kelly Tilghman, Golf Channel broadcaster and PGA Tour's first female lead golf announcer
  • Sadler Vaden, musician, best known as a member of Jason Isbell's band, The 400 Unit.
  • Vanna White, television personality known for co-hosting Wheel of Fortune

References

  • City of North Myrtle Beach official website