History of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in Timeline
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is a resort city situated on the "Grand Strand," a 60-mile stretch of coastline in the northeastern part of the state. As of 2020, its year-round population was 35,682, making it the 13th most populous city in South Carolina. It's a well-known tourist destination famous for its beaches and attractions.
May 1900: Conway & Seashore Railroad Daily Service Begins
On May 1, 1900, the Conway & Seashore Railroad, built by Burroughs and Collins, started daily service using two wood-burning locomotives, one of which was named The Black Maria.
1900: Naming of Myrtle Beach
Around 1900, a contest was held to name the area, and Burroughs's wife suggested naming the area Myrtle Beach in honor of the locally abundant shrub, the southern wax myrtle. The Withers post office changed its name to "Myrtle Beach" soon afterward.
1900: Waccamaw Coast Line Railroad Opens
In 1900, the Waccamaw Coast Line Railroad opened, originally as the Conway Coast and Western Railroad.
1901: Seaside Inn Opens
In 1901, the sons of Franklin Burroughs completed the railroad's expansion to the beach and opened the Seaside Inn, fulfilling his vision of turning New Town into a tourist destination.
1935: Myrtle Beach State Park Established
In 1935, Myrtle Beach State Park was established, featuring just under a mile of Grand Strand beach.
1936: Separation from Continental United States
Since 1936, Myrtle Beach has been separated from the continental United States by the Intracoastal Waterway.
1937: Myrtle Beach Municipal Airport Built
In 1937, Myrtle Beach Municipal Airport was built.
1938: Myrtle Beach Incorporation as a Town
In 1938, Myrtle Beach officially incorporated as a town.
1940: Airport Taken Over by U.S. Army Air Corps & Kings Highway Paved
In 1940, the Myrtle Beach Municipal Airport was taken over by the U.S. Army Air Corps and converted into a military base. Also in 1940, Kings Highway was finally paved, providing Myrtle Beach with its first primary highway.
1940: Myrtle Beach Bike Week First Held
In 1940, the first Myrtle Beach Bike Week, also known as "Harley Bike Week", was held, the same year Kings Highway was paved.
July 12, 1942: Record Warm Low Temperature
On July 12, 1942, Myrtle Beach recorded a record warm low temperature of 88 °F (31 °C).
1946: Gay Dolphin Gift Cove Built
In 1946, the Gay Dolphin Gift Cove was built on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, selling seashells and Myrtle Beach souvenirs.
1951: Canadian-American Days Begins
Since 1951, Myrtle Beach has hosted Canadian-American Days (Can-Am Days) each March during Ontario's spring break, attracting tens of thousands of tourists.
June 26, 1952: Record High Temperature
On June 26, 1952, Myrtle Beach recorded a record high temperature of 104 °F (40 °C).
August 5, 1954: Record High Temperature
On August 5, 1954, Myrtle Beach recorded a record high temperature of 104 °F (40 °C).
1954: Hurricane Hazel
In 1954, Hurricane Hazel was the worst hurricane in Myrtle Beach's history.
1955: Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Ends Passenger Rail Service
Until 1955, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad ran passenger rail service from the Myrtle Beach Station to Chadbourn, where connections to interstate ACL train service could be made.
1957: Myrtle Beach Incorporation as a City
In 1957, Myrtle Beach officially incorporated as a city.
February 18, 1958: Record Winter Cold
On February 18, 1958, Myrtle Beach experienced a record winter cold of 9 °F (−13 °C).
1958: Ocean View Memorial Hospital Opens
In 1958, Ocean View Memorial Hospital, the first major hospital in Myrtle Beach, opened. It was later succeeded by Grand Strand Medical Center in 1978.
January 11, 1962: Coldest Daily Maximum Temperature
On January 11, 1962, the coldest daily maximum temperature recorded in Myrtle Beach was 25 °F (−4 °C).
1974: Myrtle Beach Jetport Renamed
In 1974, Myrtle Beach International Airport was formerly known as Myrtle Beach Jetport.
1974: Myrtle Beach Reforms into Council-Manager Government
In 1974, the city of Myrtle Beach reformed into a council-manager government system under Mayor Bob Hirsch and city manager David Stradinger, moving away from a strong-mayor form of government.
1976: Commercial Flights Begin at Myrtle Beach Airport
Commercial flights began at Myrtle Beach airport in 1976, sharing the runway with the military base.
April 1978: Grand Strand Medical Center Opens
On April 21, 1978, Grand Strand Medical Center (GSMC) opened, succeeding the former Ocean View Memorial Hospital. GSMC is known for its programs in cardiology, heart surgery, and stroke treatment.
1980: Black Bike Week Founded
In 1980, Black Bike Week was founded, taking place the weekend around Memorial Day Weekend.
November 1985: Horry County Acquires Waccamaw Coast Line Railroad
In November 1985, the Seaboard System Railroad sold the Waccamaw Coast Line Railroad to Horry County.
October 1987: Waccamaw Coast Line Railroad Takes Over Operations
In October 1987, the Waccamaw Coast Line Railroad (WCLR) took over operations from the Horry County Railway.
1989: Hurricane Hugo
In 1989, Hurricane Hugo caused significant damage in Myrtle Beach.
1989: Myrtle Beach Jetport Renamed
In 1989, Myrtle Beach Jetport was renamed Myrtle Beach International Airport.
1991: Coldest Maximum Average Temperature
Between 1991 and 2020, the coldest maximum average temperature recorded in Myrtle Beach was 37 °F (3 °C).
1993: Air Base Closed
In 1993, the air base at Myrtle Beach closed. Since then the airport has been named Myrtle Beach International Airport.
September 1995: Carolina Southern Railroad Acquires Waccamaw Coast Line Railroad
In September 1995, the Carolina Southern Railroad acquired the Waccamaw Coast Line Railroad, becoming a division of the Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad.
1997: Tiger Woods Declares Myrtle Beach "The Mecca of Golf"
During a visit in 1997, Tiger Woods declared Myrtle Beach "the mecca of golf".
1997: Metro Loop Road Plan Organized
In 1997, the Metro Loop Road Plan was organized to improve the traffic flow of Myrtle Beach by creating new roads to ease congestion from yearly visitors.
1998: Bi-Lo Myrtle Beach Marathon
In 1998, the Bi-Lo Myrtle Beach Marathon presented by Chick-Fil-A was hosted.
1999: Pelicans Ballpark Opens
In 1999, Pelicans Ballpark, the home field of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, opened. It is also the finish point of the Bi-Lo Myrtle Beach Marathon and the home of the annual "Baseball at the Beach" collegiate baseball tournament.
2000: Horry County Leases Waccamaw Coast Line to Carolina Southern Railroad
In 2000, Horry County, which owns the Waccamaw Coast Line, leased it to the Carolina Southern Railroad.
2000: Permanent Residents in Myrtle Beach
In 2000, there were 22,759 permanent residents in Myrtle Beach, residing in 10,413 households and 5,414 families.
2001: Tornadoes Touch Down
In 2001, Myrtle Beach experienced a significant weather event when multiple tornadoes touched down in the area.
2003: Myrtle Beach Convention Center Opens
In 2003, the Myrtle Beach Convention Center opened, hosting various meetings, conferences, exhibits, and special events. The expansive center includes a Sheraton hotel and resort.
2006: NAACP Suit Against City of Myrtle Beach Settled
In 2006, the NAACP suit against the City of Myrtle Beach was settled without the city paying damages, but with the agreement police would use the same traffic control rules during both the black and the white motorcycle rallies.
2008: Bi-Lo Myrtle Beach Marathon Relay Dropped
From 1998 until 2008, a relay was held at the marathon but dropped because of the popularity of the other events.
2009: Bi-Lo Myrtle Beach Marathon
From 1998 to 2009, the Bi-Lo Myrtle Beach Marathon presented by Chick-Fil-A was hosted.
February 2010: Rare Snowfall in Myrtle Beach
In February 2010, Myrtle Beach experienced a rare snowfall of 2.8 inches (71 mm).
May 2010: General Aviation Terminal Opens at Myrtle Beach International Airport
In May 2010, the 11,500-square-foot general aviation terminal opened at Myrtle Beach International Airport, replacing a building previously used as base operations for the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base.
June 2010: South Carolina Supreme Court Overturns Motorcycle Ordinance
In June 2010, the South Carolina Supreme Court unanimously overturned one of the 15 ordinances requiring all motorcyclists to wear helmets, ruling that the state law cannot be preempted by a city ordinance.
2010: Population of Myrtle Beach
According to the 2010 census, the population of Myrtle Beach was 27,109.
2010: UOA Nationals Held at Myrtle Beach Speedway
In 2010, Myrtle Beach Speedway hosted the UOA Nationals, featuring 8 collegiate ultimate teams from 5 conferences competing at the NASCAR-sanctioned track.
2010: Bi-Lo Myrtle Beach Marathon Skipped
In 2010, no Saturday races were held in Bi-Lo Myrtle Beach Marathon due to snow.
2010: New Airport Terminal Approved
In 2010, plans were approved to build a new terminal at Myrtle Beach International Airport.
2010: Myrtle Beach Boardwalk Opens
In 2010, the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk opened and has since been recognized as a top boardwalk in the nation.
May 2011: Myrtle Beach Skywheel Opens
In May 2011, the Myrtle Beach Skywheel opened at the boardwalk, offering views of the Atlantic Ocean from its glass gondolas.
May 26, 2011: Carolina Southern Railroad Ceases Operation Voluntarily
On May 26, 2011, Carolina Southern Railroad voluntarily ceased operation to allow a certified bridge engineer to inspect and prepare a plan for repairs of critical bridges.
August 8, 2011: Carolina Southern Railroad Resumes Operations
On August 8, 2011, Carolina Southern Railroad resumed operations after completing necessary repairs on critical bridges based on the engineer's recommendations.
August 30, 2011: Carolina Southern Railroad Voluntarily Shuts Down
On August 30, 2011, the Carolina Southern Railroad voluntarily shut down due to overdue bridge maintenance, leading to layoffs.
2011: Bi-Lo Myrtle Beach Marathon
In 2011, the Bi-Lo Myrtle Beach Marathon presented by Chick-Fil-A started again after no Saturday races were held in 2010 due to snow.
May 24, 2012: Federal Railroad Administration Inspects Bridges
On May 24, 2012, the Federal Railroad Administration commenced a bridge inspection on the Carolina Southern Railroad and the Waccamaw Coastline Railroad, finding critical defects in seven bridges.
2012: Grand Strand Medical Center Recognized for Cardiac Surgery
In 2012, Grand Strand Medical Center received the Healthgrades 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery award.
2013: Grand Strand Medical Center Recognized for Cardiac Surgery
In 2013, Grand Strand Medical Center received the Healthgrades 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery award.
2015: RJ Corman Acquires the Former CSR Line
In 2015, railroad operator RJ Corman acquired the former Carolina Southern Railroad line.
2015: Carolina Country Music Fest Founded
In 2015, the Carolina Country Music Fest (CCMF) was founded by Full House Productions and held each June.
April 2016: RJ Corman Re-opens Freight Service
In early April 2016, railroad operator RJ Corman re-opened the former Carolina Southern Railroad line for freight service.
2017: Golf Rounds Played
In 2017, 3.2 million total rounds of golf were played in Myrtle Beach, down a "few hundred rounds" from a decade earlier.
2018: Myrtle Beach Mutiny
In 2018, Myrtle Beach was home to the Myrtle Beach Mutiny, a pro soccer team playing in the Premier Development League until 2018.
August 15, 2020: Myrtle Beach Speedway Closes
On August 15, 2020, Myrtle Beach Speedway held its final race before being closed and demolished. The site was redeveloped into townhomes.
2020: Myrtle Beach Census Data
According to the 2020 census, Myrtle Beach had a population of 35,682 people, residing in 16,759 households and 7,678 families.
2020: Coldest Maximum Average Temperature
Between 1991 and 2020, the coldest maximum average temperature recorded in Myrtle Beach was 37 °F (3 °C).
2020: The Post and Courier sets up bureau in Myrtle Beach
In 2020, Charleston-based The Post and Courier established an official bureau in Myrtle Beach after purchasing The Georgetown Times and merging it with the new operation.
2020: Carolina Country Music Fest Cancelled
In 2020, the Carolina Country Music Fest (CCMF) was cancelled due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.
2020: Population of Myrtle Beach
In 2020, the census recorded Myrtle Beach's year-round population at 35,682, making it the 13th-most populous city in South Carolina.
June 2021: Carolina Country Music Fest Scheduled to Return
The Carolina Country Music Fest (CCMF) is scheduled to return on June 10–13, 2021.
2024: Myrtle Beach Metro Area Population
In 2024, the Myrtle Beach Metro Area had an estimated population of 479,426, marking it as one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the country.
2024: Population of the Myrtle Beach-Conway Combined Statistical Area
In 2024, the Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC Combined Statistical Area had an estimated population of 479,426.
2026: Mark Kruea Becomes Mayor
In 2026, Mark Kruea became the mayor of Myrtle Beach and has served since.
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