Briarcliffe Acres, South Carolina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Briarcliffe Acres, South Carolina
Town
Location in South Carolina
Country	United States
State	South Carolina
County	Horry
Settled	1950s
Area
• Total	0.64 sq mi (1.65 km2)
• Land	0.64 sq mi (1.65 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	30 ft (9 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	479
• Density	753.14/sq mi (290.92/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code	29572
Area code(s)	843, 854
FIPS code	45-08830
GNIS feature ID	1227842

Briarcliffe Acres is a small town in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. It is located right between the popular beach cities of Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach. In 2010, the town had a population of 457 people. By 2020, the population grew slightly to 479 residents.

Where is Briarcliffe Acres?

Briarcliffe Acres is found in the southeastern part of Horry County. It is next to North Myrtle Beach on its north and east sides. A major road, U.S. Route 17, runs along the town's northern edge. This road leads about 4 miles (6 km) northeast to North Myrtle Beach and 11 miles (18 km) southwest to Myrtle Beach.

The town covers a total area of about 0.64 square miles (1.7 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no water.

A Look at History

Briarcliffe Acres was created as a special place for people to retire. It was developed by Kenneth Ellsworth, who named the town after his hometown, Briarcliff Manor, New York. His wife, Virginia (Ginny) Gasque, came from a nearby town called Conway, South Carolina. Briarcliffe was one of the first communities in the Southeast that was carefully planned from the start.

Early Days and Farming

In the early 1900s, before the 1930s, the coastal areas of northern South Carolina were mostly used for farming. Farmers grew crops like cotton and tobacco on the sand dunes. The sea breezes helped the plants grow. Many farmers from inland towns bought land on the coast. They would spend their summers there with their families to escape the heat and insects on their main farms.

Later, some people built vacation homes in places like Murrells Inlet. Then, rooming houses were built further north in what became Myrtle Beach. Ken and Ginny Ellsworth saw a chance to create a whole community for people who wanted to live at the beach. They found a large piece of land owned by Elizabeth Patterson.

Building the Community

After buying the land, the Ellsworths dug a yacht basin next to the Intracoastal Waterway. This waterway was on the land side of US Highway 17. They built a small house between the highway and the yacht basin. This allowed them to be close to both wealthy boaters and people driving on the main road.

The Ellsworths built roads and covered them with coquina. Coquina is a local mix of sand and fossilized shells. Then, they started looking for people to move in.

First Residents and Growth

Ginny's parents were among the first to move to Briarcliffe Acres. They built a home on what is now North Gate Road. This spot was chosen because it was close to the beach but also protected from storms.

Other families soon followed. The Sorry family built a home next to the Gasques. Then came the Dutch van Buren family. They discovered the area while traveling south by boat and decided to build a home there. This showed that Ken Ellsworth's idea of attracting people from the waterway was working.

The van Burens told their friends, Anton Frederik and Casperina Hermina Groeneveld Baarslag, about the town. The Baarslags moved to Briarcliffe in 1950. In 1951, Alfred Colby Hockings, a famous illustrator, and his wife built a home nearby. Around the same time, another Dutch family, Gerbrand and Nellie Poster, visited the Baarslags and decided to stay. They built a home next door.

Gerbrand Poster later started Coastal Federal Savings and Loan Association. He used his connections from serving in the US Army during World War II to help the community.

Changes and New Waves of People

When the Poster family moved in, they had young children. This changed Briarcliffe. It became a place not just for retirees, but also for families. It offered a quieter, more affordable option compared to other areas like Pine Lakes and Dunes.

A big change happened after Hurricane Hazel in 1954. Insurance companies first said the damage was from "high water," which was not covered. But Poster convinced officials that the damage was from "wind-driven water," which was covered by insurance. This helped many people rebuild. It also led to small rooming houses in Myrtle Beach being replaced by larger motels. This growth in Myrtle Beach also helped Briarcliffe Acres grow.

The Myrtle Beach Air Force Base also brought many people to the area. Some Air Force members, like Col. Francis "Gabby" Gabreski, a famous pilot, chose to live in Briarcliffe. Investors, artists, and families also moved in. Soon, Briarcliffe Acres, once known for raccoons and deer, became a popular place to live.

Rolf Bierens, another Dutchman, was important in this new wave. He built his own home and the first cabana. Other residents included people like Krampf, a button manufacturer, and Passow, a developer.

Today, Briarcliffe Acres still has lakes, pine forests, and wild animals. Even though the surrounding Grand Strand area has developed a lot, Briarcliffe Acres has kept its quiet, natural feel, much like it was in the 1960s.

Population Information

Briarcliffe Acres has seen its population change over the years:

• 1980: 338 people
• 1990: 552 people
• 2000: 470 people
• 2010: 457 people
• 2020: 479 people

2020 Census Details

According to the 2020 United States census, there were 479 people living in Briarcliffe Acres. These people lived in 201 households, and 136 of those were families.

A survey in 2022 showed that the average household income in Briarcliffe Acres was $134,375. Because of this, MSN.com said it was the fourth richest city in South Carolina in 2024. Forbes magazine also called it the sixth richest in 2023.

Main Roads

The main highways that serve Briarcliffe Acres are:

• US 17
• SC 22

See also

In Spanish: Briarcliffe Acres para niños