Horry County, South Carolina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Horry County
U.S. county
Horry County Government and Justice Center
Flag Seal Logo
Nickname(s):  The Independent Republic
Motto(s):  "Committed to Excellence"
Location within the U.S. state of South Carolina
South Carolina's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	South Carolina
Founded	1801
Named for	Peter Horry
Seat	Conway
Largest community	Myrtle Beach
Area
• Total	1,254.73 sq mi (3,249.7 km2)
• Land	1,133.31 sq mi (2,935.3 km2)
• Water	121.42 sq mi (314.5 km2)  9.68%
Population  (2020)
• Total	351,029
• Estimate  (2023)	397,478
• Density	309.74/sq mi (119.59/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	29511, 29526, 29527, 29527, 29528, 29544, 29545, 29566, 29567, 29568, 29569, 29572, 29575, 29576. 29577, 29578, 29579, 29581, 29582, 29587, 29588, 29597, 29598
Area code	843
Congressional district	7th

Horry County (/ˈɒriː/ OR-ree) is the easternmost county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 351,029. It is the fourth-most populous county in South Carolina. The county seat is Conway.

Horry County is the central county in the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina, about 90 miles (140 km) north of Charleston, and about 130 miles (210 km) east of the state capital, Columbia.

History

Horry County (pronounced OR-ree) was created from Georgetown District in 1801. At this time, the county had an estimated population of 550. Isolated by the many rivers and swamps typical of the South Carolina Lowcountry, the area essentially was surrounded by water, forcing its inhabitants to survive without much assistance from the "outside world". This caused the county residents to become an extremely independent populace, and they named their county "The Independent Republic of Horry". The county was named after, and in honor of, Revolutionary War hero Peter Horry who was born in South Carolina around 1743. Horry started his military career in 1775 as one of 20 captains, elected by the Provincial Congress of South Carolina, to serve the 1st and 2nd Regiments. In 1790, he was assigned to the South Carolina militia under Brigadier General Francis Marion.

The population has increased more than fourfold since 1970, as the area has become a destination for retirees and people owning second homes. It has been developed for resorts and retirement communities. The majority-White residents have constituted a majority-Republican voter base since the late 20th century.

On October 29, 2012, the county paid homage to the man for whom the county is named. It commissioned a bronze sculpture of Peter Horry, installing it inside the Horry County Government and Justice Center. The sculpture was designed by artist Garland Weeks. Coastal Monument of Conway designed the stone base. The base of the sculpture is inscribed with the names of the 1801 commissioners on one side and the names of 2011 Horry County Council members on the other; a brief biography of General Peter Horry is on the front. It cost slightly more than $16,200 for both the bust/sculpture and the stone base.

Geography

Horry County Museum in Conway

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,254.73 square miles (3,249.7 km²), of which 1,133.31 square miles (2,935.3 km²) is land and 121.42 square miles (314.5 km²) (9.68%) is water. It is the largest county by land area in South Carolina. The highest point in the county is 124 feet (38 m) above sea level.

Horry County is in the northeastern corner of South Carolina. It is a diverse land made up of rivers, beaches, forests, and swamps, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the Little Pee Dee River and Drowning Creek (also known as the Lumber River) on its western side, and North Carolina to the north. The Waccamaw River, around 140 miles (230 km) long, runs through southeastern North Carolina and eastern South Carolina into Horry County. The river runs through the coastal plain, along the eastern border between the two states, and into the Atlantic Ocean.

National protected area

• Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge (part)

State and local protected areas/sites

• Cartwheel Bay Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area
• Conway Post Office
• Heritage Shores Nature Preserve
• Horry County Museum
• Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area
• Myrtle Beach State Park
• North Myrtle Beach Area Historical Museum
• Russell Burgess Coastal Preserve
• Waccamaw River Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area

Major water bodies

• Atlantic Ocean (North Atlantic Ocean)
• Calabash River
• Dunes Lake
• Great Pee Dee River
• Intracoastal Waterway
• Lake Busbee
• Little Pee Dee River
• Little River
• Long Bay
• Lumber River
• Murrells Inlet
• Tuckahoe Bay
• Waccamaw River

Adjacent counties

• Columbus County, North Carolina – northeast
• Brunswick County, North Carolina – east
• Georgetown County – southwest
• Marion County – west
• Dillon County – northwest

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, 351,029 people, 140,260 households, and 89,281 families were residing in the county.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, 269,291 people, 112,225 households, and 72,254 families resided in the county. The population density was 237.5 inhabitants per square mile (91.7/km²). The 185,992 housing units averaged 164.0 per square mile (63.3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 79.9% White, 13.4% Black or African American, 1.0% Asian, 0.5% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.1% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 6.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 15.3% were American, 13.4% were African American (which can include other ethnicities), 13.3% were Irish, 12.8% were German, 11.3% were English, and 6.1% were Italian.

Of the 112,225 households, 27.3% had children under 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.6% were not families, and 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.37, and the average family size was 2.84. The median age was 41.1 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,142 and for a family was $51,608. Males had a median income of $37,351 versus $29,525 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,811. About 11.6% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.2% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

In 2022, the GDP was $18.3 billion (about $45,922 per capita), and the real GDP was $15.3 billion (about $38,472 per capita) in chained 2017 dollars.

In 2013, PTR Industries, a gunmaker, relocated to the Cool Springs Business Park near Aynor from Bristol, Connecticut. That state had passed restrictive gun control legislation following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

Twenty-one PTR employees relocated from Bristol. The company stated that it would hire an additional 30 workers in the first quarter of 2014, with a goal of having 120 employees by 2017.

As of April 2024^[update], some of the largest employers in the county include Adidas, the city of Myrtle Beach, Coastal Carolina University, Food Lion, Hilton Grand Vacations, Publix, and Walmart.

Transportation

Major highways

Airports

• Conway–Horry County Airport (HYW) - Conway
• Grand Strand Airport (CRE) - North Myrtle Beach
• Green Sea Airport (S79) - Green Sea
• Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) - Myrtle Beach
• Twin City Airport (5J9) - Loris

Mass transit

• The Coast RTA bus system operates seven days a week, 364 days a year, on 15 routes throughout the Horry County/Grand Strand area, including Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Garden City, Conway, Loris, and Aynor.

Communities

Cities

• Conway (county seat)
• Loris
• Myrtle Beach (largest community)
• North Myrtle Beach

Towns

• Atlantic Beach
• Aynor
• Briarcliffe Acres
• Surfside Beach

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities & neighborhoods

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Horry para niños