Horry County, South Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Horry County
|
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg)
Horry County Government and Justice Center
|
|||||
|
|||||
| 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 (pronounced OR-ree) is a county in the eastern part of South Carolina, a state in the United States. It's the fourth most populated county in South Carolina.
The county seat, which is like its main government city, is Conway. The biggest city in Horry County is Myrtle Beach. Horry County is also the main part of the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach area. It's about 90 miles north of Charleston and 130 miles east of Columbia, the state capital.
Contents
History of Horry County
Horry County was created in 1801 from an area called Georgetown District. Back then, only about 550 people lived here. The county was surrounded by many rivers and swamps. This made it hard for people to get help from the "outside world."
Because of this, the people living in Horry County became very independent. They even called their home "The Independent Republic of Horry." The county was named after Peter Horry, a hero from the American Revolutionary War. He was born in South Carolina around 1743.
Peter Horry started his military career in 1775. He was one of 20 captains chosen to serve in the state's regiments. Later, in 1790, he worked with Brigadier General Francis Marion, another famous Revolutionary War figure.
Since 1970, the number of people living in Horry County has grown a lot. It has become a popular place for people to retire or buy second homes. Many resorts and retirement communities have been built here.
In 2012, the county honored Peter Horry. They placed a bronze statue of him inside the Horry County Government and Justice Center. An artist named Garland Weeks designed the sculpture. The stone base of the statue lists the names of important county officials from 1801 and 2011. It also has a short story about General Peter Horry.
People who love local history also help keep Horry County's past alive. The Horry County Legacy Project is a website that shares the county's history. You can find it through the Horry County Museum. It has articles, photos, and other things that show how the county has grown. A local historian named Nicholas Gallagher has helped a lot with this project.
Geography of Horry County
Horry County is the largest county in South Carolina by land area. It covers about 1,255 square miles. Most of this is land (about 1,133 square miles), and a smaller part is water (about 121 square miles). The highest point in the county is 124 feet above sea level.
Horry County is in the northeastern corner of South Carolina. It has many different types of land, including rivers, beaches, forests, and swamps. The Atlantic Ocean is to its east, and North Carolina is to its north. The Little Pee Dee River and Drowning Creek (also called the Lumber River) are on its western side. The Waccamaw River, which is about 140 miles long, flows through the county and into the Atlantic Ocean.
Protected Areas
State and Local Protected 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
Neighboring Counties
- Columbus County, North Carolina – northeast
- Brunswick County, North Carolina – east
- Georgetown County – southwest
- Marion County – west
- Dillon County – northwest
People of Horry County (Demographics)
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1810 | 4,349 | — | |
| 1820 | 5,025 | 15.5% | |
| 1830 | 5,245 | 4.4% | |
| 1840 | 5,755 | 9.7% | |
| 1850 | 7,646 | 32.9% | |
| 1860 | 7,962 | 4.1% | |
| 1870 | 10,721 | 34.7% | |
| 1880 | 15,574 | 45.3% | |
| 1890 | 19,256 | 23.6% | |
| 1900 | 23,364 | 21.3% | |
| 1910 | 26,995 | 15.5% | |
| 1920 | 32,077 | 18.8% | |
| 1930 | 39,376 | 22.8% | |
| 1940 | 51,951 | 31.9% | |
| 1950 | 59,820 | 15.1% | |
| 1960 | 68,247 | 14.1% | |
| 1970 | 69,992 | 2.6% | |
| 1980 | 101,419 | 44.9% | |
| 1990 | 144,053 | 42.0% | |
| 2000 | 196,629 | 36.5% | |
| 2010 | 269,291 | 37.0% | |
| 2020 | 351,029 | 30.4% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 397,478 | 47.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020 |
|||
2020 Census Data
In 2020, the population of Horry County was 351,029 people. There were over 140,000 households living in the county.
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 265,729 | 75.7% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 39,367 | 11.21% |
| Native American | 1,174 | 0.33% |
| Asian | 4,578 | 1.3% |
| Pacific Islander | 303 | 0.09% |
| Other/mixed | 15,574 | 4.44% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 24,304 | 6.92% |
2010 Census Data
In 2010, there were 269,291 people living in Horry County. About 80% of the people were White, and 13.4% were Black or African American. People of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 6.2% of the population.
Economy of Horry County
Horry County has a strong economy. In 2022, the total value of all goods and services produced in the county was about $18.3 billion.
In 2013, a company that makes guns, PTR Industries, moved to Horry County from Connecticut. They moved because of new gun laws in Connecticut. This move created new jobs in Horry County. The company planned to hire many new workers over the next few years.
As of April 2024, some of the largest employers in Horry County include big companies like Adidas and Walmart. Other major employers are the city of Myrtle Beach, Coastal Carolina University, Food Lion, Hilton Grand Vacations, and Publix.
| Industry | Number of Jobs | Job Percentage (%) | Average Yearly Pay ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotels, Restaurants, and Food Services | 34,736 | 23.7 | 29,588 |
| Office Support and Waste Management | 8,498 | 5.8 | 42,744 |
| Farming, Forestry, and Fishing | 211 | 0.1 | 49,608 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 5,831 | 4.0 | 26,260 |
| Construction | 8,791 | 6.0 | 59,644 |
| Education Services | 8,771 | 6.0 | 59,592 |
| Finance and Insurance | 3,203 | 2.2 | 77,532 |
| Health Care and Social Help | 17,448 | 11.9 | 62,556 |
| Information | 1,813 | 1.2 | 65,468 |
| Company Management | 515 | 0.4 | 79,300 |
| Manufacturing | 3,534 | 2.4 | 52,208 |
| Mining and Gas Extraction | 69 | 0.0 | 74,204 |
| Other Services | 3,713 | 2.5 | 37,492 |
| Professional and Technical Services | 4,815 | 3.3 | 68,796 |
| Public Administration | 6,859 | 4.7 | 56,836 |
| Real Estate and Rentals | 4,787 | 3.3 | 44,356 |
| Retail Stores | 26,720 | 18.2 | 35,152 |
| Transportation and Storage | 3,141 | 2.1 | 48,568 |
| Utilities | 629 | 0.4 | 73,892 |
| Wholesale Trade | 2,730 | 1.9 | 61,308 |
| Total | 146,814 | 100.0% | 45,424 |
Transportation in Horry County
Major Roads
Future I-73
Future I-74
US 17
US 17 Bus.
US 17 Conn.
US 76
US 378
US 378 Truck
US 501
US 501 Bus.
US 701
US 701 Truck (Conway 1)
US 701 Truck (Conway 2)
SC 9
SC 9 Bus.
SC 22
SC 31
SC 31 Conn.
SC 65
SC 90
SC 90 Conn.
SC 179
SC 319
SC 410
SC 544
SC 544 Conn. (Red Hill 1)
SC 544 Conn. (Red Hill 2)
SC 707
SC 905
SC 917
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
Bus System
- The Coast RTA bus system runs almost every day of the year. It has 15 routes that cover the Horry County and Grand Strand area. This includes cities like Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway.
Communities in Horry County
Cities
- Conway (county seat)
- Loris
- Myrtle Beach (largest community)
- North Myrtle Beach
Towns
Census-Designated Places
These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as cities or towns.
- Bucksport
- Carolina Forest
- Finklea
- Forestbrook
- Garden City
- Green Sea
- Homewood
- Ketchuptown
- Little River
- Live Oak
- Red Hill
- Socastee
Other Communities and Neighborhoods
These are smaller areas that are not officially incorporated.
- Adrian
- Allsbrook
- Baxter Forks
- Bayboro
- Brooksville
- Bucksville
- Buck Forest
- Burgess
- Causey
- Cedar Branch
- Cherry Grove Beach
- Chestnut Hill
- Cochran Town
- Cool Spring
- Crescent Beach
- Daisy
- Dog Bluff
- Dongola
- Duford
- Fantasy Harbour
- Floyds Crossroads
- Forney
- Galivants Ferry
- Glass Hill
- Goretown
- Gurley
- Hand
- Hammond
- Hickory Grove
- Horry
- Howard
- Ingram Beach
- Jordanville
- Klondike
- Konig
- Little Town
- Longs
- Mt. Calvary
- Mt. Olive
- Nixonville
- Nixons Crossroads
- Ocean Drive Beach
- Pee Dee Crossroads
- Pine Island
- Playcards
- Poplar
- Red Bluff
- Stephens Crossroads
- Shell
- Springmaid Beach
- Toddville
- Twelvemile
- Wampee
- Windy Hill Beach
- Worthams Ferry
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Horry para niños
