Surfside Beach, South Carolina Facts for Kids

Surfside Beach is a town in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. It's often called "The Family Beach" because it's a great place for families to visit. In 2020, about 4,155 people lived there. Surfside Beach is part of a larger coastal area known as the Grand Strand.

Where is Surfside Beach Located?
A Look Back: The History of Surfside Beach
Who Lives in Surfside Beach?
Getting Around Surfside Beach
Learning and Education
Notable People
See also

Where is Surfside Beach Located?

Surfside Beach is a small town on the coast of South Carolina. It covers about 1.9 square miles (5.0 square kilometers) of land. A very small part of the town, about 0.02 square miles (0.04 square kilometers), is water.

A Look Back: The History of Surfside Beach

Early Days: 1700s and 1800s

Long ago, in the 1700s and 1800s, the area that is now Surfside Beach was home to a large farm. This farm, called "The Ark," was very big, covering over 3,000 acres. People grew crops like sweet potatoes and rice there. They also raised animals such as cattle, sheep, and pigs.

The main house on the farm was close to the ocean. There was also a burial ground nearby. This house was strong enough to be used as a shelter during a big storm in 1893.

The 1900s: From Farm to Family Beach

The old farm house later became a hotel. Then it was used as a shelter for lifeguards. It was taken down in the 1960s. The burial ground was used by families until the 1950s. Later, houses were built on the site, but some graves can still be seen. Markers were put up in 2022 to remember the history of the site.

After the 1893 hurricane, the area was known as Roach's Beach. There were only a few buildings left. A new owner, George J. Holiday, renamed it Floral Beach after his wife. He built a sawmill and opened a hotel in the old farm house.

In 1952, the land was sold again and became known as Surfside Beach. A pier, which is a long walkway extending into the ocean, was built in 1953.

A powerful storm called Hurricane Hazel hit in 1954. It destroyed most of the houses and the pier. Even with the risk of storms, the town continued to grow. By 1956, a few families lived there all the time, and many others came for holidays. The town officially became a town in 1964, with 881 people living there.

The 2000s: Modern Times

In 2007, Surfside Beach became the first town in its county to ban smoking in public places.

A notable event happened on February 4, 2023. A large balloon that had flown across the United States was safely brought down over the coast of Surfside Beach. Military aircraft were seen in the sky just before this happened.

Surfside Beach in 2023

Who Lives in Surfside Beach?

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1970	1,329	—
1980	2,522	89.8%
1990	3,845	52.5%
2000	4,425	15.1%
2010	3,837	−13.3%
2020	4,155	8.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2020, there were 4,155 people living in Surfside Beach. Most of the people living there were White (91.99%). Other groups included Black or African American (1.11%), Native American (0.36%), Asian (0.51%), Pacific Islander (0.22%), and people of mixed backgrounds (3.51%). About 2.31% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Getting Around Surfside Beach

Several important roads help people travel in and out of Surfside Beach:

U.S. 17
U.S. 17 Bus.
SC 544
Glenns Bay Road
Ocean Boulevard
Surfside Drive

Learning and Education

Surfside Beach has a public library where people can read books and learn. It is part of the Horry County Memorial Library system. Students in Surfside Beach attend schools that are part of the Horry County Schools district.

Notable People

Russell Fry is a politician who represents the area in the United States House of Representatives.

Surfside Beach, South Carolina facts for kids

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