North Myrtle Beach
North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is located in Horry County along the Grand Strand, a large stretch of beaches extending from Cape Fear, North Carolina to Georgetown, South Carolina. In 1968, the South Carolina Legislature incorporated the four towns of Cherry Grove, Ocean Drive Beach, Crescent Beach and Windy Hill into one city — the present day City of North Myrtle Beach. The first Europeans to come to North Myrtle Beach were the Spanish, who explored the area as early as 1514, with Blackbeard’s pirates rumored to have inhabited the bays and inlets in the 1700s.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of North Myrtle Beach, SC was 10,974 (in 2000, the latest available year in which data is available). The median family income was $46,052 and the average family size was 2.53 persons. Estimates for 2007 show the Myrtle Beach population as 15,462, a 37.1 percent increase since the year 2000.
North Myrtle Beach enjoys a mild subtropical climate. The Atlantic Ocean and warm air currents from the Gulf Stream keep North Myrtle Beach’s temperatures moderate. The weather, along with nine miles of beautifully white sandy beaches make the City of North Myrtle Beach, SC a popular vacation destination. With over 120 golf courses, a choice of 2,000 restaurants in the Strand and inshore, offshore and surf fishing, there is something for everyone to enjoy. The Jim Caudle artificial reef, the most popular of South Carolina’s 45 artificial fishing reefs, is right off the coast. One of the world’s biggest reptile parks, Alligator Adventure, is also located in North Myrtle Beach, SC.
North Myrtle Beach is the home of beach music and the Shag, the state dance. The shag is a swing dance, originating in the late 1930s. Three times a year, shag dance festivals are held in North Myrtle Beach.
U.S. Route 17 is the primary highway in the city. The Grand Strand Airport serves the city’s aviation needs from the heart of North Myrtle Beach. Public transportation in North Myrtle Beach is provided by the Coast RTA.
There are three nearby hospitals that serve the City of North Myrtle Beach, SC: the Conway Medical Center, the Loris Community Hospital, and the Grand Strand Regional Medical Center.
The Horry County Schools provide public school education in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Nearby institutions of higher learning include the Coastal Carolina University, a public, four-year college or at the Horry – Georgetown Technical College.
The court system in South Carolina consists of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Circuit Court, Municipal Court and Magistrate Court. Municipal courts have jurisdiction over cases arising under ordinances of the municipality, and over-all offenses which are subject to a fine not exceeding $500, or imprisonment not exceeding 30 days, or both.
The Municipal Court of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is a court of limited jurisdiction. It hears both criminal and traffic offenses which carry a penalty of not more than 30 days in jail or $500 in fines that have occurred within the city limits of North Myrtle Beach. Municipal Court is located at the Municipal Complex, 1018 Second Avenue South, North Myrtle Beach. Horry County, including North Myrtle Beach, does not provide legal aid services to the general public.
