Myrtle Beach Area Data & Statistics
Serving Atlantic Beach, Aynor, Conway, Garden City Beach, Litchfield Beach, Little River, Loris, Murrells Inlet, Myrtle beach, North Myrtle Beach, Pawley's Island and Surfside Beach.
The Place to Stay & Play®
The Myrtle Beach area has received many positive reviews:
The Travel Channel named Myrtle Beach one of America's Best Beaches for 2004-2005. Earning 18 out of a possible 20 starts. Myrtle Beach was singled out as the Best Family Beach. A review on The Travel Channel's Web site, discovery.com states, "Myrtle Beach is the East Coast's ultimate vacation hub." Along with the other winners, the Myrtle Beach area was showcased on The Travel Channel's “America's Best Beaches” program and on the Web site.
The Myrtle Beach area has again been named a favorite travel destination by readers of Southern Living magazine. In its fifth annual Readers' Choice Awards, the area was name the South's second favorite beach and third most popular family destination.
Myrtle Beach beat out exotic locales such as Waikiki and St. Thomas in an online poll of favorite beaches conducted by Yahoo! Travel and National Geographic Traveler magazine. The survey of more than 2,200 travelers ranked Myrtle Beach No. 2 of a list of Top 10 Beaches. Results of the survey and video highlights were posted on Yahoo!'s Web site and published in National Geographic Traveler. The qulaities most important to beachgoers were cleanliness, scenery, climate, water temperature and romance, in that order.
The Myrtle beach area was named one of the nation's top vacation spots for retired Americans age 55 and older, according to a study by tourism researchers D.K. Shifflet & Associates. The company also ranked the Myrtle Beach area No. 5 in the nation for leisure destinations.
Economic Indicators
Admissions Tax - Horry County
| 2000 |
$8.78 million |
| 2001 |
$8.97 million |
| 2002 |
$9.02 million |
| 2003 |
$8.67 million |
| 2004 |
$8.92 million |
| 2005 |
$9.30 million |
| 2006 |
$9.29 million |
Source: S.C. Department of Parks,
Recreation and Tourism |
Accomodation Tax - Horry County
| 2000 |
$11.52 million |
| 2001 |
$11.70 million |
| 2002 |
$12.21 million |
| 2003 |
$12.37 million |
| 2004 |
$13.12 million |
| 2005 |
$13.93 million |
| 2006 |
$14.56 million |
Source: S.C. Department of Parks,
Recreation and Tourism |
Retail Sales - Horry County
| 2000 |
$6.05 billion |
| 2001 |
$5.98 billion |
| 2002 |
$6.17 billion |
| 2003 |
$6.64 billion |
| 2004 |
$7.48 billion |
| 2005 |
$8.28 billion |
| 2006 |
$9.25 billion |
| Source: S.C. Department of Revenue |
Airport Arrivals
| 2000 |
789,843 |
| 2001 |
709,561 |
| 2002 |
628,923 |
| 2003 |
666,545 |
| 2004 |
766,268 |
| 2005 |
781,088 |
| 2006 |
716,484 |
| Source: Myrtle Beach International Airport |
Resident Characteristics
Resident Population*
Horry County
(1134 sq. miles) |
238,493 |
| City of Myrtle Beach |
28,597 |
Georgetown County
(815 sq. miles) |
60,860 |
| City of Georgetown |
8,706 |
| *Based on the U.S. Census Bureau data |
Income Demographics
| |
Per Capita |
Median Family |
Georgetown
|
$30,399 |
$49,700 |
| Horry |
$26,789 |
$51,300 |
| *Based on the 2006 S.C. Statistical Abstract |
Age Composition of Horry and Georgetown Counties*
| |
Under 5 |
5 -19 |
20 - 64 |
65+ |
Georgetown
|
3,565 |
11,875 |
32,091 |
8,354 |
| Horry |
1,1298 |
35,707 |
120,154 |
29,470 |
| *Based on the 2000 census
|
Average Cost of Living Prices*
Average New Home Cost
(2400 sq. ft. living area, conventionally built on site,
3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 car garage) |
$252,950 |
Average Apartment Rent
(2 bedrooms, 2 baths, unfurnished, approx. 950 sq. ft.,
excluding utilities except water and sewer) |
$605 |
| Average Electric Bill |
$131.61 |
Average Phone Charges
(not including long distance service) |
$25.10 |
Average Gasoline Price per Gallon
(regular unleaded gasoline) |
$2.04 |
| Average Price of a Movie Ticket |
$8.08 |
| *As of January 2007 ACCRA Cost of Living Survey |
Click here to download a copy of the Myrtle Beach Area Statistical
Abstract.
For information on relocating to the area, visit the Relocation Information section of the web site.
Visitor Characteristics
Grand Strand leisure travelers spent an average of $118.80
per person per day, and group business travelers spent an
average of $208.11 per person per day. Furthermore, visitors
typically use their own car as their primary transportation
(89.5%). Most Grand Strand visitors (59%)
stayed in hotels, while 25% stayed in condos and villas.
Tourist Population Estimates
| 1999 |
13.7 million |
| 2000 |
13.8 million |
| 2001 |
11.9 million |
| 2002 |
12.7 million |
| 2003 |
12.8 million |
| 2004 |
13.2 million |
| 2005 |
13.8 million |
| |
Visitor Age
The Grand Strand attracts a wide range of travelers; approximately
91% of visitors were under the age of 65.
Visitor Income
The Grand Strand attracts middle-to high-income travelers;
visitor income has steadily increased over the years.
| $100,000 + |
12% |
| $ 75,000 - $99,999 |
18% |
| $ 60,000 - $74,999 |
18% |
| $ 45,000 - $ 59,999 |
18% |
| $ 30,000 - $44,999 |
21% |
| $ 30,000 or less |
13% |
| |
Visitor Length of Stay
The average length of stay along the Grand Strand was 5.0
days for leisure travelers and 3.6 days for business travelers.
Visitor Origin
Along the Grand Strand, 20% of our visitors came
from North Carolina in 2005. Another 25% percent traveled
from New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New Jersey. The
following are the 2005 top 10 states of visitor inquiry origin:
North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia,
South Carolina, Tennesse, Georgia, Illinois and Michigan.
Golf Revenues
One out of eight American travelers played golf while they
were on a trip at least 100 miles away from home according
to a release by the Travel Industry Association of America
(TIA). Golf generates more income than any other single
entertainment or recreational activity in the state.
Approximately 4.0 million total rounds of golf were played
on area courses in 2005.
Residential Building
| 2000 |
2083 |
| 2001 |
2179 |
| 2002 |
2546 |
| 2003 |
3476 |
| 2004 |
4473 |
| 2005 |
6816 |
| 2006 |
6694 |
Permits Issued - Horry County
(Single and Multi Family Units)
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census |
Employment
The majority of jobs in Horry County are related to the services
necessary for successful tourism businesses.
Approximately 65 to 70% of Horry County s employment
is tourism related. The unemployment rate was 6.46
percent in 2004.
Source: S.C. Employment Security Commission
Climate
| Sunny Days |
215 |
| Overcast Days |
150 |
| Frost Days |
42 |
| Wettest Months |
Aug. & Sep. |
| Driest Months |
Apr. & Nov. |
| Days with .10 inches or rain or more |
77 |
| Days when max temp is more than 90° |
40 |
*Based on 30 years of data
Source: S.C. Climatology Department |
Quick Facts
- 13.8 million visitors annually
- 105 completed golf courses
- 4.0 million total rounds of golf were played in 2005
- 8 live entertainment theaters with over 11,400 seats
- More than 1,900 full service restaurants
- In 2006, almost 716,484 people arrived by one of 11 airlines
- Average of 215 sunny days every year
- The population of Myrtle Beach is approximately 28,597
- Over 300 outlet shopping stores
|
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