Tides & Towns
Grand Strand · SC

Myrtle Beach

The center of the Grand Strand, 60 miles of continuous beach.

Population
35,682 (2020 census)
Visitors
More than 20 million a year
Incorporated
1938 as a town, 1957 as a city
Tides
Two highs, two lows a day

Then

  1. Before 1700s

    The Waccamaw people live along Long Bay.

  2. 1700s

    The Withers family receives land grants along the coast. After a hurricane in 1822 drowns 18 people in the Withers house, the family leaves its coastal land.

  3. 1881

    The Burroughs and Collins Company of Conway buys much of the old Withers land.

  4. 1900

    The Conway & Seashore Railroad begins daily service on May 1. In a naming contest, Burroughs's wife suggests Myrtle Beach, for the wax myrtle that grows everywhere.

  5. 1901

    The Seaside Inn opens after the railroad reaches the beach.

  6. 1938

    Myrtle Beach incorporates as a town on March 12. It becomes a city in 1957.

  7. 1940–1993

    The Army Air Corps turns the municipal airport into a base, later Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, which closes in 1993.

  8. 1954

    Hurricane Hazel strikes, the worst hurricane in the city's history.

Now

Myrtle Beach draws more than 20 million visitors a year to the Grand Strand, a 60-mile run of continuous beach.

The oceanfront Boardwalk opened in 2010, and the 200-foot SkyWheel beside it followed in May 2011. Golf is the other big draw, with dozens of courses around the area.

On the water

From NOAA's predictions for Myrtle Beach, Combination Bridge, SC over the next 365 days. Heights are in feet above mean lower low water (MLLW).

Pattern
Two highs and two lows a day, close in size
Typical daily range
1.9 ft
Biggest swing
3.5 ft on Jan 23
Smallest swing
0.5 ft on Oct 18
Highest high
2.4 ft, Oct 1 at 12:27 PM
Lowest low
−1.3 ft, Jan 23 at 6:19 AM

Tide stations around Myrtle Beach

Sources