| Horry County, South Carolina | ||
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Old Horry County Courthouse, Conway, South Carolina
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Location in the state of South Carolina |
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South Carolina's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | 1801 | |
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| Seat | Conway | |
| Largest city | Myrtle Beach | |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
1,255 sq mi (3,250 km²) 1,134 sq mi (2,937 km²) 121 sq mi (313 km²), 9.66% |
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| Population - (2010) - Density |
269,291 189/sq mi (73/km²) |
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| Website | www.horrycounty.org | |
Horry County ( /ˈɒriː/ orr-ee) is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. This name honored Revolutionary War Hero, Peter Horry. Brigadier General Horry was born in South Carolina sometime around 1743 and started his distinguished military career in 1775 as one of 20 captains the Provincial Congress of South Carolina elected to serve the 1st and 2nd Regiments. In 1790 he was assigned to the South Carolina militia under Brigadier General Francis “Swamp Fox” Marion.[1]
The 2000 census recorded the county's population to be 196,629.[2] In 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau recorded the county's population to be 269,291.[3][4] Founded in 1801, its county seat is Conway,[5] and its largest city is Myrtle Beach. The county shares with Georgetown County an arc-shaped strip of sandy beaches and barrier islands called the Grand Strand, which is a major U. S. tourist destination and retirement community. The area centered in Myrtle Beach is becoming a metropolitan area.
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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,255 square miles (3,250.4 km2), of which 1,134 square miles (2,937.0 km2) is land and 121 square miles (313.4 km2) (9.66%) is water. The highest point in the county is 124 ft. above sea level.
As of the census[6] estimates of 2008, there were 263,868 people, 81,800 households, and 54,478 families residing in the county. Horry is one of South Carolinas fastest growing counties. The population density was 173 people per square mile (67/km²). There were 122,085 housing units at an average density of 108 per square mile (42/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 81.05% White, 15.50% Black or African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.76% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.16% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. 2.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 81,800 households out of which 26.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.40% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the county, the population was spread out with 21.30% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 29.30% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,515 and the median income for a family was $42,676. Males had a median income of $27,663 versus $21,676 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,949. About 8.40% of families and 12.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.90% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over.
Originally part of colonial Craven County, (1682) in what is now North Carolina, Horry County has also been part of Prince George Winyah (1722), Prince Frederick (1734), and All Saints (1767) parishes, which served as early religious and civic jurisdictions. This area, which became part of newly-formed Georgetown District in 1769, was given its present boundaries and named Kingston County in 1785. In 1801, it was renamed Horry District, and, in 1868, Horry County.
Republicans hold a 10 to 2 majority on the county council. Terms last four years and are staggered, with half the council up for election every two years.
| Position | Name | Affiliation | District | |
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| Chairman | Tom Rice | Republican | At-Large | |
| Vice Chairman | W. Paul Prince | Republican | District 9 | |
| Member | Harold G. Worley | Republican | District 1 | |
| Member | Brent Schulz | Republican | District 2 | |
| Member | Marion D. Foxworth III | Democratic | District 3 | |
| Member | Gary Loftus | Republican | District 4 | |
| Member | Paul D. Price, Jr. | Republican | District 5 | |
| Member | Bob Grabowski | Republican | District 6 | |
| Member | James R. Frazier | Democratic | District 7 | |
| Member | Carl Schwartzkopf | Republican | District 8 | |
| Member | Jody Prince | Republican | District 10 | |
| Member | Al Allen | Republican | District 11 | |
Horry County has its own police force which provides 24 hour services to the unicorporated areas of the county with the Horry County Sheriff's Office covering court security and the county jail. The South Carolina Highway Patrol has a Troop 5 barracks located in Conway and they provide services throughout the county[7] Myrtle Beach, Conway, Briarcliffe Acres, Atlantic Beach, Surfside Beach, Loris, and Aynor all have their own Police Departments which patrol within the town or city's border. North Myrtle Beach has a Public Safety Department which provides police and fire services in the town of North Myrtle Beach.[8]
| Dillon County | Columbus County, North Carolina | |||
| Marion County | Brunswick County, North Carolina | |||
| Horry County, South Carolina | ||||
| Georgetown County | Atlantic Ocean |
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