Horry County, South Carolina

Horry County, South Carolina

Horry County Government and Justice Center

Seal
Map of South Carolina highlighting Horry County
Location in the state of South Carolina
Map of the United States highlighting South Carolina
South Carolina's location in the U.S.
Founded 1801
Named for Peter Horry
Seat Conway
Largest city Myrtle Beach
Area
 • Total 1,255 sq mi (3,250 km2)
 • Land 1,134 sq mi (2,937 km2)
 • Water 121 sq mi (313 km2), 9.6%
Population
 • (2010) 289,650
 • Density 237/sq mi (92/km²)
Congressional district 7th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.horrycounty.org

Horry County (/ˈɒriː/ ORR-ee) is a county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2010 census, its population was 289,650,[1] making it the fifth-most populous county in South Carolina. The county seat is Conway.[2]

Horry County is included in the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is located in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina, approximately 90 miles north of Charleston, South Carolina and approximately 130 miles east of the state capital, Columbia.

History

Horry County County (pronounced O'Ree) was incorporated in 1801. At that time the county had an estimated population of 550. It was completely surrounded by water, which forced the inhabitants to survive virtually without any assistance from the "outside world". This caused the county residents to become an extremely independent populace, and they named their county "The Independent Republic of Horry". The county was named after, and in honor of, Revolutionary War hero, Peter Horry[3] who was born in South Carolina sometime around 1743. Horry started his military career in 1775 as one of 20 captains, elected by the Provincial Congress of South Carolina, to serve the 1st and 2nd Regiments. In 1790 he was assigned to the South Carolina militia under Brigadier General Francis “Swamp Fox” Marion[4][5]

On October 29, 2012, the county paid homage to the man for whom the county is named by unveiling a bronze sculpture of Peter Horry inside the Horry County Government and Justice Center. The sculpture was designed by Lubbock, Texas artist Garland Weeks, and Coastal Monument of Conway, South Carolina designed the stone base. Located on the base of the sculpture are the names of the 1801 commissioners on one side and the names of 2011 Horry County Council members on the other side a brief bio of Peter Horry on the front. It cost slightly more than $16,200 for both the bust/sculpture and the stone base.[6] [7]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,255 square miles (3,250 km2), of which 1,134 square miles (2,940 km2) is land and 121 square miles (310 km2) (9.6%) is water.[8] The highest point in the county is 124 ft. above sea level.[4]

Horry County is located in the northeastern corner of South Carolina. It is a diverse land made up of rivers, beaches, forest and swamps. Horry County is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the Little Pee Dee River and Drowning Creek (also known as the Lumber River) on Horry's western side, and North Carolina to the north. Waccamaw River, approximately 140 miles (225 km) long, runs through southeastern North Carolina and eastern South Carolina into Horry County. The river runs through the coastal plain, along the eastern border between the two states, and into the Atlantic Ocean.[9]

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18104,349—
18205,02515.5%
18305,2454.4%
18405,7559.7%
18507,64632.9%
18607,9624.1%
187010,72134.7%
188015,57445.3%
189019,25623.6%
190023,36421.3%
191026,99515.5%
192032,07718.8%
193039,37622.8%
194051,95131.9%
195059,82015.1%
196068,24714.1%
197069,9922.6%
1980101,41944.9%
1990144,05342.0%
2000196,62936.5%
2010269,29137.0%
Est. 2014298,832[10]11.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2014[1]

As of the census[15] estimates of 2008, there were 263,868 people, 81,800 households, and 54,478 families residing in the county. Horry is one of South Carolina's 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.

Horry County Museum, Conway, South Carolina

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.

Law and government

County Council

Horry County has a county council whose members represent 11 single-member districts within the county, with a chairman voted at-large. The county council usually meets at 6 p.m on first and third Tuesday of every month in the Council Chambers at the Horry County Government and Justice Center located at 1301 2nd Avenue in Conway.

County Council members

Name Political Affiliation District Term Expires
Mark Lazarus Republican Chairman 12/31/2018
Harold Worley Republican 1 12/31/2018
Bill Howard Republican 2 12/31/2018
Marion Foxworth Democrat 3 12/31/2016
Gary Loftus Republican 4 12/31/2016
Tyler Servant Republican 5 12/31/2018
Cam Crawford Republican 6 12/31/2016
James R. Frazier Democrat 7 12/31/2018
Johnny Vaught Republican 8 12/31/2018
W. Paul Prince Republican 9 / Vice Chairman 12/31/2016
Jody Prince Republican 10 12/31/2016
Al Allen Republican 11 12/31/2018

Law enforcement

Horry County has its own police force, the Horry County Police Department, which provides 24-hour services to the unincorporated areas of the county. It is the only county police department in the State of South Carolina.[16] The Horry County Sheriff's Office is responsible for numerous tasks that include: courthouse security, processing of warrants, fingerprinting, registration of sex offenders, funeral escorts, background checks and managing the J. Reuben Long Detention Center.[17] The South Carolina Highway Patrol has a Troop 5 barracks located in Conway, and they provide services throughout the county.[18] Myrtle Beach, Conway, Briarcliffe Acres, Atlantic Beach, Surfside Beach, Loris, and Aynor all have their own Police Departments, which patrol within the relevant 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.[19]

Economy

In 2013, PTR Industries[20] relocated to the Cool Springs Business Park[21] near Aynor from Bristol, Connecticut after that state passed restrictive gun control legislation following the many deaths in Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in the state. Twenty-one employees are relocating from Bristol. The company said that it will hire an additional 30 workers within the first quarter of 2014, with a goal of having 120 employees in 2017.[22]

Transportation

Airports

Mass transit

Major highways

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 161.
  4. 1 2 Horry County 2011-2012 Budget: Community Profile on page 24
  5. ↑ Francis Marion (1732-1795)
  6. ↑ Dickerson, Brad (29 October 2012). "Horry County honors its namesake". The Sun News. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  7. ↑ "Sculpture of Gen. Peter Horry being unveiled". Associated Press. 29 October 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  8. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  9. ↑ A Historical Look at Horry County
  10. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  13. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  15. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  16. ↑ "Horry County Government: Police Department Info Page". horrycounty.org. Horry County Government. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  17. ↑ "Horry County Government: Sheriff's Office Info Page". horrycounty.org. Horry County Government. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  18. ↑ Retrieved 2011-06-04
  19. ↑ Retrieved 2011-06-04
  20. ↑ PTR Industries
  21. ↑ Cool Springs Business Park
  22. ↑ Miller, Joshua (7 January 2014). "Locked & loaded: Gun maker finds warmer surroundings in South Carolina after leaving Connecticut". Fox News. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  23. ↑ The Coast RTA

Further reading

External links

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Coordinates: 33°55′N 78°59′W / 33.91°N 78.98°W / 33.91; -78.98

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