City history
From the ancestral lands of the Waccamaw to a premier global tourism destination, explore the temporal evolution of Myrtle Beach.
Chapter one
Earliest documented name
"Associated with the Waccamaw people"
The area was historically part of the Waccamaw territory. A specific indigenous name for the modern city site is not uniquely documented in available historical records.
Ancestral land
The coastal area was part of the broader ancestral territory of the Waccamaw tribe before modern municipal development.
Coastal resort
The city was officially incorporated to manage the growing tourism industry along the Grand Strand.
Chapter two
The United States implemented daylight saving time during World War I, affecting the coastal regions of South Carolina.
The Uniform Time Act was passed to standardize daylight saving time transitions across the United States, including Myrtle Beach.
Chapter three
Myrtle Beach was officially incorporated as a city to provide governance for the developing seaside community.
The end of World War II brought a massive influx of travelers and spurred significant regional growth.
Development of roads and tourism infrastructure transformed the coastline into a major vacation destination.
The emergence of large-scale entertainment complexes and high-rise hotels defined the modern skyline.