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Myrtle Beach
KNOWLEDGE OF Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach‘s history is a story of persisting, starting over and reinventing. Due to the ecological make-up and relative remoteness from early settlements in Charlestown and inland, it took a while for its founders to realize that the ocean, frequent blue skies, beautiful flowers and shrubs and unusual birds would attract vacationers.
Chicora
Myrtle Beach’s first inhabitants were the American Indian Waccamaw and Winyah tribes. “Waccamaw and “Chicora (meaning “the Land) are names still in use today as the area settlers respectfully tried to preserve the rich Indian heritage. An Indian burial site on Waites Island near Little River, and the remains of an Indian village on Wachesaw Plantation near Murrells Inlet have been preserved.
The Spanish explorer Lucas Vasques de Allyon was the first non-Indian to try to settle in the area in 1526. Within a year, though, the entire settlement died from disease.
The English Arrive
In the late 1600’s, the English were more successful. They began trading with the Indians north of Charles Town (later, Charleston). Eventually, the English established settlements in what are now Horry (location of Myrtle Beach) and Georgetown counties. The main street of Myrtle Beach, King’s Highway, became the primary overland route between seaports in northern states and Charleston and Savannah, Ga.
Prince George Parish (now Georgetown) was established in 1730. In the late 1700’s, an agricultural economy emerged as rice plantations flourished because of the many marshes and rivers in the area. Indigo and tobacco crops were prosperous as well. Many Americans are surprised to learn about how profitable and important rice was to the Southern economy. You can learn more about it by visiting the Rice Museum in Georgetown from March through November.
Chicora
Myrtle Beach’s first inhabitants were the American Indian Waccamaw and Winyah tribes. “Waccamaw and “Chicora (meaning “the Land) are names still in use today as the area settlers respectfully tried to preserve the rich Indian heritage. An Indian burial site on Waites Island near Little River, and the remains of an Indian village on Wachesaw Plantation near Murrells Inlet have been preserved.
The Spanish explorer Lucas Vasques de Allyon was the first non-Indian to try to settle in the area in 1526. Within a year, though, the entire settlement died from disease.
The English Arrive
In the late 1600’s, the English were more successful. They began trading with the Indians north of Charles Town (later, Charleston). Eventually, the English established settlements in what are now Horry (location of Myrtle Beach) and Georgetown counties. The main street of Myrtle Beach, King’s Highway, became the primary overland route between seaports in northern states and Charleston and Savannah, Ga.
Prince George Parish (now Georgetown) was established in 1730. In the late 1700’s, an agricultural economy emerged as rice plantations flourished because of the many marshes and rivers in the area. Indigo and tobacco crops were prosperous as well. Many Americans are surprised to learn about how profitable and important rice was to the Southern economy. You can learn more about it by visiting the Rice Museum in Georgetown from March through November.
Chapi