Date Formed:

1801

Land Area (square miles):

1134

County Seat:

Conway

Other Cities and Towns:

Atlantic Beach, Aynor, Briarcliffe Acres, Loris, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach

Form of Government:

Council-Administrator

Council Members:

Method of Election

Single Member/ Chair at Large

Term Length

4 years

Council of Government:

Waccamaw

County History According to the South Carolina State Library Reference Room

Horry County was named for Revolutionary War hero Peter Horry (1743-1815). The county was originally a part of Georgetown District, and at one time it was called Kingston. It became a separate county in 1801, with the county seat at Conway. This area of the state was isolated for many years by numerous rivers and swamps, and the inhabitants sometimes referred to themselves as the "Independent Republic of Horry." Lumber and naval stores were the primary industries during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, with tobacco farming being introduced later. In the twentieth century, tourism has come to dominate the coastal section of the county centered around Myrtle Beach. Television personality Vanna White is a native of Horry County.

Population Trends

Value

Rank

Value

Rank

Population 1980:

101,419

Numeric Change 1980-2000:

95,210

Population 1990:

144,053

Avg. Ann. Growth Rate 1980-2000:

4.69%

Population 2000:

196,629

Percent Change 2005-2006:

4.6%

Population Estimate 2005:

227,520

Persons Per Square Mile 2006:

210.3

Population Estimate 2006:

238,493

Link to SC Office of Research and Statistics - Community Profile Demographic Data

Link to SC Office of Research and Statistics - Kids Count

Economic Data

Value

Rank

Value

Rank

Jobs 1980:

46,904

Personal Income 2005:

$6,094,976

Jobs 1990:

75,012

Per Capita Pers. Income (PCPI) 2005:

$26,789

Jobs 2000:

109,682

% of U.S. PCPI 2005:

78%

Avg. Annual Growth Rate 1980-2000:

6.69%

Average Wage Per Job 2005:

$27,275

Jobs 2004:

115,932

% of U.S. Avg. Wage Per Job 2005:

68%

Jobs 2005:

121,649

Avg. Unemployment 1996-2006:

4.8%

Numeric Change 2004-2005:

5,717

Unemployment Rate 2006 Ann. Avg:

5.4%

Tax Data

Value

Rank

Value

Rank

Assessed Property 2004:

$1,501,284,077

Per Capita Assessed Property 2004:

$7,635

County Base Millage Rate* 2006:

0.0463

Additional Sales Tax (if applicable)

Value of One Mil 2006:

$1,530,000

Local Option Sales Tax:

Net Taxable Sales FY 2005:

$6,195,467,606

Capital Projects Sales Tax:

1% (passed 11-06)

Admissions Taxes Collected FY 2005:

$9,374,561

School District Sales Tax:

1% (passed 11-06)

Accomodations Taxes Collected FY 2005:

$14,239,738

Transportation Sales Tax:

* County Base Millage Rate reflects county mils only and does not include millages charged by other taxing entities (cities, schools, etc.)

Link to SC Employment Security Commission - Top Employers by County

Link to SC Office of Research and Statistics - Community Profile Demographic Data

Financial and Employment Data

Value

Rank

Value

Rank

Total Revenues FY 2004:

$211,419,953

Per Capital Revenues:

$1,075

Total Expenditures FY 2004:

$173,556,950

Per Capita Expenditures:

$883

General Fund Budget FY 2007:

$125,352,921

Per Capita General Fund Budget:

$638

Total Debt Outstanding FY 2006:

$489,880,822

Per Capita Debt Outstanding:

$2,158

Credit Ratings(s) FY 2006:

Payroll FY 2007:

$53,381,582

Moodys:

Aa3

Full-Time Employees FY 2007:

1750

Standard & Poor:

AA-

Part-Time Employees FY 2007:

Fitch:

Full Time Emp/1,000 Cnty Residents:

8.90

Link to SC Office of Research and Statistics - Local Government Finance Report (Full document in Excel)

Sources: County histories obtained from the South Carolina State Library Reference Room at http://www.state.sc.us/scsl/cnties.html. All other sources are listed in the appendix tables.

Updated

9/12/2007 16:25

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