North Myrtle Beach celebrated its 40th birthday today, Wednesday, May 7, 2008.
The leaders of the small towns of Cherry Grove Beach, Ocean Drive Beach ("O.D."), Crescent Beach and Windy Hill Beach thought they could be more successful as one larger city versus several smaller towns. The merger came after more than a year of discussions. The towns incorporated in 1968, and leaders decided to name the town North Myrtle Beach. The name was chosen to play off the success and popularity of Myrtle Beach, a few miles south.
Over the last 40 years, the town has grown considerably. When the town incorporated, it consisted of about 350 beach homes connected by unpaved roads. Now, North Myrtle Beach has about 13,000 full-time residents, four lanes of Highway 17, condos and many businesses. Barefoot Landing has grown into a major shopping area from a hand-full of stores.
I've seen the changes first hand in North Myrtle Beach. My family vacationed for years in North Myrtle Beach in the Crescent Beach section. We stayed in the same home each year, and my sister and I thought it was "our" beach house! Then, only a few high-rise condos dotted the landscape. Most of the condo complexes were low-rise (2-5 stories). We always visited Bert's Surf Shop and had to buy a t-shirt on Main Street in O.D. During the day, we relaxed at the beach and played in the ocean until the lifeguards went home. We ate dinner at the White Point restaurant - then, it was located west of 17 where the Alabama Theatre now sits. Highway 22 and Highway 31 did not exist. It was basically one way in and one way out!
North Myrtle Beach has definitely "grown up" over the years. I have tons of great memories of time spent in North Myrtle Beach with my family and friends. The former small beach towns incorporated 40 years ago to form North Myrtle Beach have surely given many other people wonderful memories as well.
Happy 40th Birthday, North Myrtle Beach!
Over the last 40 years, the town has grown considerably. When the town incorporated, it consisted of about 350 beach homes connected by unpaved roads. Now, North Myrtle Beach has about 13,000 full-time residents, four lanes of Highway 17, condos and many businesses. Barefoot Landing has grown into a major shopping area from a hand-full of stores.
I've seen the changes first hand in North Myrtle Beach. My family vacationed for years in North Myrtle Beach in the Crescent Beach section. We stayed in the same home each year, and my sister and I thought it was "our" beach house! Then, only a few high-rise condos dotted the landscape. Most of the condo complexes were low-rise (2-5 stories). We always visited Bert's Surf Shop and had to buy a t-shirt on Main Street in O.D. During the day, we relaxed at the beach and played in the ocean until the lifeguards went home. We ate dinner at the White Point restaurant - then, it was located west of 17 where the Alabama Theatre now sits. Highway 22 and Highway 31 did not exist. It was basically one way in and one way out!
North Myrtle Beach has definitely "grown up" over the years. I have tons of great memories of time spent in North Myrtle Beach with my family and friends. The former small beach towns incorporated 40 years ago to form North Myrtle Beach have surely given many other people wonderful memories as well.
Happy 40th Birthday, North Myrtle Beach!
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