Myrtle Beach, the largest city along South Carolina’s coastal “Grand Strand,” draws over 14 million visitors and vacationers each year. As a top travel destination in the U.S., the majority of jobs in Myrtle Beach revolve around supporting successful tourism businesses. This dependency on tourism reportedly creates a “roller coaster economy” in the city, which is currently experiencing economic losses and increased unemployment rates.

In Horry County, the “majority of jobs” are related to the services necessary for successful tourism businesses. Approximately 63% of Horry County’s employment is tourism related. The population of the city of Myrtle Beach was 22,759 at the 2000 U.S. Census. The estimated population as of July 1, 2007 was 29,971, an increase of 31.7% from 2000.