Conway, SC

Originally founded in 1732 as the Village of Kingston, Conway is now the seat of Horry County. An area abundant in both natural and cultural resources, Conway covers just over 13 square miles and is located within 160 miles of Columbia, South Carolina; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Charlotte, North Carolina.

Conway is home to approximately 15,000 residents. The population is roughly 56 percent Caucasian and 42 percent African American.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

For years, Conway has been the gateway for tourists on their way to Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand. Most of these travelers don't stop to experience Conway, so the city has made it a priority to try and capitalize on local tourism.

Major industries in Conway are educational, health and social services, retail trade, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services.

Major companies in Conway are Honeywell, Vulcan Materials Co., Amedisys, Medical Connections and New South Companies, Inc.

Conway Medical Center is a 160-bed hospital located in Conway. This private, nonprofit facility includes a cardiac catheterization lab and a new maternity center, and offers patients state-of-the-art diagnostic and surgical procedures. The 39,000-square-foot Wellness and Fitness Center at Conway Medical Center is adjacent to the hospital and offers its members amenities including an indoor walking track, heated lap pool, strength-training equipment, cardio-training equipment, racquetball, water aerobics, physical therapy, and cardiac rehabilitation. Also on the Conway Medical Center campus are Medstar - a 22-bed, sub-acute care facility for patients transitioning from the hospital to home - and the 88-bed Kingston Nursing Center, a long-term care facility serving area residents.

Other nursing facilities in Conway include:

• Conway Nursing Center
• The Place at Conway
• Sterling House, which specializes in Alzheimer's care

Also located in Conway is Shoreline Behavioral Health Services, which offers comprehensive addiction treatment programs for both adults and adolescents. This organization provides counseling and relapse prevention services, as well as free community outreach and education.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Homes in Conway date as far back as the early 1800s, with stately older homes sitting along oak-lined streets in the city's picturesque downtown. Subdivisions of newer homes are cropping up to handle Conway's rapidly growing population.

Condominiums and apartments are available for sale or lease; some of the most notable housing communities include the Myrtle Greens Condominiums, Legacy Apartments, and Moss Green. Units range from one to three bedrooms. Conway is also home to Myrtle Trace, a popular retirement subdivision for homeowners age 50 and above.

FAMILY FUN

Located on the Waccamaw River, Conway provides many opportunities for water-based activities, such as boating, waterskiing, hydrosliding, jet skiing, and fishing. Both a public and a private marina are located downtown, making these activities easily accessible for residents and visitors alike. County-owned boat landings that provide additional boat-ramp access to the river include:

• Buckville Landing
• Hootersville Landing
• Lee's Landing
• Pitch Landing
• Port Harrelson Landing
• Reeves Ferry Landing
• Savannah Bluff Landing

The Riverwalk is a path located alongside the Waccamaw River that provides a scenic view of the river's black water. Conway's updated river front features an 850-foot boardwalk. The Kingston Lady Riverboat offers narrated historic tour of the river; the boat departs from the Conway Marina near the end of the Riverwalk.

The Waccamaw River National Wildlife Refuge offers environmental education opportunities, as well as hunting during refuge hunting season. Enthusiasts enjoy hunting game such as deer, turkey, hog, squirrel, and waterfowl. Additional freshwater fishing and hiking opportunities are available on the refuge.

Conway's Parks and Recreation Department also maintains numerous facilities that offer activities and programs for residents. Sites maintained by the department include:

• Collins Memorial Park
• Sherwood Park
• Conway Marina
• Riverwalk
• Smith-Jones Recreation Area
• Twelfth Avenue Recreation Area
• Recreation Complex, including the Conway Senior Center
• Riverfront Tennis Court
• Jasmine Park
• Crabtree Recreational Walking Trail

The Parks and Recreation Department supports individual and team athletic programs including football, soccer, baseball, basketball, cheerleading, softball, and tennis.

EDUCATION

Public education for K-12 students is provided by Horry County Schools, South Carolina's third-largest school district. The countywide school system serves nearly 34,000 students at 45 schools and has grown by more than 8,500 students in a decade. To accommodate this growth, the school district has implemented a $173 million program to build 10 new schools and renovate another nine.

For higher education, Conway is home to Coastal Carolina University, a public liberal arts college offering 36 undergraduate degree programs and 6 master's degree programs.

Horry Georgetown Technical College is a three-campus community college offering 70 associate's degree, certificate, and diploma programs. The first and largest of these campuses is located within the city of Conway.

Webster University has a branch in Conway and awards master's degrees in business.

GETTING AROUND

• Visitors and residents have easy access to air travel, with Myrtle Beach International Airport located only 10 miles from the city. Located on Highway 378, Conway/Horry County Airport also provides private facilities as well as a flight school.
• Carolina Southern Railroad provides rail service to the industrial sector of Conway. Passenger rail is available via Amtrak, which is located 55 miles from Conway in Florence.
• Regular bus service is provided by the LYMO transit shuttle, with service to and from Myrtle Beach as well as other areas in Horry County.