Murrells Inlet, SC

Known as the seafood capital of South Carolina, Murrells Inlet is a historic fishing town located in Georgetown County between Charleston and Myrtle Beach. Covering just more than seven square miles, the town is home to approximately 6,000 residents. Visitors are drawn to Murrells Inlet because of the mild, subtropical climate and its beaches, waterways, golf courses and other attractions.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Some of the most common industries for the residents of Murrells Inlet include retail trade, accommodation and food services and construction. Two major employers in the city are Waccamaw Community Hospital and Robins & Morton Group.

The Waccamaw Community Hospital, part of the Georgetown Hospital System, is located within the town. The 167-bed hospital features inpatient and outpatient surgery services, imaging services, laboratory services, obstetrics, pediatrics, a critical care unit, and 24-hour emergency services. Within the hospital is Waccamaw Rehabilitation Center, an acute-care rehabilitation center with 43 beds. Georgetown Memorial Hospital is located less than a half hour from Murrells Inlet and provides a full range of inpatient and outpatient services. With 131 beds, this acute-care hospital offers cardiopulmonary care, an intensive care unit, labor and delivery services, pediatric care, state-of-the-art imaging, laboratory services and 24-hour emergency services.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Neighborhoods and districts of Murrells Inlet accommodate around 3,000 houses, out of which more than 2,500 are occupied. Of the occupied houses, around 85 percent is owner-occupied, while renters occupy the remaining 15 percent. During the early 1980s, condominiums on the rise in Murrells Inlet, but since 1986, single family dwellings have been the most popular type of newly constructed homes. The town has also seen a fast growth in mobile home dwellings.

Many Murrells Inlet residents live in one of the dozens of planned subdivisions that comprise that town. These subdivisions are typically gated, waterfront communities that offer shared amenities, such as pools, recreational centers, and boat docks.

FAMILY FUN

• Ecology tours are offered on the area's salt marshes, and half- and full-day fishing excursions are available. Kayaking, canoeing, parasailing and jet skiing are possible from the inlet's marinas. The Marshwalk along the creek provides a picturesque, natural walking trail.
• Brookgreen Gardens is a sculpture garden and garden museum offering tours, exhibits and programs, as well as the Lowcountry Zoo. This National Historic Landmark preserves the area's native flora and fauna and provides a beautiful natural setting for art and sculpture.
• Huntington Beach State Park on the Grand Strand offers camping, bird watching and fishing on its pristine, wide-open beach. The park also offers a Coastal Exploration program and is home to an Environmental Education Center.

EVENTS

Murrells Inlet has an active calendar of events and cultural activities, including:

• South Strand Wildlife and History Day, held at Huntington Beach State Park, includes the annual Kite Festival, the Can-Am Little Olympics for children age 3 to 12, and the Taste of Murrells Inlet featuring the region's best culinary creations.
• Red, White, and Blue at Brookgreen Gardens a memorial event that offers patriotic American sculpture for and by veterans.
• Artists under the Arcade at Brookgreen Gardens features more than 30 painters, potters, jewelry makers, glass blowers, authors and other artists.
• Annual July Fourth Boat Parade and Fireworks, featuring a boat decoration contest.
• Atalaya Arts and Crafts Festival, held annually at Huntington Beach State Park, features more than 100 fine artisans, Lowcountry food, and local musicians.
• Murrells Inlet 2007 Foundation's Annual Oyster Roast, a food and music festival known for its all-you-can-eat oyster option.

EDUCATION

Public education in Murrells Inlet is provided by Georgetown County School District, with 10 elementary schools, four middle schools and four high schools, as well as an adult center and an optional school.

Higher education institutions in the area include the Georgetown Campus of Horry-Georgetown Technical College and Coastal Carolina University:

• Horry-Georgetown Technical College's Georgetown Campus enrolls 700 students each semester and offers specialized course work in the areas of early care and education, surgical technology, limited general radiologic technology and forest management technology.
• Coastal Carolina University, located in nearby Conway, South Carolina, is a public, liberal arts college offering 40 undergraduate degree programs and MBA, master's in education and master's in coastal marine and wetland studies graduate programs. The university also offers classes in Georgetown, making it easily accessible to Murrells Inlet residents.

GETTING AROUND

Highways going through Murrells Inlet include U.S. Highway 17 and the Highway 707 Corridor. Rail service is provided by CSX Railroad, with direct rail access from the area to the rest of the United States via an extensive rail system.

Four airports are located near Murrells Inlet:

• Myrtle Beach International Airport: Located only 14 miles from Murrells Inlet, Myrtle Beach International is a full-service, commercial airport offering daily, nonstop flights to a number of major U.S. cities.
• Charleston International Airport: With 124 flights traveling to 17 destinations daily, Charleston International is less than two hours from Murrells Inlet.
• Georgetown County Airport: This local airport is located about a half-hour from Murrells Inlet and provides general aviation services.
• Andrews Municipal Airport: Under an hour from Murrells Inlet, Andrews Airport offers a convenient runway for private take-offs and landings.

The nearby Port of Georgetown handles international cargo in the amount of 1.8 million tons annually.