• Search
    • Myrtle Beach Real Estate Search
    • Condos for Sale
    • Myrtle Beach Homes for Sale
    • Popular Neighborhoods & Buildings
    • Featured Properties
      • Homes with Pools
      • Intercoastal Waterway Homes & Condos
      • 55+ Communities
      • New Construction
      • Just Reduced !!!
    • Popular Condos for Sale
      • A – E
        • A Place At The Beach At Crescent Beach
        • A Place At The Beach At Shore Drive
        • A Place At The Beach At Windy Hill
        • Arcadian Dunes
        • Anderson Ocean Club Condos
        • Anderson Ocean Club Condos for Sale
        • Avista Resort
  • Blog
  • About
    • A Note from founder of Dreamlife Realty
    • About Dreamlife Realty . . .
    • Meet the Dream Team
    • The Dreamlife Values
    • Dreamlife Careers
    • Dreamlifer Stories
  • Login
  • Logout

Browse: Home » Blog » Early History of Myrtle Beach

Early History of Myrtle Beach

Leave a Comment

The earliest people in South Carolina were  river dwelling Native Americans.   Photo Credit: http://www.dreamstime.com/mellow_info

The earliest people in South Carolina were
river dwelling Native Americans.
Photo Credit:
http://www.dreamstime.com/mellow_info

Myrtle Beach is the heart of the Grand Strand, which encompasses more than 60 miles of coastline.
Most people only think of Myrtle Beach as a great place to vacation or retire, but the region’s early history is fascinating and colorful.

The first inhabitants of Myrtle Beach were the Waccamaw people.

These Native Americans were living in the area long before European settlers arrived in the late 18th Century. The Waccamaw were a river dwelling people and were very adept at domesticating animals. History tells us that the Waccamaw produced cheese from doe’s milk, kept chickens, geese and many other varieties of fowl, while also planting a large variety
of crops.

Spanish explorers were the first to arrive in South Carolina, driven by a search for gold and riches. English settlers soon followed, but were mainly tradesman, craftsman and farmers. These settlers arrived with boats full of seeds and farming equipment and spent their early days establishing the rich agricultural culture that would drive South Carolina for centuries to come. A heavy influx of settlers arrived in the late 1600’s and for these early colonists, corn was the primary crop. Soon after that, Indigo became a major crop and launched South Carolina into a competitive textile industry.

After European settlers arrived, the Waccamaw people found themselves embroiled in conflicts over territory. Additionally, illness and disease took a hard toll on the Waccamaw because they had no natural immunity to European diseases. However, a modest population was able to thrive in small settlements and preserve the culture of their people for generations to come.

In 2005 the Waccamaw people sought and were granted formal recognition as a Native American people by the state of South Carolina. Historians and archeologists continue to find evidence of the early native inhabitants of South Carolina, and history buffs can see exhibits at the North Myrtle Beach Area Historical Museum Wednesdays-Saturdays, 10 AM to 4 PM. For more information about the Waccamaw people click here.


[wpdreams_rpp id=1]

Leave a Review/Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Dreamlifer Spotlight

Dreamlifers Manny and Claire Viera in Cherry Grove - North Myrtle Beach

Manny Viera and his wife, Claire, purchased a one bedroom ocean view condo seven years ago, knowing that it would be the perfect place to get away from it all. For Manny, an avid golfer, Myrtle Beach, with it’s beautiful... [Read More...]

Real Estate by City

  • A Place At The Beach – Cherry Grove Condos for Sale
  • Garden City Properties for Sale
  • Little River Properties for Sale
  • Myrtle Beach
  • Myrtle Beach Condos for Sale
  • Myrtle Beach Homes for Sale
  • North Myrtle Beach Properties for Sale
  • Pawley's Island Properties for Sale
  • Surfside Beach Properties for Sale

Popular Areas

  • Arcadian
  • Kingston Arcadian Condos for Sale
  • Ocean Creek Condos for Sale
  • Shore Drive Condos for Sale

DREAMLIFERS

Facebook Pagelike Widget

Contact us at: 800.380.9798

  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Search Communities

Barefoot Resort Homes for Sale
Kingston Plantation Homes for Sale
North Beach Plantation for Sale
Ocean Keyes Homes for Sale
Grande Dunes Homes for Sale
Ocean Creek Condos for Sale
Myrtle Beach Condos for Sale
Condos for Sale by Building
Homes for Sale by Neighborhood
Motivated Sellers

About the Company

DreamLife Realty
Licensed
Real Estate Agency

2411 Oak St - Founder Centre

Myrtle Beach, SC 29577

Myrtle Beach Real Estate for Sale

Popular Myrtle Beach Real Estate Searches

Connect with Us

RSS Twitter Facebook Linkedin

Email Us: info@dreamlifemyrtlebeach.com
Phone: 843.628.3604

Fax: 800.380.9798

Copyright © 2025 · RealtyCandy real estate websites· Log in