Georgetown County

 

Location: A coastal and inland South Carolina county, it is about 15 miles south of Myrtle Beach and 60 miles north of Charleston.

 

Population: 60,000, estimated by U.S. Census Bureau in 2005.

 

Land: 1,035 square miles (815 square miles of land; 220 of water).

 

Towns and cities: Andrews, Garden City Beach, Georgetown, Murrells Inlet, Pawleys Island/Litchfield.

Rivers: Greater Pee Dee, Waccamaw, Black, Sampit and Santee, which join to meet the ocean at Winyah Bay.

Seaport: City of Georgetown.

 

 

 

Georgetown County and its county seat, Georgetown, were named for King George II of England. Spanish explorers are believed to have visited this coastal area in 1526, but no permanent settlement was established. English planters and their African slaves moved into the region in the early 18th century, building large rice and indigo plantations.

 

The town of Georgetown, which was established around 1730, was a busy port serving the surrounding plantations. Georgetown District was first named in 1769, encompassing the parishes of Prince George, All Saints, and Prince Frederick. In the 1780s, the district was divided into four counties: Liberty (which became Marion District in 1800), Kingston (which became Horry District in 1801), Williamsburg (which became a separate district in 1804), and Winyah (which was renamed Georgetown in 1800).

 

During the Revolutionary War, the troops of General Francis Marion often hid in the swamps of Georgetown County while waging guerrilla warfare against the British. Rice planting declined after the Civil War, and many of the old plantations became wildlife or hunting preserves.

 

Many famous South Carolinians were residents of Georgetown County, including Thomas Lynch Jr. (1749-1779), a signer of the Declaration of Independence; artist Washington Allston (1779-1843); Theodosia Burr Alston (1783-1813), the daughter of Aaron Burr; Joel Roberts Poinsett (1779-1851), Congressman, secretary of war, and ambassador to Mexico, who introduced the poinsettia to the United States; and Joseph Haynes Rainey (1832-1887), the first African-American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.

 

Today, many visitors come for Georgetown County's history and a glimpse of a by-gone rice culture. Others find solace as they unwind with their families among the native live oaks and ocean dunes, whether they're swinging in a rope hammock on a cottage porch or swinging a golf club.

 

From the sandy beaches, championship golf courses and nature-based activities to history and culture and world-class dining and shopping, Georgetown County has it all!

 

(Compiled from www.statelibrary.sc.gov and www.visitgeorgetowncounty.com)

 

 

 

Schools

 

 

Georgetown County Board of Education

 

Jim Dumm, chairman

Benny Elliott, vice-chairman

Sarah Elliott, secretary

Teresa Bennani, parliamentarian

Eric Allen

David Curry

Sandra Johnson

Arthur Lance, Jr.

Elery Little

 

Superintendent: Dr. Randy Dozier

District office: 436-7000

Web site: www.gcsd.k12.sc.us

 

Elementary schools

 

Andrews Elementary School

13072 County Line Road

Andrews, South Carolina 29510

Brian Clark, Principal

Phone: (843) 264 - 3419

Fax: (843) 264 - 5511

 

Brown's Ferry Elementary School

7292 Brown's Ferry Road

Georgetown, South Carolina 29440

Bethany Giles-Burgess, Principal

Phone: (843) 527 - 1325

Fax: (843) 546 - 2138

 

Kensington Elementary School

86 Kensington Boulevard

Georgetown, South Carolina 29440

Fedrick Cohens, Principal

Phone: (843) 546 - 8511

Fax: (843) 546 - 0605

 

Maryville Elementary School

2125 Poplar Street

Georgetown, South Carolina 29440

Stephanie Bell, Principal

Phone: (843) 546 - 8423

Fax: (843) 546 - 5038

 

McDonald Elementary School

532 McDonald Road

Georgetown, South Carolina 29440

Miriam Daniels, Principal

Phone: (843) 527 - 3485

Fax: (843) 546 - 8674

 

Plantersville Elementary School

1668 Exodus Drive

Georgetown, South Carolina 29440

Shawn Johnson, Principal

Phone: (843) 546 - 8453

Fax: (843) 527 - 2869

 

Pleasant Hill Elementary School

127 Schoolhouse Road

Hemingway, South Carolina 29554

Teddy Graham, Principal

Phone: (843) 558 - 9417

Fax: (843) 558 - 7017

 

Sampit Elementary School

69 Woodland Avenue

Georgetown, South Carolina 29440

Maudest Rhue-Scott, Principal

Phone: (843) 527 - 4411

Fax: (843) 546 - 1226

 

Waccamaw Elementary School

1364 Waverly Road

Pawleys Island, South Carolina 29585

Vervatine Reid, Principal

Phone: (843) 237 - 4233

Fax: (843) 237 - 2015

 

Waccamaw Intermediate School

320 Wildcat Way

Pawleys Island, South Carolina 29585

Timothy Carnahan, Principal

Phone: (843) 237 - 7071

Fax: (843) 237-7031

 

Middle schools

 

Carvers Bay Middle School

13000 Choppee Road

Hemingway, South Carolina 29554

Darryl Stanley, Principal

Phone: (843) 545 - 0918

Fax: (843) 558 - 6937

 

Georgetown Middle School

2400 Anthuan Maybank Drive

Georgetown, South Carolina 29440

Rosemary Gray, Principal

Phone: (843) 527 - 4495

Fax: (843) 527 - 2290

 

Rosemary Middle School

12804 County Line Road

Andrews, South Carolina 29510

Michael Caviris, Principal

Phone: (843) 264 - 9780

Fax: (843) 264 - 9787

 

Waccamaw Middle School

247 Wildcat Way

Pawleys Island, South Carolina 29585

Bill Dwyer, Principal

Phone: (843) 237 - 0106

Fax: (843) 237 - 0237

 

High schools

 

Andrews High School

12890 County Line Road

Andrews, South Carolina 29510

Michelle Staggers, Principal

Phone: (843) 264 - 3414

Fax: (843) 264 - 3326

 

Carvers Bay High School

13002 Choppee Road

Hemingway, South Carolina 29554

Kelvin Wymbs, Principal

Phone: (843) 545 - 5837

Fax: (843) 558 - 6927

 

Georgetown High School

2500 Anthuan Maybank Drive

Georgetown, South Carolina 29440

Dr. Michael Cafaro, Principal

Phone: (843) 546 - 8516

Fax: (843) 546 - 8521

 

Waccamaw High School

2412 Kings River Road

Pawleys Island, South Carolina 29585

David Hammel, Principal

Phone: (843) 237 - 9899

Fax: (843) 237 - 9883

 

Vocational schools

 

Horry-Georgetown Technical College

Georgetown Campus

4003 South Fraser Street

Georgetown, SC 29440

(843) 546 - 8406

Murray Vernon, Provost

(843) 520 - 1400

murray.vernon@hgtc.edu

 

Howard Adult Center & Optional School

500 South Kaminski Street

Georgetown, South Carolina 29440

Lynn Kirtley, Adult Center Principal

Phone: (843) 546-0219

Fax: (843) 527-0236

Jim Ferdon, Optional Program Coordinator

Phone: (843) 546 - 2770

Fax: (843) 527 - 7731

 

 

Colleges/Universities

 

Coastal Carolina University

P.O. Box 261954

Conway, SC 29528-6054

(843) 347 - 3161

www.coastal.edu

 

Adult/Higher Education

 

OLLI at CCU

Waccamaw Higher Education Center

160 Willbrook Boulevard

Litchfield

(843) 349 - 4030

www.coastal.edu

 

OLLI at Georgetown Higher Education Center

1273 No. Fraser Street

Georgetown

(843) 546 - 7523 or 349 - 4030

www.coastal.edu

 

 

 

 

Local government

 

Georgetown County Government

843-545-3063

www.georgetowncountysc.org

129 Screven St.

P.O. Box 421270

Georgetown, SC 29442

 

County Council meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. Meetings are held in County Council Chambers on the second floor of the Georgetown County Courthouse.

 

County Council members:

 

Austin Beard - District 5

Andrews

264-8705

 

 

Ron Charlton - District 2

Georgetown

546-2200

 

 

Lillie Jean Johnson - District 4

Georgetown

546-6307

 

 

Leona Myers-Miller - District 3

Georgetown

546-9642

 

 

Johnny Morant - District 7

Georgetown

527-2448

 

 

Jerry Oakley - District 1

Murrells Inlet

357-1675

 

 

Glenn O'Connell - District 6

Pawleys Island

237-7933

 

Andrews Town Hall

843-264-8666

www.townofandrews.org

101 N. Morgan Ave.

Andrews, SC 29510

 

 Council: Mayor Rodney Giles, Thomas Alford, Patsy Greene, Sid Ackerman, Michael Shaw, Terrance Middleton, Angela Anderson. Council meets the third Thursday of the month.

 

 Georgetown City Hall

843-545-4000

www.cityofgeorgetownsc.com

120 N. Fraser St.

P.O. Drawer 939

Georgetown, SC 29442

 

Council:  Brendon M. Barber, Sr., Rudolph Bradley, Paige B. Sawyer, III, Jack Scoville, Clarence C. Smalls, Peggy B. Wayne, Mayor Lynn Wood Wilson. Council meets the third Thursday of the month at City Hall. Holds many special meetings during the year.

 

Murrells Inlet 2007

357-2007

www.murrellsinletsc.com

P.O. Box 1357

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

Not a governmental body

 

Non-profit revitalization group

Board members: Whitney Hills, Kelly Dorman, Al Hitchcock, Tom Swatzel, Jim Wilkie, Sean Bond, Peggy Bates, John Benso, Charlie Campbell.

 

 

Pawleys Island Town Hall

843-237-1698

www.townofpawleysisland.com

321 Myrtle Ave.

P.O. Box 1818

Pawleys Island, SC 29585

 

Council members: Mayor Bill Otis, Mike Adams, Mary McAllister, Glennie Tarbox, Sarah Zimmerman.

 

 

 

 Business Links

 

 

Georgetown County New Business

Web Resources for New Businesses

 

Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce

www.georgetownchamber.com

 

Georgetown County Economic Development

www.seegeorgetown.com

 

SCORE (small business help)

www.score.org

 

Small Business Development Center

www.scsbdc.moore.sc.edu

 

South Carolina Department of Revenue

www.sctax.org

 

South Carolina Virtual One Stop

www.sconestop.org

 

U.S. Small Business Administration

www.sba.gov

 

 

 

Tourism

 

Discover South Carolina

Web site: http://discoversouthcarolina.com/

        

Georgetown County

Web site: http://www.visitgeorgetowncountysc.com

 

 

Hospitality Association of South Carolina

Web site: http://www.schospitality.org/

 

SC Dept. of Parks, Recreation and Tourism

Web site: http://www.scprt.com/

 

 

Things to Do

 

 

Brookgreen Gardens

Highway 17 South

Murrells Inlet, SC

235-6000

www.brookgreen.org

 

A showplace of art and nature developed in the 1930s by Archer and Hyatt Huntington on the site of four colonial rice plantations. Over 550 pieces of America’s finest 19th and 20th century sculpture and 2,000 species of plants. Also has a wildlife park, special guided nature cruises and kayak trips.  Open Monday through Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Closed Christmas.

 

 

Georgetown County Museum

632 Prince St.

Georgetown, SC

545-7020

georgetownmuseum@gmail.com

www.georgetowncountyhistoricalsociety.com

 

Preserves and displays more than 300 years of history and culture in the third oldest city in the state. Open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Children free; 6-18, $2; adults, $3-$4.

 

 

Hobcaw Barony Visitor Center

22 Hobcaw Road

Georgetown, SC

546-4623

hobcaw@belle.baruch.sc.edu

www.hobcawbarony.com

 

A nature preserve and wildlife refuge. Hosts Bellefield Plantation, a slave street, salt march boardwalk, small nature/history museum, visitors center and many entertaining exhibits. Open to the public through guided tours.

 

 

 

Hopsewee Plantation

494 Hopsewee Rd.

Georgetown, SC

mail@ hopsewee.com

www.hopsewee.com

 

A National Historic Landmark, it is the birthplace of Thomas Lynch, Jr., a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Built in 1740, the home has been preserved and only four families have owned it. It is furnished with 18th and 19th century furniture. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. year round by appointment.

 

Huntington Beach State Park

Highway 17 North

Murrells Inlet, SC

237-4440

www.southcarolinaparks.com

 

Oceanfront park with RV and tent sites, swimming, fishing, camping, nature walks and a gift store. Open Monday through Sunday until dark.

 

 

Kaminksi House Museum

1003 Front St.

Georgetown, SC

546-7706

 

The Kaminksi House was built around 1770, is located in the heart of the historic district, and contains a collection of American and English antiques from the 18th and 19th centuries.

 

Pawleys Island Festival of Music & Art

P.O. Box 1975

Pawleys Island, SC 29585

237-4774

info@pawleysmusic.com

www.pawleysmusic.com

Annual event during the month of September featuring all types of music, including symphony orchestras, jazz, bluegrass, gospel, choral, beach music, blues, big band and more. Held inside and outside at different venues.

 

 

Swamp Fox Players

Strand Theater

710 Front St.

Georgetown, SC

527-2924

Community theater. Box office open 2 to 4 p.m.

 

 

The Rice Museum

635 Front St.

Georgetown, SC

546-7423

ricemuse@sccoast.net

www.ricemuseum.org

 

Museum of art and history. Exhibits include dioramas of rice culture, a 1730’s river vessel, and a film, “Garden of Gold.” Tours 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

 

 

Volunteering

 

Coastal South Carolina Chapter of the Red Cross

Horry, Georgetown and Williamsburg counties

Georgetown chapter

537 Lafayette Circle

Georgetown

546-5422

http://horrycounty.redcross.org/

A nationwide network of nearly 850 chapters and Blood Services regions dedicated to saving lives, and helping people prevent and respond to emergencies.

 

Diabetes CORE Group

P.O. Box 2803

Georgetown, SC 29442

546-6887

Contact: Florence Linnen

 

Georgetown Hospital System

Volunteer Services Coordinator

527-7164

volunteering@georgetownhospitalsystem.org

 

Habitat for Humanity

1907 Hampton Street

Georgetown

546-5685

www.habitatgeorgetown.com

 

A Christian-based organization that gives low-income working families a chance to contribute to society. With the help of volunteers, it builds decent homes in decent communities. Homeowners purchase their homes with no-interest mortgages and sweat equity.

 

Helping Hands

552 Black River Rd.

Georgetown

527-3424

http://www.helpinghandsofgeorgetown.com

 

Helping Hands was established in 1989 and operates as an ecumenical ministry on behalf of local churches in Georgetown County to give assistance to people during periods of crisis, and to address needs through the most effective use of community resources.

 

March of Dimes

Pee Dee Division

314 Laurel Street, Suite 201

Conway

(843)488-3463

www.marchofdimes.com

 

The March of Dimes fights to save babies, and wants to solve the problems of prematurity, birth defects and low birthweight.

 

Relay for Life

1-800-ACS-2345

www.cancer.org

 

Teams of people from all walks of life have fun while raising much-needed funds to fight cancer and raise awareness of cancer prevention and treatment.

 

Salvation Army

2401 Authuan Maybank Drive

546-4632

www.salvationaramycarolinas.org

 

An international movement and evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible and motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

 

Tidelands Community Hospice, Inc.

2591 N. Fraser Street

Georgetown

Phone: (843) 546-3410

Toll Free: (888) 922-3410

www.tidelandshospice.org

 

Hospice is a special way of comforting and caring for people with terminal illnesses, and supporting the people who love them.

 

United Way

515 Front St.

Georgetown

546-6317

www.georgetowncountyunitedway.org

 

United Way works in the community on issues such as affordable housing, quality child care, reducing domestic violence, increasing the high school graduation rate, and after-school and elder care.

 

 

 

Job Links

 

http://www.lowcountryclassifieds.com