SC resort towns bring economic boon

World famous resort towns dot the coast of South Carolina, bringing the likes of celebrities, high ranking officials and everyday tourists, and their wallets, to the state.

One of the state’s most popular resort towns, Hilton Head Island, saw success in agriculture until Charles Fraser, whose family owned much of the island, saw more potential. He invested and created a planned resort community in the 1950s, which set the trend in coming decades to develop Hilton Head Island into a tourist destination.

Myrtle Beach’s reputation as an uninhabitable, poor area changed when businessmen started developing upscale resorts in the 1920s, according to Visit Myrtle Beach.

Myrtle Beach transformed into a mecca for golf, shopping, nightlife and family friendly entertainment in the late 20th century and even today. It was listed as the ninth fastest-growing area in the country, according to 2011 U.S. Census Bureau statistics.

Resort towns like Hilton Head Island and Myrtle Beach play a major part in boosting the state’s economy with tourism supporting one in every 10 jobs in South Carolina.

Spending on travel and tourism in South Carolina totaled about $18.1 billion in 2013, generating more than $1.3 billion in local tax revenues, according to the U.S. Travel Association.

About this series: The inaugural edition of The State newspaper was published Feb. 18, 1891. In anticipation of the 125th anniversary, the Palmetto section and this section at thestate.com are recounting each day how The State covered newsmakers and events vital to South Carolina’s history.

This story was originally published January 30, 2016 at 6:00 AM with the headline "SC resort towns bring economic boon."