Carolina Living - Georgetown

Though it looks peaceful, Winyah Bay in Georgetown teems with 100-plus species of animals and diverse plant life. Among the endangered and threatened creatures making homes here are bald eagles and loggerhead sea turtles.
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	Georgetown Daytrips Georgetown County Visitors Bureau

	Georgetown Chamber of Commerce

	Brookgreen Gardens

	click on this book image to read more about ... heaven is a beautiful place: a memoir of the south carolina coast written by genevieve c. peterkin.

Georgetown & Pawleys Island

eorgetown County has received the prestigious 2005 All America City Award. Known as the benchmark of community achievement for more than 50 years, this award recognizes civic excellence and competition is fierce for the honor.

It’s not surprising, because Georgetown has all the right ingredients to foster a great lifestyle.

For Missouri natives Fred and Jackie Hoelscher, the friendships they’ve made have been great. “I have discovered that this town has a nice mixture of southerners and northerners,” laughed Mr. Hoeschler. “This has been a very friendly move for us.”

It’s no wonder. Georgetown County includes Murrells Inlet and the sparkling beaches at Litchfield and Pawleys Island; further south are Georgetown’s charming Harborwalk and historic district.

atives and new residents enjoy an ambience that easily becomes a way of life – plucking oysters from beds around the inlets and reveling in the bounty of five rivers, beaches and great golf courses.

The area features natural and cultural attractions. More than a half-million people annually come to Huntington Beach State Park for a variety of nature programs, including spying on the 200+ species of birds that share the habitat.

One attraction is the Moorish-style castle, Atalaya, built by philanthropist Archer Huntington in the 1930s. Nearby Brookgreen Gardens draws almost 200,000 people a year to its sculpture gardens, nature trails and cultural programs.

For history buffs, let’s start with this: In the 1700s, this place was a thriving seaport that attracted the likes of Blackbeard and his colleagues. There was much to plunder, perhaps because the area was teeming with successful plantations.

Nearby Pawleys Island has its own resident ghost in the Gray Man, who appears to warn of impending storms. “Ghosts” of the more recent past return to the annual Pawleys Pavilion Reunion. This is where the shag, South Carolina’s state dance, was practiced religiously in the ‘50s. The island’s well-known motto, “arrogantly shabby,” can be seen on local bumper stickers.


	Nearby Brookgreen Gardens draws almost 200,000 people a year to its sculpture gardens, nature trails and cultural programs.

The county works hard to preserve its heritage but it also has a vision for the future that focuses on providing economic balance and planned growth. The port of Georgetown is a vital aspect of that arena, as is the 950-acre Industrial Park.

Major employers include International Paper Company, and the State Ports Authority. A multi-use bike and walking path stretches 27 miles from Murrells Inlet to nearby Prince George.

“We want to preserve the elements that have made people want to move here, and, at the same time, offer employment opportunities for all ages,” says Sel Hemingway, Chairman of Georgetown County Council.

Have some fun. Get some expert feedback. Post your Georgetown questions, comments and experiences on the "Carolinas Message Board."

Katherine O. Pettit has worked as a writer, magazine editor, printer and public relations consultant. The Columbia resident has published more than 250 articles in magazines and newspapers. Her writing explores a variety of subjects including travel, lifestyles, business and management.





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