At the Center of it All Lifestyle Creative Class Metalworking Wood Products Georgetown County is a setting of stunning natural beauty and historical significance, with superb cultural and recreational amenities. And with Myrtle Beach and Charleston nearby, you're at the center of the Tidelands, with an outstanding business environment. Airports, universities, world class shopping and golf, and an incomparable downtown historic district are all easily accessible to you and your family. And did we mention the weather is delightful? You can enjoy outdoor recreation four seasons of the year. Georgetown is a city originally laid out in 1729 with over 50 historic sites. Add the great Winyah Bay, the Sampit, Black and Pee Dee Rivers, the rich Gullah influences, and unparalleled residential coastal living - they all combine to make this an unbeatable place to live and work. You'll enjoy one-of-a-kind attractions like Hobcaw Barony and Brookgreen Gardens, excellent medical care facilities, gracious coastal and inland residential communities, and lively arts and cultural events held throughout the year. Events such as the music festival in Andrews (a top 20 event of the Southeast) and the Art Festival at Atalaya are just a few of the things that ensure your recreational calendar will always be full. Quality of Life Climate: Average annual temperature: 64.8 Average annual ocean temperature: 67 Average annual rainfall: 51.6 inches Location: Located half way between New York and Miami. Myrtle Beach is 35 miles north and historical Charleston is 60 miles south. Community Resources: Medical Care: Georgetown Memorial Hospital (142 Beds). Satellite Clinics: Waccamaw Neck Medical Center. Andrews Medical Center. Cancer Center (Francis B. Ford) Religious Institutions: Nearly 100 churches and synagogues (all denominations). Cultural: Three public museums. Three public libraries. More than 50 antebellum houses, buildings and sites, (Including some listed on the National Register of Historical Places). Five restored Rice Plantations. Brookgreen Gardens, (World's largest collection of outdoor sculpture). Georgetown Historical district. Murrells Inlet Historical district. Recreation: 35 miles of beaches. 5 rivers. 13 marinas and boat landings. 5 public parks. 17 golf courses, with 100 others nearby. Golf Great names in golf, like Pete Dye, Tom Fazio and Jack Nicklaus have left their mark on many of the public and private courses in Georgetown County. Many of these championship courses are built on historic rice plantations, giving each its own distinguished character and natural beauty. Playing golf in the Georgetown area is a rare treat. Deep swamps and centuries-old live oaks line fairways, and attentive water birds monitor the water hazards fashioned from old reserve ponds that were originally used to flood the rice fields. Playing privileges on some of the restricted-access courses are included in local resort packages. Many of the communities have their own course and and of course there are courses close by no matter where you live or work. Tourism Each year, thousands of visitors are attracted to the charm and diversity of Georgetown. From white-sand beaches, championship golf and nature-based activities to history and culture to world-class dining and shopping, Georgetown County has it all. We invite you to schedule a visit, to learn more about the lifestyle and the business environment of our County. And take in the sights while you're here! Low Country Adventure Georgetown was recently featured in National Geographic Adventure Magazine as one of the "Ten U.S. Adrenaline Outposts" for it's great fishing, boating and outdoor recreational opportunities. The magazine states " Historic Georgetown lies where four rivers - the Waccamaw, Black, Pee Dee, and Sampit - converge on the Intracoastal Waterway. That's a lot of water to play in, particularly when you include the swamps at the mouth of the Santee, a few miles southwest, and the sheltered bays between the coast and a string of barrier islands forested with live oak and red cedar." For more information on National Geographic's review, access their web site here. History Georgetown, the state's third oldest city, was declared a royal province by England's Prince George (who later became King George II.) First occupied by the Spanish in the early 1500's, English planters and merchants settled in what is now Georgetown's Historic District, a five-by-seven block area now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Indigo and rice were the primary crops grown in the region, and by the mid-1800's Georgetown supplied more than half of the rice grown in the United States. Timber was also an important industry, and relied on the railroad running between Andrews and Georgetown. Georgetown has been a port city since 1732, and is the oldest continuously open seaport on the Eastern Seaboard. The resort areas of the Waccamaw Neck surround former plantation lands that retain much of their original character. The barrier island of Pawleys Island is one of the oldest beach resorts in the country, and is known for its charm and preserved historic buildings. With the neighboring towns of Litchfield and Murrells Inlet, residents and visitors alike enjoy a gracious lifestyle. The quality of life and economic opportunities in Georgetown County continue to draw many new residents and businesses to the area. It's the best of "business casual"- the resources to power business growth, yet with a comfortable relaxed lifestyle. The Arts Exchange: 527-2822 Georgetown Art Gallery: 527-7711 Kaminski House Museum: 545-4060 Rice Museum: 546-7423 Old Town Hall Museum (Andrews): 264-3471 Brookgreen Gardens: 235-6000 Huntington Beach State Park: 237-4440 Hampton Plantation State Park: 527-4995 Georgetown county Recreation and Leisure Dept: 545-3323 Cultural Arts Council: 527-2822 A few highlights from the Cultural Arts Calendar : Annual Harborwalk Art Show, Made in the Shade Concert Series, Indigo Choral Society Annual Concert, Murrells Inlet Boat Parade, "Artists Under the Arcade" at Brookgreen Gardens, "Southern Nites" music and art by the riverside on Front Street, "Plantation Jubilee" at De Bordieu Colony, the Pawleys Island Pops Symphony Orchestra, Georgia and Sea Island Singers, Atalaya Arts & Crafts Festival, the Georgetown Watercolor Society Annual Art Show and the Coastal Chorale Christmas Concert. Georgetown On Top 50 List (Excerpted form an article in The Times, Georgetown, SC) National Geographic (recently) named Georgetown County one of the nation's top 10 places for summer adventure. Now authors Gerald Sweitzer and Kathy Fields have selected Georgetown as one of their "50 Best Small Southern Towns." In their book by the same name, the authors say the selection process was based on criteria such as economic viability, cultural scene, recreational attractions, health care and adult educational opportunities. "These communities are not only charming and secure, but are also compatible with modern lifestyles," states a news release from Peachtree Publishers.