This research reports the results of a market survey of the Myrtle Beach/Grand Strand area of South Carolina. This area includes most of Horry County and Georgetown County. A United States Air Force base is sited within the area; however, the major functions of the base were terminated in the Spring of 1993. Thus, it is assumed that the base will not contribute to the market potential of the area through the remainder of the 1990s. The purpose of this market survey is to support a market feasibility study for a proposed restaurant to be located within the area.
The Myrtle Beach/Grand Strand area of South Carolina is a major destination tourism area. Therefore, to support a market feasibility study for a proposed restaurant to be located within the area, both the resident and tourist populations must be considered.
The Horry County resident population at the time of the 1990 federal census was 144,053 persons. This total is projected to rise to approximately 175,100 persons by 1995. The 1990 census of Georgetown County was 46,302 persons in the resident population, and the population projected for the county in 1995 approximates 51,650 persons. Thus, the total area resident population in 1990 was 196,355 persons, with a projected 1995 population approximating 226,750 persons.
The resident population of Horry County was divided among 55,764 separate households at the time of the 1990 federal census, while there were 16,275 households in Georgetown County at that time. Assuming that average household size will not change through 1995, the projected number of households in Horry County in 1995 is 69,484, while 18,251 households are projected for Georgetown County in 1995. By 1995, therefore, Horry County is expected to account for 77.2 percent of the total area resident population and 79.2 percent of the resident households in the area.
The median annual family income in Georgetown County ($31,600) is more that 25 per...