Myrtle Beach is known as one of America’s favorite destinations with its long stretch of sandy beach, warm ocean water, and more seafood buffet restaurants than you know what to do with. But there’s more to Myrtle Beach than that famous, fun vacation place where families have traveled for decades.
So where did the name Myrtle Beach come from? “Myrtle certainly sounds like a woman’s name possibly a famous resident from the early nineteen hundred. Or maybe, it’s from an American Indian heritage paying homage to our early natives.
There’s even a story that it had to do with a guy’s daughter that would come to this beach a long time ago. In reality, the name Myrtle came from a contest among the residents and the name “Myrtle” was submitted by a local resident. The name Myrtle Beach comes from the thousands of wax myrtle trees that used to line the beach, not the showy crape myrtles that most of us are familiar with.
The Wax Myrtle is an evergreen shrub. It provides nesting cover for wildlife in the winter when other foliage has gone dormmate. Wax Myrtles only grow from 15′ to 20′ tall and can reach its full size very quickly. They make excellent privacy barriers and are easy to propagate as a shrub because they are resistant to most insects and diseases.
The Wax Myrtle plant grows into a gray wax containing berries that have many uses. Early residents used the plant to make candles. Many wildlife creatures will use the Wax Myrtle for protection and food. The branches and thick foliage offers an excellent nesting location for birds found along the coast.
Now that you know where this famous destination got its name, Head to this great beach city today for awesome attractions and shows and resorts. Book your vacation today and get the best deals the area offers!
