Atlantic Beach is a town in Horry County, South Carolina, United States, part of the Grand Strand tourist region. The population was 334 at the 2010 census. Most of the land around the town is annexed into the city of North Myrtle Beach.

History

Atlantic Beach is commonly nicknamed "The Black Pearl"; the rich culture of the town of Atlantic Beach was formed of mostly

Gullah The Gullah () are a subgroup of the African Americans, African American ethnic group, who predominantly live in the South Carolina Lowcountry, Lowcountry region of the U.S. states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida within ...

people, descendants of slaves who lived for 300 years on the

Sea Islands The Sea Islands are a chain of over a hundred tidal and barrier islands on the Atlantic Ocean coast of the Southeastern United States, between the mouths of the Santee and St. Johns rivers along South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. The la ...

from

Wilmington, North Carolina Wilmington is a port city in New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. With a population of 115,451 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, eighth-most populous city in the st ...

Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville ( ) is the most populous city proper in the U.S. state of Florida, located on the Atlantic coast of North Florida, northeastern Florida. It is the county seat of Duval County, Florida, Duval County, with which the City of Jacksonv ...

. In the early 1930s, defying

Jim Crow laws The Jim Crow laws were U.S. state, state and local laws introduced in the Southern United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that enforced Racial segregation in the United States, racial segregation, "Jim Crow (character), Ji ...

in the segregated South, debunking black stereotypes, and broadening the enterprises of the Gullah people, black men and women opened hotels, restaurants, night clubs, and novelty shops in Atlantic Beach. Visitors would travel along

Interstate 95 Interstate 95 (I-95) is the main north–south Interstate Highway on the East Coast of the United States, running from U.S. Route 1 (US 1) in Miami, Florida, north to the Houlton–Woodstock Border Crossing between Maine and the ...

, US 17 and

SC 9 SC-9, or variants, may refer to: * (181711) 1993 SC9 (SC9 of 1993), an asteroid * ''SC09'', a FIPS 10-4 region code * ''SC-09'', a subdivision code for the Seychelles, see ISO 3166-2:SC * Shorts S.C.9, a variation of the English Electric Canber ...

, coming from nearby southern states, where racial segregation took its toll.

Geography

Atlantic Beach is located at . According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the town has a total area of , all land.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 195 people, 87 households, and 39 families residing in the town.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 351 people, 132 households, and 83 families in the town. The population density was . There were 244 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 9.69% White, 82.05% African American, 7.12% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.97%. Of the 132 households 39.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 18.9% were married couples living together, 37.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 29.5% of households were one person and 6.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.17. The age distribution was 29.6% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 36.2% from 25 to 44, 15.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% 65 or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males. The median household income was $24,375 and the median family income was $20,313. Males had a median income of $16,477 versus $17,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,492. About 31.3% of families and 27.6% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 37.0% of those under age 18 and 27.6% of those age 65 or over.

References

External links

* {{authority control Towns in Horry County, South Carolina Towns in South Carolina Populated places in South Carolina established by African Americans