Horry County was named for Revolutionary War hero Peter Horry (1743-1815), and is 1,255 square miles, making it one of the largest counties east of the Mississippi. With a resident population of over 380,000, Horry County is one of the fastest growing areas in the nation. One of the largest tourist destinations in the country, Myrtle Beach, is located within the county.
Horry County was established in 1801. This area of the state was isolated for many years by numerous rivers and swamps, and the inhabitants sometimes referred to themselves as the “Independent Republic of Horry”, with the trading, commerce and transportation of goods popular in and around Horry County’s waterways to markets near and far away. Lumber and naval stores were the primary industries during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, with tobacco farming being introduced later. In the twentieth century, tourism came to dominate the coastal section of the county.
Horry County Fire Rescue (HCFR) is a combination career and volunteer department with a force of approximately 700 personnel operating out of 41 stations. Our mission is to serve the community by providing professional fire, rescue and emergency medical services. HCFR’s vision is committed to excellence today for a safer tomorrow. The annual call volume for HCFR surpasses 80,000.
