Conway, S.C.

This quaint riverside community offers a charming break from the bustle of the city

Located on the banks of the Waccamaw River about 15 miles west of Myrtle Beach, Conway serves as the county seat for the citizens of Horry County and has its own municipal government and police department.

A council-led city government oversees the town’s affairs and Horry County Schools operates several public schools within the city limits. Fire & Rescue services are provided by Horry County.

Originally established as the village of Kingston back in 1732, Conway eventually became a major economic hub to the region thanks to its trade and commerce via the river and railway systems.

Producing lumber and turpentine used for shipbuilding and tobacco and other agricultural products, Conway was the center of economic power in the county before the development of the coastal areas as tourism destinations.

The City of Conway remains proud of its rich history, celebrating its way of life with the annual RiverFest event along the downtown waterfront each June.

The downtown district features post-Civil War era buildings, twisting live oaks that drape Spanish moss over the streets, and recreation areas on the banks of Lake Busbee. Downtown Conway features older, single-family neighborhoods, while the outskirts of town remain rural countryside.

Coastal Carolina University is located south of town and several new single- and multi-family developments have sprung up around campus.