Isolated by the many rivers and swamps typical of the South Carolina Lowcountry, the area essentially was surrounded by water, forcing its inhabitants to survive without much assistance from the "outside world".

The county was named after, and in honor of, Revolutionary War hero Peter Horry[4] who was born in South Carolina around 1743.

Horry started his military career in 1775 as one of 20 captains, elected by the Provincial Congress of South Carolina, to serve the 1st and 2nd Regiments.

[5] The population has increased more than fourfold since 1970, as the area has become a destination for retirees and people owning second homes.

[6][7][8] In addition to official and academic resources, local history enthusiasts have contributed to preserving Horry County’s heritage.

Local historian Nicholas Gallagher has played a significant role in curating and presenting the content on this platform.

The river runs through the coastal plain, along the eastern border between the two states, and into the Atlantic Ocean.

[28] The Horry County Sheriff's Office is responsible for courthouse security, processing of warrants, fingerprinting, registration of sex offenders, funeral escorts, background checks, and managing the J. Reuben Long Detention Center.

[29] The South Carolina Highway Patrol has a Troop 5 barracks in Conway, and provides services throughout the county.

[31] In March 2020, Todd Cox, a former Horry County police officer, was fined $300 for failing to investigate reports of sex crimes against children.

It has voted Republican in every election since, with the exception of supporting the third-party candidacy of Alabama Governor George Wallace in 1968 and neighboring Georgia's Jimmy Carter in 1976.

[36] In 2013, PTR Industries, a gunmaker,[37] relocated to the Cool Springs Business Park[38] near Aynor from Bristol, Connecticut.

That state had passed restrictive gun control legislation following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

[39] As of April 2024[update], some of the largest employers in the county include Adidas, the city of Myrtle Beach, Coastal Carolina University, Food Lion, Hilton Grand Vacations, Publix, and Walmart.