Conway, South Carolina

• 1. Founding And Colonial Origins

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  Kingston emerged in 1732 as a Royal Governor township scheme under Robert Johnson. Early English colonists named the village Kings Town before changing it to Kingston. The town was laid out on a bluff overlooking the Waccamaw River in what is now known as Horry County. For three decades, from the 1730s to the 1750s, King George II was very popular in the area. His birthday became one of the most widely celebrated holidays during that time. However, his successor King George III quickly grew unpopular with the townspeople. By the 1770s, the region of South Carolina in which Kingston was located was overwhelmingly English. Small numbers of Huguenots and Scots-Irish people also lived there. English-Americans in Kingston were very sympathetic to rebels in Charleston over the issue of taxation without representation. When the Royal Governor Lord William Campbell fled Charleston, the people of Kingston celebrated.

• 2. Revolutionary War Engagements

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  Many area residents fought in the American Revolution. Small engagements were fought near Kingston at Bear Bluff and at Black Lake. Francis Marion, who was known as the Swamp Fox, had an encampment near Kingston just across the Waccamaw River. The areas of Kingston and Charles Town were communities with a higher population of Tories than many other Colonial American towns during the Revolutionary War era. Local battles reflected deep divisions within the community itself. Residents chose sides based on family ties and economic interests rather than pure ideology. The proximity to Charleston made the region a strategic target for British forces seeking control of the coast. Despite these pressures, local militias maintained their presence through the conflict years.

• 3. Name Changes And County Formation

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  Horry County was created in 1801, and its courthouse was established in Kingston. The name Kingston was later changed to Conwayborough to honor local hero General Robert Conway. In 1883, the South Carolina General Assembly changed the name of the town to Conway. This renaming process marked the transition from colonial settlement to modern municipal identity. The evolution of names reflected changing political loyalties and regional pride over time. Each change represented a new chapter in how residents viewed their place in history. The final adoption of Conway solidified the town's connection to Horry County governance structures.

• 4. Downtown Revitalization Projects

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  Since the completion of the Main Street USA project in the 1980s, Conway's downtown has been revitalized with shops and bistros. Highlighting the renovation of the downtown area is the Riverwalk, an area of restaurants which follows a stretch of the Waccamaw River that winds through Conway. Numerous buildings and structures located in Conway are on the National Register of Historic Places. Among these is the City Hall building, designed by Robert Mills, architect of the Washington Monument. The transformation turned former industrial spaces into cultural destinations for visitors and locals alike. Restaurants now line the riverbanks where boats once transported timber and agricultural goods. The physical changes mirrored shifts in community priorities toward tourism and heritage preservation.

• 5. Demographic Shifts And Census Data

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  The population was 24,849 at the 2020 census, up from 17,103 in the 2010 census. As of the 2020 census, there were 24,849 people, 7,921 households, and 4,881 families residing in the city. At the 2000 census, there were 11,788 people, 4,259 households, and 2,942 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city changed significantly between decades. In 2000, White residents made up 55.82% while African American residents comprised 41.85%. By 2020, White (non-Hispanic) residents numbered 15,042 or 60.53%, and Black or African American (non-Hispanic) residents reached 7,272 or 29.26%. These statistics reveal patterns of migration, economic development, and changing community composition over time.

• 6. Higher Education And Economy

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  Conway is home to Coastal Carolina University and Horry-Georgetown Technical College. It is also home to a branch of Webster University, an MBA graduate school, and North American Institute of Aviation, a flight school. Employers located in the Conway area include New South Companies Inc., Vulcan Materials Company, and AVX Corporation. Grainger Generating Station was a coal fired power plant operated by Santee Cooper that generated electricity from 1966 until its retirement in 2012. The presence of multiple educational institutions created jobs and attracted new residents to the region. Major employers like Vulcan Materials provided steady employment opportunities for local workers. The shift away from coal generation reflected broader energy trends affecting rural communities across the Southeast.