Around 1900, a contest was held to name the area and Burroughs ' wife suggested honoring the locally abundant shrub, the Southern Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera). The Withers post office changed its name to Myrtle Beach soon afterward. It incorporated as a town in 1938 and as a city in 1957.
where did the name myrtle beach come from
the locally abundant shrub, the Southern Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera)