Atlantic Beach, SC Homes for Rent

Atlantic Beach is a tiny oceanfront town with a deep history. Affectionately referred to as "The Black Pearl," this community thrived in the early 1940s and '50s as an African American vacation community during the segregation era. Anchored by businesses like the Black Hawk Night Club, African Americans came from all over the South to enjoy what Atlantic Beach had to offer. However, Hurricane Hazel caused significant damage to the area in 1954, and desegregation through the second half of the 20th century contributed to the area's decline in visitors. Around the same time, several surrounding communities incorporated to become North Myrtle Beach, while Atlantic Beach incorporated independently in 1966. Although this sleepy town is no longer the busy hub of activity it once was, activists and longtime residents have worked to preserve the character of Atlantic Beach. "They've kept their own thing going on, and it hasn't changed much over the years," says Nash Kemp, Realtor at Century 21 Coastal Lifestyles. Unlike surrounding North Myrtle Beach, which has exploded with growth and whose beachfront is lined with high-rise condo buildings, Atlantic Beach has an unobstructed view of