Created and published in 1986 by the United States Geological Survey, “Myrtle Beach, South Carolina—North Carolina” presents a measured, authoritative view of one of the Atlantic coast’s most recognizable resort regions. At a 1:100,000 scale, the map offers a generous sweep of the coastline, extending across the South Carolina–North Carolina border and centering on places such as Myrtle Beach, North Beach, and Sunset Beach. Its title evokes both a specific destination and a broader coastal corridor, where beaches, inlets, roads, and settlements meet the Atlantic Ocean. As a planimetric map, it emphasizes the arrangement of features across the landscape rather than elevation, making it especially revealing as a record of development patterns, transportation routes, and coastal land use in the mid-1980s.

The United States Geological Survey brought to this map more than a century of federal mapping expertise. Founded in 1879, the USGS became synonymous with precise, standardized cartography, documenting the nation’s terrain, waterways, infrastructure, and settlement with scientific discipline. Here, that institutional clarity is evident in the restrained design: roads and trails, populated places, water features, parks, woodlands, and residential grids are arranged for legibility and comparison. Unlike a decorative coastal chart or tourist map, this is a working geographic document, designed to show how the region functioned on the ground. Its elegance lies in accuracy, in the quiet authority of a map made to measure, classify, and preserve a changing landscape.

The coastal geography shown is defined by Long Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, with communities strung along a dynamic edge of beaches, inlets, wetlands, and developed corridors. Myrtle Beach appears not merely as a resort name, but as part of a wider pattern of roads, neighborhoods, and coastal access points that had already transformed the Grand Strand by 1986. North Beach and Sunset Beach carry the eye toward the North Carolina line, revealing the continuity of shoreline settlement across political boundaries. The planimetric style makes these relationships especially clear: instead of contours and shaded relief, the viewer reads the coast through waterlines, routes, land cover, and the geometry of human occupation.

As a historical document, the map captures a pivotal moment in the development of the Carolina coast. By the 1980s, Myrtle Beach had long been established as a major leisure destination, yet the explosive growth, intensified resort construction, and environmental pressures of later decades were still unfolding. Residential areas indicated by grid patterns suggest the spread of planned communities and coastal subdivisions, while roads and trails trace the infrastructure that connected beach towns to inland routes. Parks and wooded areas provide a counterpoint to development, hinting at the fragile balance between recreation, habitation, and conservation. The map therefore offers a compelling snapshot of coastal modernization before subsequent waves of expansion altered the region further.

The appeal of this map lies in its combination of broad regional perspective and fine geographic intelligence. At 1:100,000 scale, it is expansive enough to show the relationship between Myrtle Beach, Sunset Beach, Long Bay, and the surrounding transportation network, yet detailed enough to distinguish populated places, water features, land-use patterns, and local routes. Its planimetric classification gives it a distinctive character: a clean, purposeful portrait of surface geography, stripped of topographic contouring and focused instead on how people, roads, and coastal environments occupied space. For anyone drawn to the history of the Grand Strand, the geography of the Carolinas, or the evolution of Atlantic resort landscapes, it is a richly informative view of place in transition.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Myrtle Beach
• Sunset Beach
• North Beach
• Long Bay
• Atlantic Ocean
• Various roads and trails
• Parks and woodlands
• Residential areas indicated by grid patterns
• Water features such as rivers, lakes, and coastal inlets

Historical context & cartographic details

• Produced by the United States Geological Survey, a federal agency responsible for mapping and surveying.
• Created and published in 1986, with the map imprint also indicating 1986.
• Labeled as a planimetric map, focusing on geographic features without elevation or topographic contours.
• Uses a 1:100,000 scale, providing a broad overview of the area and helping identify transportation routes and populated places.
• Displays land use and physical features that reflect the coastal geography of the region.
• Captures the region as it appeared in 1986, before later urban development and environmental changes.
• Provides historical insight into coastal development patterns in South Carolina and North Carolina during the mid-1980s.

Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.

Detailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 36x20in (90x50cm) version of this map.

Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.

Every piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.

With its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.