Florence | |
|---|---|
 Aerial view of theFlorence Center | |
 Seal  Logo | |
| Nickname(s): Flo-Town, The Magic City | |
| Motto: "Full Life. Full Forward." | |
 Location in South Carolina | |
| Coordinates:34°11′2″N79°46′27″W / 34.18389°N 79.77417°W /34.18389; -79.77417 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | South Carolina |
| County | Florence |
| Incorporated | December 24, 1890 |
| Founded by | Jerome P. Chase |
| Named after | Florence Harllee |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Lethonia Peaches Barnes (D) |
| • City Manager | Scotty Davis |
| Area | |
• Total | 23.49 sq mi (60.83 km2) |
| • Land | 23.39 sq mi (60.59 km2) |
| • Water | 0.09 sq mi (0.24 km2) 0.38% |
| Elevation | 138 ft (42 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 39,899 |
• Estimate (2023) | 40,609 |
| • Rank | SC:11th |
| • Density | 1,705.45/sq mi (658.47/km2) |
| • Urban | 89,436 (US:335th)[2] |
| • Urban density | 1,314.5/sq mi (507.5/km2) |
| • Metro | 199,630 (US:233rd) |
| • Demonym | Florentine |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 29501–29506 |
| Area code(s) | 843, 854 |
| FIPS code | 45-25810[5] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1222461[6] |
| Website | www |
Florence/ˈflɒrəns/ is a city in and thecounty seat ofFlorence County, South Carolina, United States. It lies at the intersection ofInterstates 20 and95 and is the eastern terminus of the former. It is the primary city within theFlorence metropolitan area. The area forms the core of the historicalPee Dee region of South Carolina, which includes the eight counties of northeastern South Carolina, along with sections of southeasternNorth Carolina.[7] As of the2020 census, the population of the city was 39,899, making it the10th-most populous city in the state.[8]
Florence is one of the major cities in South Carolina. In 1965, Florence was named anAll-American City, presented by theNational Civic League.[9] The city was founded as a railroad hub and became the junction of three major railroad systems, including theWilmington and Manchester, theNortheastern, and theCheraw and Darlington.
The City of Florence was chartered in 1871 by the Reconstruction government and incorporated in 1890[10]: 7 following the 1888 creation of Florence County. Prior to its charter, the city was part of one of the original townships laid out by theLords Proprietors in 1719. The area was gradually settled through the late 19th and early 20th century. Early settlers practicedsubsistence farming and producedindigo, cotton,naval stores and timber, which were shipped down theGreat Pee Dee River to the port atGeorgetown and exported. In the mid-19th century two intersecting railroads were built, theWilmington and Manchester, and theNortheastern.[11] GeneralWilliam Harllee, the president of the W & M, built his home at the junction, and named the community "Florence", after his daughter.[11]
During theCivil War, the town was an important supply and railroad repair center for theConfederacy, and the site of theFlorence Stockade, which held between 12,000[12] and 18,000Unionprisoners of war.[13] Over 2,800 prisoners died of disease and were buried there.[12] The burial ground adjacent to the prison became theFlorence National Cemetery after the war and now has expanded.
After the war, Florence grew and prospered, using the railroad to supply its cotton, timber, and by the turn of the century, tobacco. During the 20th century the economy of Florence came to rely heavily on the healthcare industry, driven by two major hospitals and a number of pharmaceutical plants.[14] Industry grew, especially after World War II, when Florence became increasingly known for textiles,pharmaceuticals, paper, andmanufacturing, in addition to agricultural products.
Florence also has a budding theater scene, starting with creating the Community Players in 1923. Over the years, the theater troop had several names, such as the Pinewood Plays, the Little Theater Guild, and eventually, the Florence Little Theater Guild. After a fire that took their original performance home at the Pinewood Club, the troop used spaces like the YMCA, high school gyms, and the Army Air Base movie house to perform. In 1968 the first Florence Little Theater was built, but in 2008, they built a new Florence Little Theater due to a need for more space where it is still being used. In 2023 the Florence Little Theater celebrated 100 years of performances opening with The Sound of Music.[15]
In 2010, the city of Florence began a massive redevelopment of Downtown Florence. The city has completed several notable projects and has several more planned. The Downtown Redevelopment District was originally a seventy square block area encompassing some 500 acres (2.0 km2) in the heart of the City of Florence, but now has added over 100 more acres of the Timrod Park area with its historic homes. The redevelopment of Florence has even created a new branding effort, to include new city department logos (not to be confused with the city seal) way finding signs and repainting of water towers.[16]
The historic downtown district running from the central business district toward the McLeod Medical Center, features a number of historic buildings that have been rehabilitated. The redevelopment started with the $18 million Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation Library, and today now has the new Florence Little Theater, some 60 new apartments and the Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center which opened in September 2011, as well the new Florence Museum of Art, Science & History which opened October 11, 2014. New office space has emerged from once abandoned buildings, and a police substation was added on once crime-ridden Dargan Street.
Special efforts are being aimed at the downtown area, which was once the center of the city's activity but remains dormant after retailers and shoppers left for suburban malls. The goal is to re-establish Evans as a vibrant commercial and residential corridor, and five blocks of Evans Street will be streetscaped.[17]
Florence is located in the coastal plain of South Carolina. It is in the northeastern part of the state and the northern part of Florence County. The average elevation above sea level is around 140 ft (43 m).Jeffries Creek is a tributary of theGreat Pee Dee River and is the main waterway that flows through the city, passing south of the city center. According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 23.49 square miles (60.8 km2), of which 23.39 square miles (60.6 km2) is land and 0.09 square miles (0.23 km2) (0.38%) is water.[1]
The climate experienced ishumid subtropical (Köppen:Cfa) of the type found in thedeep south, especially far from the coast.[18] Autumn, winter and spring are mild, with occasional winter nights below freezing but rarely features extended cold and rigorous conditions. Florence's summers can be very hot and humid. The city, like others in theSoutheast, is prone toinversions, which trapozone and other pollutants over the area.
| Climate data for Florence, South Carolina (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1942–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 82 (28) | 85 (29) | 88 (31) | 95 (35) | 102 (39) | 106 (41) | 104 (40) | 107 (42) | 102 (39) | 99 (37) | 89 (32) | 85 (29) | 107 (42) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 56.9 (13.8) | 60.0 (15.6) | 67.8 (19.9) | 76.3 (24.6) | 83.3 (28.5) | 89.4 (31.9) | 92.9 (33.8) | 91.1 (32.8) | 86.0 (30.0) | 76.8 (24.9) | 67.5 (19.7) | 59.8 (15.4) | 75.6 (24.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 45.5 (7.5) | 48.2 (9.0) | 55.6 (13.1) | 63.7 (17.6) | 71.9 (22.2) | 79.1 (26.2) | 82.7 (28.2) | 80.8 (27.1) | 75.4 (24.1) | 65.0 (18.3) | 54.7 (12.6) | 48.2 (9.0) | 64.2 (17.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 34.2 (1.2) | 36.4 (2.4) | 43.4 (6.3) | 51.2 (10.7) | 60.4 (15.8) | 68.8 (20.4) | 72.4 (22.4) | 70.5 (21.4) | 64.8 (18.2) | 53.1 (11.7) | 42.0 (5.6) | 36.5 (2.5) | 52.8 (11.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 1 (−17) | 4 (−16) | 16 (−9) | 23 (−5) | 35 (2) | 48 (9) | 55 (13) | 53 (12) | 39 (4) | 23 (−5) | 16 (−9) | 6 (−14) | 1 (−17) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.66 (93) | 3.65 (93) | 3.47 (88) | 3.45 (88) | 3.85 (98) | 4.48 (114) | 4.69 (119) | 5.51 (140) | 5.06 (129) | 3.36 (85) | 3.05 (77) | 3.89 (99) | 48.12 (1,222) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 10.8 | 9.5 | 9.9 | 8.4 | 9.1 | 10.9 | 12.2 | 11.5 | 8.8 | 8.2 | 8.1 | 10.6 | 118.0 |
| Source:NOAA[19][20] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 1,914 | — | |
| 1890 | 3,395 | 77.4% | |
| 1900 | 4,647 | 36.9% | |
| 1910 | 7,057 | 51.9% | |
| 1920 | 10,968 | 55.4% | |
| 1930 | 14,774 | 34.7% | |
| 1940 | 16,054 | 8.7% | |
| 1950 | 22,513 | 40.2% | |
| 1960 | 24,722 | 9.8% | |
| 1970 | 25,997 | 5.2% | |
| 1980 | 29,842 | 14.8% | |
| 1990 | 29,813 | −0.1% | |
| 2000 | 30,248 | 1.5% | |
| 2010 | 37,056 | 22.5% | |
| 2020 | 39,899 | 7.7% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 40,609 | [8] | 1.8% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[21] 2020[8][3] | |||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 17,943 | 44.97% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 18,622 | 46.67% |
| Native American | 65 | 0.16% |
| Asian | 923 | 2.31% |
| Pacific Islander | 12 | 0.03% |
| Other/Mixed | 1,229 | 3.08% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 1,105 | 2.77% |
As of the2020 census, there were 39,899 people, 15,624 households, and 9,671 families residing in the city.
At the2000 census,[5] there were 30,248 people, 11,925 households, and 7,882 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,709.4 people per square mile (660.0 people/km2). There were 13,090 housing units at an average density of 739.7 per square mile (285.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 50.0%White, 46.0% Black or African- American, 0.18%Native American, 1.16%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 0.21% fromother races, and 0.71% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino people of any race were 0.76% of the population.
There were 11,925 households, out of which 30.2% had children living with them, 41.9% were married couples living together, 20.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.0% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,388, and the median income for a family was $42,250. Males had a median income of $35,633 versus $23,589 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,336. Of the population 19.3% and 15.3% of families, and 28.2% of those under and 15.9% of those 65 and older, were living below the poverty line.
Florence is the central city of ametropolitan area with a total population of 205,566 (2010 US census), including the entire populations of Florence and Darlington counties. However, in the more detailed 2000 Census data, only about 54% of this metro was urbanized, consisting of the urban areas Florence (2000 pop.: 67,314), Hartsville (14,907), Darlington (12,066), andLake City (8,728). The remainder of the Florence metro is considered rural.
Like other midsize cities in the southern United States, Florence's population is largely dominated by Protestantism, the largest group being theSouthern Baptists, followed by theMethodists. The rest of the population are distributed among other Protestant denominations as well as theRoman Catholic andGreek Orthodox Churches. The Greek Orthodox Church holds a largeGreek Festival annually in September. There is oneReform Judaism synagogue in Florence,Beth Israel Congregation. There is also a smallHindu temple.
The city of Florence has acouncil-manager form of government.City council members are elected every four years, withoutterm limits. The council consists of seven members (three from districts and threeat-large), as well as the mayor. The council responsible for making policies and enacting laws, rules and regulations in order to provide for future community and economic growth. The council additionally provides the necessary support for the orderly and efficient operation of city services. Florence holds elections for mayor every four years, alongside national Presidential elections. Mayors serve as a member of the city council, without term limits. The council appoints acity manager to serve as chief administrative officer to run the day-to-day business of the city and to serve at the pleasure of the council.[23]
Current members of the Florence City Council:[24][25]
| Council member | District represented |
|---|---|
| Lethonia Barnes, Mayor | At-large |
| LaShonda NeSmith-Jackson | District 1 |
| J. Lawrence Smith, II | District 2 |
| Bryan A. Braddock | District 3 |
| George D. Jebaily | At-large |
| Chaquez T. McCall | At-large |
| Vacant Seat (Special Election 2025) | At-large |
During the latter part of the 20th century and early 21st century, Florence's economy was transformed from being based largely on rail and farming into a diversified economy as the major commerce, finance, rail and trucking services, health care, and industrial center of the Eastern Carolinas.[26] There are over nine foreign affiliated companies and fourteenFortune 500 companies in the region. The gross domestic product (GDP) of the Florence metropolitan area as of 2009[update] was $6.8 billion, one of the highest among MSAs in the state.[27]
Milken Institute 2008 Best Performing Cities Index showed the Florence MSA as the 5th largest gainer in their evaluation of the top 124 small metropolitan areas in the United States. The report ranks U.S. metropolitan areas by how well they are creating and sustaining jobs and economic growth. The components include job, wage and salary and technology growth.[26]
Florence has blossomed into a strong center for medical care, with four major medical providersMcLeod Regional Medical Center,Medical University of South Carolina Hospital, Regency Hospital andHealthSouth. The growth of these providers has led to the transformation of the Florence skyline over the last 10 years, with development for demand with multi-story high-rises as well as community relation projects.
With such a strong medical community several companies have their global, continental, or national headquarters in Florence, includingGE Healthcare manufacturing operations (MRI manufacturing),TRICARE, a supplemental insurance company that serves theUS Armed Forces and its civilian employees, andAssurant, a real property and personal insurance company. The city also serves thepharmaceutical industry, with a Patheon pharmaceutical manufacturing facility and research and development center for Patheon API Services.[28]
Florence also serves as the financial and service hub for the Eastern Carolinas, with many financial and professional management institutions invested heavily within the city. Companies with regional operations and headquarters includeTruist Financial,Monster.com,Otis Elevator,CSX Transportation andWells Fargo. Florence has operation headquarters forAT&T and is the southeastern headquarters ofDuke Energy Inc.
Florence has benefited from being located at the intersection ofI-95 andI-20, approximately halfway between New York City and Miami, Florida. The city is located 80 miles (130 km) east from the state capitalColumbia, 70 miles (110 km) west fromMyrtle Beach, 120 miles (190 km) north of Charleston, and 110 miles (180 km) southeast ofCharlotte, North Carolina. This has allowed Florence to remain competitive and bringing in and sustaining major manufacturers such as, General Electric,Honda,QVC Distribution Center and Otis Elevator.
TheFlorence Public School District One is the governing body of the public schools in the area. As of 2010[update], the district has an active enrollment of 14,500 students, attending a total of 20 schools, including 13 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 3 high schools serving the City of Florence, Effingham and Quinby areas.[29] The school system also supports an alternative school for middle and/or high school students, a vocational career center, and an adult learning center. The district and its schools have been recognized as being among the state's best with numerous awards, including the Palmetto's Finest Award.
Facilities of higher education in and around Florence includeFrancis Marion University andFlorence–Darlington Technical College. Francis Marion University is a public university located in Florence, while Florence–Darlington Technical College, located in Florence, also operates satellite campuses inHartsville,Lake City andMullins.
Florence has apublic library, a branch of the Florence County Library System.[30] The Florence County Public Library has a room, the South Carolina Room, dedicated to South Carolina history and genealogy.
McLeod Regional Medical Center is a 453-bed non-profit medical center located on a 75-acre (300,000 m2) campus in downtown Florence. The hospital complex in downtown contains the Cardiovascular Institute, the Center for Advanced Surgery, the Cancer Center, and the only specialized pediatrics unit in the northeastern portion of South Carolina. It encompasses acute care facilities, such as McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence, McLeod Medical Center in Dillon, McLeod Medical Center in Darlington, and also operates campuses all over the Pee Dee region of South Carolina.
The Medical University of South Carolina Florence, formerly Carolinas Hospital System, a regional healthcare facility with 420-beds, serves eight counties in northeastern South Carolina.
Regency Hospital opened in Florence in July 2001. It is a 40-bed Long Term Acute Care (LTAC) hospital located on the fourth and fifth floors of the Cedar Towers, at 121 Cedar Street. Regency, with its corporate office based in Alpharetta, Georgia, has 20 hospitals nationwide, and continues to aggressively grow throughout the country.
McLeod Regional Medical Center and MUSC Florence are the first and third largest employers in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina.[31]
I-95 is a four-lane freeway that enters the city from the northeast, and exits southwest. The highway leads northeast 87 miles (140 km) toFayetteville, North Carolina, and southwest 179 miles (288 km) toSavannah, Georgia.
I-20 is a four-lane interstate highway, which enters the city from the west and has a terminus in Florence as (David McLeod Blvd
I-20 BS). Interstate 20 leads west 83 miles (134 km) toColumbia, then on toAtlanta and ultimatelyTexas.
US 52 is a north to south route through the downtown area. The highway crosses Interstate 95 northwest of the downtown area and leads north 157 miles (253 km) toWinston-Salem, North Carolina. To the south it merges with US 301 and eventually leads 113 miles (182 km) toCharleston.
US 76 enters the city from the west at Interstate 95, then merges with David McLeod Blvd at Palmetto Street, and finally exits east of the city at the junction with Freedom Blvd. The road leads southwest 39 miles (63 km) toSumter and east 115 miles (185 km) toWilmington, North Carolina.
US 301 offers another northeast to southwest route through Florence. Entering the city merged with US 52 as South Irby Street, it then forms a crescent-shaped bypass around the downtown area as Freedom Boulevard. US 301 then merges with US 76 east of downtown Florence, and exits as such.ThePee Dee Regional Transportation Authority (PDRTA) is the principal agency responsible for operating mass transit in greater Florence area includingDarlington,Marion,Chesterfield,Dillon, and the Lake City area. PDRTA also operates routes toColumbia,Myrtle Beach andSumter.
PDRTA operates express shuttles, and bus service serving Florence and its immediate surrounding areas. The authority was established in June 1974; it is South Carolina's oldest and largest RTA. PDRTA began operations serving the six-county Pee Dee region of Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Marion, and Marlboro Counties. The PDRTA has provided transportation for more than 15 million passengers, and transports approximately 2,457 people daily. It operates services with 165 vehicles ranging in size from transit, intercity buses, and trolleys to lift-equipped vans and goshens.[32]
The city and its surroundings are served byFlorence Regional Airport (IATA: FLO;ICAO: KFLO), which is located 2 miles (3.2 km) east of downtown Florence on US 76. The airport itself is serviced byAmerican Eagle to Charlotte and is the second busiest airport in the region behindMyrtle Beach International Airport. It is located an hour west of Myrtle Beach.[33]
Amtrak'sThe Palmetto trains 89, 90 andSilver Meteor (trains 97, 98) connect Florence with the cities of New York,Philadelphia,Wilmington,Baltimore,Washington,Jacksonville,Orlando, andMiami. Additionally the Florence station also serves as the refueling and crew changing point for Amtrak'sAuto Train service which operates service betweenSanford station in Florida andLorton station Virginia, Passengers may temporarily disembark the train to smoke, get some air or walk their service animals.
Greyhound Lines and Southeastern Stages operates a station on Irby Street, in the southern part of downtown, providing Florence with intercity bus transportation.
Baseball has a long history in Florence, dating back to the 1920s when the Florence Swamp Foxes were founded. The minor leagueFlorence Steelers played in Florence from 1948 to 1950. TheToronto Blue Jays had a minor league team that played in Florence from 1981 to 1986. Major league playersPat Borders,Jimmy Key,Cecil Fielder andFred McGriff made stops in Florence during their minor league careers. Florence's Post 1 American Legion baseball team is one of the longest tenured teams in the state, beginning in 1932. Drawing the best high school talent from all over the Pee Dee area each summer, Post 1 has had over 30 players move on the professional ranks, includingReggie Sanders. They have won over 30 league titles and six state championships. They were the host site of the 2008 American Legion State Tournament. In 2012, Post 1 won the South Carolina state tournament and the Southeast Regional and participated in the American Legion World Series in Shelby, North Carolina.
Florence is home to theCoastal Plain LeagueFlorence Flamingos summer collegiate baseball team. Relocated to Florence in 1998, the team brings in players from collegiate sports conferences, including theSoutheastern Conference and theAtlantic Coast Conference. The team hosted the 2004 All-Star game and Home Run Derby. In 2007, they hosted the Petitt Cup Tournament at their home field.
The Flamingos play at the 1,755-capacitySparrow Stadium atFrancis Marion University.[34][35] The stadium is also hosts some home games for theFlorence–Darlington Technical College Stingers baseball team.[36] Post 1 plays its home games atAmerican Legion Field, adjacent to Memorial Stadium, where Florence's three public high schools play their home football games.
Carolina Bank Field is a baseball stadium being built as part of the Florence Sports Complex to host the Flamingos starting in 2022.[37][38][39][40]
Until 2009, Florence was home to theAmerican Indoor Football league's Florence Phantoms, which debuted in the league in 2006. The Phantoms played in theFlorence Civic Center. Florence Memorial Stadium is a 7,000 seat football stadium 5 miles (8.0 km) to the east of the city. It is the home stadium for West Florence, Wilson, and South Florence high schools. There was an arena football team too, briefly, but its contract to play at the Florence Center was not renewed.
Florence was also home to the Southern Professional Hockey League's now-Twin City Cyclones, who played from 2005 to 2007. This team was part of a two event package in 2004 to replace the now defunct Pee Dee Pride (to be theMyrtle Beach Thunderboltz) from the ECHL. The building was also the home of the South Carolina Fire Ants of Major League Roller Hockey in 1998.[41]
Florence and Grand Strand share a common defined market by Nielsen Media Research inHorry,Marion, Dillon, Darlington, Marlboro, Scotland, Robeson, and Florence counties. The Florence/Myrtle Beach Market is the 103rd largest market in the US as defined by Nielsen Media Research.CBS/MyNetworkTV affiliateWBTW 13,ABC/The CW affiliateWPDE-TV 15 andSCETV (PBS) outlet WJPM-TV 33 are licensed to Florence.NBC affiliateWMBF-TV 32 andFox affiliateWFXB 43 are licensed to Myrtle Beach but also serve Florence. WBTW and WPDE have moved most of their operations to Myrtle Beach and Conway, respectively, due to the Grand Strand's larger population.
Florence, along with The Pee Dee Region, makes up the 217th largest radio market in the United States. Cumulus Media and iHeart Media, the largest and third-largest radio station ownership groups in the country, operate radio outlets in Florence.
The Morning News is the largest daily paper published in the Pee Dee, with a readership base extending across several counties. The paper has been in existence since 1922 and is published by BH Media Group, aBerkshire Hathaway Company. The area is also served by several weekly papers, including theNews Journal and theCommunity Times.
The baseball facility consists of 917 seats with capacity of 1,755...
Geographic data related toFlorence, South Carolina atOpenStreetMapMunicipalities and communities ofFlorence County, South Carolina,United States | ||
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