Florence is the largest city in and the county seat of Florence County, South Carolina, United States.[3] This 1997 All-America City finalist, with its historic homes and medical center towers, came together to form a cultural center for the northeastern portion of South Carolina. The city population was 30,248 at the 2000 census (67,314 total pop. of Florence Urbanized Area). The Florence Metropolitan Statistical Area, which consists of Florence and Darlington counties, was estimated at 198,443 inhabitants in 2005 by the U.S. Census Bureau, though nearly half of this population is classified as rural. Florence is the primary city of the "Pee Dee" region of South Carolina, an area that includes the eight counties of northeastern South Carolina along with sections in southeastern North Carolina.
Florence is at the intersection of I-95 and I-20, approximately halfway between New York City and Miami, Florida. The city is located 80 miles east from the state capital Columbia, 70 miles west from Myrtle Beach, 120 miles North of Charleston, and 110 miles southeast of Charlotte, North Carolina.
History
Though Florence was part of one of the original townships laid out by the Lords Proprieters in 1719, it was slowly and thinly settled until the coming of the railroads.[citation needed] Prior to them, the Pee Dee River was the route of most commerce.[citation needed] Early settlers practiced subsistence farming and produced indigo, cotton, naval stores and timber, which was shipped downriver to the port at Georgetown and exported.[citation needed]
In the mid-19th century two intersecting railroads were built, The Wilmington and Manchester, and the Northeastern.[citation needed] Gen. W. W. Harllee, the president of the W & M road built his home at the junction, and named the community Florence, after his daughter.[citation needed]
During the Civil War the town was an important supply and railroad repair center for the Confederacy, and the site of the Florence Stockade, a prison for Union prisoners of war.[citation needed] Many of the prisoners died during the latter years of the war, and the burial ground adjacent to the stockade was to become the Florence National Cemetery, which continues to be a national burial ground for veterans of all wars since.[citation needed]
The Civil War also brought to prominence Henry Timrod, also known as The Poet Laureate of the Confederacy, who taught at a schoolhouse on the Cannon Plantation nearby.
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 Florence grew into a major medical center, of far greater importance than its size. Industry grew, especially after World War II, when Florence became increasingly known for textiles, pharmaceuticals, paper, manufacturing and in addition to agricultural products, which makes it the hub for business in the northeastern portion of South Carolina.[citation needed]
Geography
Florence is located at 34°11′3″N 79°46′27″W / 34.18417°N 79.77417°W / 34.18417; -79.77417 (34.184088, -79.774147).[4]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.7 square miles (45.9 km²), of which, 17.7 square miles (45.8 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.17%) is water.
Florence is located in the coastal plain of South Carolina. The terrain is mostly flat. The average elevation above sea level is around 140 ft. Jeffries Creek is a tributary of the Great Pee Dee River and is the main waterway that flows through the city of Florence.
 Weather averages for Florence, South Carolina  |
| Month |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| Record high °F (°C) |
85
(29) |
86
(30) |
96
(36) |
97
(36) |
102
(39) |
108
(42) |
108
(42) |
106
(41) |
104
(40) |
102
(39) |
89
(32) |
86
(30) |
| Average high °F (°C) |
56
(13) |
59
(15) |
68
(20) |
76
(24) |
83
(28) |
88
(31) |
91
(33) |
90
(32) |
84
(29) |
76
(24) |
67
(19) |
58
(14) |
| Average low °F (°C) |
35
(2) |
37
(3) |
44
(7) |
51
(11) |
60
(16) |
67
(19) |
71
(22) |
70
(21) |
64
(18) |
53
(12) |
44
(7) |
37
(3) |
| Record low °F (°C) |
0
(-18) |
4
(-16) |
11
(-12) |
26
(-3) |
36
(2) |
39
(4) |
50
(10) |
50
(10) |
39
(4) |
26
(-3) |
15
(-9) |
4
(-16) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) |
3.25
(82.6) |
2.68
(68.1) |
3.29
(83.6) |
2.7
(68.6) |
3.13
(79.5) |
4.2
(106.7) |
4.96
(126) |
4.84
(122.9) |
3.33
(84.6) |
2.88
(73.2) |
2.49
(63.2) |
2.94
(74.7) |
| Source: The Weather Channel 2009-05-29 |
Economy
McLeod Pavillon Tower, Florence, South Carolina
Florence has become a major biomedical and financial center of the Eastern Carolinas.[citation needed] Many financial institutions and banking centers have regional offices located in the city, as well as a number of large local banking services. Many of the regional centers are either located in Florence's downtown area or I-95 and I-20 connector. Many medical centers and medical services companies are located in Florence, including two major hospitals and two major pharmaceutical companies. With Florence growing into a major medical center many new hospital towers and research towers have been built or are under construction, helping transform Florence's skyline in the last 10 years.
The following companies are headquartered or have a large regional office in the Florence area:
Municipal Government and politics
Florence City-County Courthouse and office complex, Florence, South Carolina
The City of Florence has a council-manager form of government. The mayor and city council are elected every four years, with no term limits. Unlike other mayors in council-manager systems, Florence mayor has the power to veto ordinances passed by the council; vetoes can be overridden by a two-thirds majority of the council. The council appoints a city manager to serve as chief administrative officer to run the day-to-day business of the city and serves at the pleasure of the council. The current City Manager of Florence is David Williams.
The current mayor of Florence is Stephen J. Wukela. Wukela, is currently serving his first term, elected in 2008. Florence holds elections for mayor every four years, with the next election in 2010; there are no term limits. The city council consists of seven members (three from districts and three at-large). The city council is responsible for making policies and enacting laws, rules and regulations in order to provide for future community and economic growth, in addition to providing the necessary support for the orderly and efficient operation of city services.[5]
At-Large
- Bill Bradham
- Steven Powers
- Octavia Williams-Blake
Districts
- 1: Billy Williams (Mayor-Pro Tem)
- 2: Edward Robinson
- 3: Buddy Brand
Crime
In 2005 Florence had the highest number of total violent crimes per 100,000 residents according to the "Crime In the United States" publication released by the FBI (http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/05cius/index.html). Florence had 1,286.4 violent crimes per 100,000 residents. This number was up from approximately 1,132 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2004. Florence has the highest aggravated assault rate in the United States.
In 2005 there were 16 murders, 102 rapes, 445 robberies and 2009 aggravated assaults in the Florence area. Additionally, there were 11,463 property crimes, including burglaries, thefts and motor vehicle thefts. Property crimes occurred at a rate of 5733.4 per 100,000 residents. The population of the area included in the survey was 199,935.
In 2006 the crime rate decreased as the population increased. There were 201,529 people in the area covered by the 2006 survey. There were 12 murders, 79 rapes, 395 robberies and 1853 aggravated assaults. There were 11,518 property crimes.
In 2006, the Florence metropolitan area was ranked as the fifth most dangerous metropolitan area in the country by the Morgan Quitno Press.[citation needed] It fell off of the list in 2007.
Healthcare
McLeod Regional Medical Center
There are two major hospitals located in Florence, SC. McLeod Regional Medical Center is a non-profit medical center located in Downtown Florence, and also operates campuses all over the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. The center has the only Children's Hospital unit in the Northeastern portion of South Carolina.
Carolinas Hospital System, a leading regional healthcare facility with 420-beds, serves eight counties in Northeastern, South Carolina. For thousands of patients who use the facility every year, CHS makes a commitment to offering personalized, compassionate care and to being at the forefront for innovative surgery and the latest in cutting-edge technology for diagnosis and treatment.
McLeod Regional Medical Center and Carolinas Hospital System are two of the largest employers in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina.[citation needed]
Transportation
Highway
Interstate 20 is a four lane interstate highway, which enters the city from the west and has a terminus in Florence as (David McLeod Blvd 
Business Spur), also this is a popular entrance to the area if coming into the city. Interstate 20 connects the city to Columbia, SC, Atlanta, Dallas, and the American West.
U.S. Route 52 is a more direct path from through Florence a North to South route through downtown Florence. The road crosses Interstate 95 in the northwest of downtown then merges with US 301 and before it exists the city to the south with a junction with 
SC 51 to Charleston, South Carolina
U.S. Highway 301 offers another north to south route into Florence. Entering the city merged with US 52 as South Irby Street it then forms a crescent moon shaped by pass around downtown as Freedom Boulevard. US 301 then merges with US 76 east of Downtown Florence and exits as such.
Pee Dee RTA buses loading at Florence Transit Center
Mass transit
The Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority (PDRTA), is the princial agency responsible for operating mass transit in greater Florencea area including Darlington, Marion, Chesterfield, Dillon, and the Lake City area, PDRTA also operates routes to Columbia, Myrtle Beach and Sumter.
CMRTA operates express shuttles, and bus service serving Florence and its immediate surrounds areas. The authority was established in June1974 which 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 daily PDRTA transports approximately 2,457 people. PDRTA operates services with 165 vehicles ranging in size from transit, intercity buses, and trolleys to lift-equipped vans and goshens.
Rail
Amtrak's The Palmetto train and the The Silver Service trains connect Florence with the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Jacksonville, Tampa and Miami.
Air
The city and its surroundings are served by Florence Regional Airport (IATA:FLO; ICAO:KFLO), which is located 2 miles east of downtown Florence on US 76. The airport itself is serviced by Delta Connection and US Airways Express and is the second busiest airport in the region behind Myrtle Beach International Airport[citation needed].
Intercity Bus
Greyhound Lines and Southern Stages operates a station on Irby Street, in the southern part of downtown, providing Florence with intercity bus transportation.
Sports
Professional sports teams
Florence is home to the AIFL's Florence Phantoms, which debuted in the league in 2006. The Phantoms play in the Florence Civic Center. Florence was also home to the Southern Professional Hockey League's now-Twin City Cyclones, who played from 2005-07. This team was part of a two event package in 2004 to replace the now defunct Pee Dee Pride (to be the Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz) from the ECHL. The building was also the home of the South Carolina Fire Ants of Major League Roller Hockey in 1998 [1].
Darlington Raceway is officially in the Florence market, ten miles to the west of the city, and was the home of the Southern 500 until the Ferko lawsuit eliminated the race in favor of a second race at Texas Motor Speedway.
Baseball has a long history in the Florence, dating back to 1920’s when the Florence Swamp Foxes were founded. The Toronto Blue Jays had a minor league team that played in Florence from 1981 to 1986. Major league players Pat Borders, Jimmy Key, Cecil Fielder and Fred 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 (most notably Reggie Sanders). They have won 28 league championships and 2 state titles, and was awarded the host site for the 2008 American Legion State Tournament.
Also playing in Florence was the short-lived Florence Flame independent Class A team from the Atlantic Coast League. Adding to the tradition of baseball in Florence, the Flame led the league in attendance in 1995, their one year in existence. Today, the Coastal Plain League Florence Red Wolves carries on that long tradition. The team, founded in 1998, is a summer baseball team for SEC and ACC players from around the Southeast. The team's stadium (American Legion Stadium) was home to the 2004 All-Star game and Home Run Derby. In 2007, the Red Wolves hosted the Petitt Cup Tournament at their home field. The Red Wolves were knocked out on the first night in an 8-7 loss to Thomasville.
Media
Television
Print
The Florence area is served by the Florence Morning News, a daily newspaper, as well as the News Journal, and the Community Times - both weekly newspapers.
Radio
Cumulus Media of Florence is the largest radio company in the area. It owns and operates nine radio stations serving the Pee Dee region of South Carolina as well as areas of North Carolina. They include:
http://www.wynn1063.com
http://www.glory985.com
http://www.1021thefox.com
- WCMG-FM 94.3 Format: Urban Adult Contemporary
http://www.magic943fm.com
http://www.thefanfm.com
http://www.whlz1005.com
Qantum Communications of Florence LLC owns and operates eight radio stations serving the "Pee Dee" region and surrounding areas in both North and South Carolina they include;
http://www.eagle929online.com
http://www.newstalk970online.com
- WJMX-FM 103.3 Format: Contemporary Hit Radio
http://103xonline.com
http://www.sunny1055online.com
http://www.theflo1029.com
- WDSC-AM + WWRK-AM simulcast Format: Southern Gospel - Praise
Higher education
The area is served by Francis Marion University, a public liberal arts school, and Florence-Darlington Technical College. Coker College at Hartsville and Coastal Carolina University at Conway are nearby.
Attractions
Florence National Cemetery
Famous residents and natives
- Mark L. Walberg, TV personality and game show host
- Reggie Sanders, professional Baseball Player
- Harry Carson, professional Football Player
- Justin Durant, professional Football Player
- Clayton Holmes, professional Football Player
- Lawrence Timmons, professional Football Player
- Darian Durant, Canadian Football League player
- Buddy Baker, NASCAR driver
- Ron Barfield, NASCAR driver
- Daniel Slater, World-Class Street Racer known for his trademark Volvo 240DL
- Ron Turner, U.S. Swimming National Team Coach
- Lilian Garcia, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) ring announcer and Diva
- Kellie Rasberry, Kidd Kraddick In The Morning radio show, National radio personality
- William Johnson, painter
- Brad Land, author of best-selling book "Goat"
- Philip B. Meggs, historian of design
- Marva Smalls, Nickelodeon executive
- Trey Lorenz, R&B singer
- Donald Henry "Pee Wee" Gaskins, notorious serial killer.
- Cale Yarborough, NASCAR driver, one of only two drivers in modern era to win three straight Winston (now Sprint) Cup Championships, other driver, Jimmie Johnson.
- The Independents, Band
- Melvin Purvis, FBI agent known for shooting notorious gangster John Dillinger
- Through the Eyes of the Dead, deathcore band
- Jim David: Detroit Lions-(1952-1959) NFL WORLD CHAMPIONS,1952-53,57/Six time Pro Bowl team
Demographics
| Historical populations |
| Census |
Pop. |
|
%± |
| 1900 |
3,395 |
|
—
|
| 1910 |
7,657 |
|
125.5% |
| 1920 |
10,524 |
|
37.4% |
| 1930 |
17,581 |
|
67.1% |
| 1940 |
20,396 |
|
16.0% |
| 1950 |
22,435 |
|
10.0% |
| 1960 |
24,722 |
|
10.2% |
| 1970 |
25,997 |
|
5.2% |
| 1980 |
30,062 |
|
15.6% |
| 1990 |
29,913 |
|
−0.5% |
| 2000 |
30,248 |
|
1.1% |
| Est. Mar. 2006 |
31,284 |
|
3.4% |
As of the census[1] of 2000, 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 (659.8/km²). There were 13,090 housing units at an average density of 739.7/sq mi (285.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 52.96% White, 44.77% Black (U.S. Census), 0.18% Native American, 1.16% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino 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. 19.3% of the population and 15.3% of families were below the poverty line. 28.2% of those under the and 15.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Florence is the central city of a metropolitan area with a total population of 198,443 (2005 estimate), 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), and Lake City (8,728). The remainder of the Florence metro is considered rural.
1917 Vulcan Steam Locomotive, at Florence Museum of Art, Science and History
Public Education
Florence is served by District One, which has around 17,700 students and teachers. The district contains 13 elementary schools, 3 middle schools and 3 high schools.
Elementary (14)
Middle Schools (3)
High Schools (3)
Private Schools (7)
Religion
Florence is home to the Reform Judaism Beth Israel Congregation, formally incorporated in 1912.[6]
References
External links
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