Florence () is a city in and the county seat of Florence County, South Carolina, United States. It lies at the intersection of Interstates 20 and 95 and is the eastern terminus of the former. It is the primary city within the Florence metropolitan area. The area forms the core of the historical Pee Dee region of South Carolina, which includes the eight counties of northeastern South Carolina, along with sections of southeastern North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 39,899, making it the 10th-most-populous city in the state.
One of the major cities in South Carolina, Florence was named an All-American City in 1965, presented by the National Civic League. The city was founded as a railroad hub and became the junction of three major railroad systems, including the Wilmington and Manchester, the Northeastern, and the Cheraw and Darlington. Florence is also a higher-education hub, home to Francis Marion University and Florence-Darlington Technical College.
History
The City of Florence was chartered in 1871 by the Reconstruction government and incorporated in 1890 following the 1888 creation of Florence County. Prior to its charter, the city was part of one of the original townships laid out by the Lords Proprietors in 1719. The area was gradually settled through the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Early settlers practiced subsistence farming and produced indigo, cotton, naval stores, and timber, which were shipped down the Great Pee Dee River to the port at Georgetown and exported. In the mid-19th century, two intersecting railroads were built, the Wilmington and Manchester (W&M) and the Northeastern. General William Harllee, the president of the W&M, built his home at the junction, and named the community "Florence", after his daughter.
American Civil War During the Civil War, the town was an important supply and railroad repair center for the Confederacy, and the site of the Florence Stockade, which held between 12,000 and 18,000 Union prisoners of war. Over 2,800 prisoners died of disease and were buried there. The burial ground adjacent to the prison became the Florence National Cemetery after the war and now has expanded.
Early 20th century 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. Industry grew, especially after World War II, when Florence became increasingly known for textiles, pharmaceuticals, paper, and other manufacturing, 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 troupe used spaces such as 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, a new Florence Little Theater was built due to a need for more space. In 2023, the Florence Little Theater celebrated 100 years of performances opening with The Sound of Music.
Downtown revitalization 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 70-square-block area encompassing some 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) directional signs and repainting water towers.
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 and History, which opened October 11, 2014. New office space has emerged from once abandoned buildings, and a police substation was added on Dargan Street.
Special efforts are being aimed at the downtown area, which was once the center of the city's activity, but now 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 were to be streetscaped.
Geography Florence is located in the coastal plain of South Carolina, in the northeastern part of the state and the northern part of Florence County. The elevation above sea level is around . Jeffries Creek, a tributary of the Great Pee Dee River, is the main waterway that flows through the city, passing south of the city center. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which (0.38%) is covered by water.
Climate The climate experienced is humid subtropical (Köppen climate classification Cfa) of the type found in the Deep South, especially far from the coast. Autumn, winter, and spring are mild, with occasional winter nights below freezing, but they rarely feature extended cold and rigorous conditions. Florence's summers can be very hot and humid. The city, like others in the Southeast, is prone to inversions, which trap ozone and other pollutants over the area.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, 39,899 people, 16,619 households, and 9,671 families were residing in Florence. The median age was 40.1 years, with 23.0% of residents under 18 and 19.0% 65 or older. For every 100 females, there were 83.3 males, and for every 100 females 18 and over, there were 78.4 males.
Of the 16,619 households in Florence, 30.8% had children under 18 living in them, 36.8% were married-couple households, 17.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 40.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 or older.
The city had 18,267 housing units, of which 9.0% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.0%.
Almost all of the residents lived in urban areas, while 0.6% lived in rural areas.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percentage White 18,154 45.5% Black or African American 18,710 46.9% American Indian and Alaska Native 84 0.2% Asian 928 2.3% Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander 12 0.0% Some other race 456 1.1% Two or more races 1,555 3.9% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 1,105 2.8%
2000 census At the 2000 census, 30,248 people, 11,925 households, and 7,882 families lived in the city. The population density was . The 13,090 housing units had an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 50.0% White, 46.0% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 1.16% Asian, 0.22% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 0.76% of the population.
Of the 11,925 households, 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 not families. About 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.44, and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city, the age distribution was 25.0% under 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 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.8 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 77.5 males.
The median income in the city for a household was $35,388 and 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 18 and 15.9% of those 65 and older, were living below the poverty line.
Its central city of the Florence, South Carolina metropolitan area, it has 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), and Lake City (8,728). The remainder of the Florence metro is considered rural.
Religion Like other midsized cities in the Southern United States, Florence's population is largely dominated by Protestantism, the largest group being the Southern Baptists, followed by the Methodists. The rest of the population is distributed among other Protestant denominations, as well as the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox Churches. The Greek Orthodox Church holds a large Greek Festival annually in September. One Reform Judaism synagogue is in Florence, Beth Israel Congregation. Also a small Hindu temple is located there. Government The city of Florence has a council-manager form of government. City council members are elected every four years, without term limits. The council consists of seven members (three from districts, three at-large, and the mayor). The council is responsible for making policies and enacting laws, rules, and regulations 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 a city 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.
Current members of the Florence City Council: 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 Zach McKay At-large
Economy In the late 20th early 21st centuries, Florence's economy was transformed from being based largely on rail services and farming into a diversified economy as the major commerce, finance, rail and trucking services, health care, and industrial center of the Eastern Carolinas. Over nine foreign-affiliated companies and 14 Fortune 500 companies are in the region. The gross domestic product of the Florence metropolitan statistical area (MSA) was $6.8 billion, one of the highest among MSAs in the state.
The Milken Institute 2008 Best Performing Cities Index showed the Florence MSA as the fifth-largest gainer in its 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.
Florence has blossomed into a strong center for medical care, with four major medical providers McLeod Regional Medical Center, Medical University of South Carolina Hospital, Regency Hospital, and HealthSouth. 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.