Florence, South Carolina

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Coordinates: 34°11′2″N 79°46′27″W / 34.18389, -79.77417
Florence, South Carolina
Nickname: Formal: "The Magic City," - Informal: "Flo-Town," "FLO"
Location in Florence County in the state of South Carolina
Country	United States
State	South Carolina
County	Florence
Government
- Mayor	Frank E. Willis, (D)
Area
- City	17.7 sq mi (45.9 km²)
- Land	17.7 sq mi (45.9 km²)
- Water	0.04 sq mi (0.1 km²)
Elevation	138 ft (42 m)
Population (2005)
- City	30,883
- Density	1,708.9/sq mi (659.8/km²)
- Metro	198,443
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes	29501-29506
Area code(s)	843
FIPS code	45-25810^[1]
GNIS feature ID	1222461^[2]
Website: http://www.cityofflorence.com/

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 and 110 miles southeast of Charlotte, North Carolina.

[edit] Geography

Florence is located at 34°11′3″N, 79°46′27″W (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.

[edit] 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]}

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]}

[edit] 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:

Hoffmann–La Roche
IRIX Pharmaceuticals
BellSouth
ESAB
First Reliance Bank
Progress Energy
GE Medical Systems
HealthSouth
Carolinas Hospital System
Honda
McLeod Regional Medical Center
ADP
Maytag
DuPont-Teijin Films
ACS Technologies

[edit] Government

Florence City-County Courthouse and office complex, Florence, South Carolina

The City of Florence is currently a Council-Manager form of government.^{[citation needed]} Florence is served by a seven-member city council, three members are elected to represent a district and three others are elected to an at-large seat on the council. Each Council member is elected to a 4 year term. The Florence mayor is elected at-large to a four year (renewable) term, and may vote with council only in the event of a tie vote. The Florence city manager is employed by council to run the day-to-day business of the city and serves at the pleasure of the council.

[edit] 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]}

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Highway

Florence is located on the Interstate 95 corridor, linking it to Miami and New York, and Interstate 20, which ends in Florence (David McLeod Blvd), linking the city to Atlanta, Dallas, and to the American West. Other major roadways that service the Florence area are U.S. Highway 301 linking Florence to Florida and the Northeast, U.S. Highway 52 linking Florence to Canada and Charleston, U.S. Highway 76 which links Florence to Chattanooga, Tennessee and U.S. Highway 378 that links Florence with Columbia. The proposed Interstate 73 is planned to pass just north of the City of Florence.

Pee Dee RTA buses loading at Florence Transit Center

[edit] Mass transit

Florence is also served by the Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority (PDRTA) which is South Carolina’s Oldest and Largest RTA. PDRTA runs a bus system that serves the Florence area and nearly all of Florence County and Pee Dee Region as well. The system operates routes to Columbia, Myrtle Beach and Sumter.

[edit] Rail

See also: Florence (Amtrak station)

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.

[edit] Air

Florence is served by the Florence Regional Airport (FLO), which is located 2 miles east of downtown Florence on US 76. It is the second-busiest airport in the region^{[citation needed]}, served by DayJet, Delta Airlines Connection and US Airways Express.

[edit] Bus

Florence is served by Greyhound.

[edit] Sports

[edit] Professional sports teams

Club	Sport	League	Stadium	Logo
Florence Phantoms	Indoor football	American Indoor Football Association	Florence Civic Center
Florence Red Wolves	Baseball	Coastal Plain League	American Legion Field
Pee Dee Hockey League-Adult Hockey League	Hockey	Recreational	Florence Civic Center	www.thepdhl.com

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, irritating many long-time NASCAR fans.

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. 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 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.

[edit] Media

[edit] Television

WBTW Channel 13, CBS affiliate.
WPDE Channel 15, ABC affiliate.
WWMB Channel 21, CW affiliate.
WMBF Channel 32, NBC affiliate.
WJPM Channel 33, PBS affiliate.
WFXB Channel 43, FOX affiliate.

[edit] Print

The Florence area is served by the Florence Morning News, a daily newspaper, as well as the News Journal, a weekly newspaper.

[edit] 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:

WYNN-FM 106.3 Format: Urban

http://www.wynn1063.com

WYNN-AM 540 and *WBZF-FM 98.5 Format: Gospel

http://www.glory985.com

WMXT-FM 102.1 and *WYMB-AM 920 Format: Classic Rock

http://www.1021thefox.com

WCMG-FM 94.3 Format: Urban Adult Contemporary

http://www.magic943fm.com

WWFN-FM 100.1 and WHSC-AM 1450 Format: Sports/Talk

http://www.thefanfm.com

WHLZ-FM 100.5 Format: Country

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;

WEGX-FM 92.9 Format: Country,

http://www.eagle929online.com

WJMX-AM 970 Format: New/Talk

http://www.newstalk970online.com

WJMX-FM 103.3 Format: Contemporary Hit Radio

http://103xonline.com

WDAR-FM 105.5 Format: Adult Contemporary

http://www.sunny1055online.com

WZTF-FM 102.9 Format: Urban AC

http://www.theflo1029.com/

WDSC-AM+ WWRK-AM + WGSS-FM = Simulcast Format: Southern Gospel

[edit] 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.

[edit] Attractions

Florence National Cemetery

Florence Civic Center
Florence Public Library
Freedom Florence Ballpark
Florence Museum of Art, Science and History
Florence National Cemetery
Florence Trail System
Timrod Park
War Between the States Museum
Florence Regional Airport
Pee Dee Farmers Market
Darlington Raceway
Florence Little Theatre

[edit] 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

Trey Lorenz, R&B singer
Donald Henry Gaskins, notorious serial killer.

[edit] Demographics

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% African American, 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

Henry Timrod's school, preserved in Timrod Park

[edit] Public Education

Florence is served by Florence School District One, which has around 17,700 students and teachers. The district contains 13 elementary schools, 3 middle schools and 3 high schools.