In the mid-1800's, Florence arose around the convergence of three railroads in a pine forest. The city of Florence was named after Florence Henning Harllee, the daughter of General William Wallace Harllee who constructed these first rail lines. From those humble beginnings where settlers' livelihoods were farming and timber, Florence has evolved into a hub for industrial development.
The city of Florence covers 12.1 square miles and the county consists of 805 square miles. Florence County is in the northeast section of South Carolina approximately 60 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean(Myrtle Beach). The nickname,
Pee Dee's, given to the nine-county area, originated from the draining of the area by the Great Pee Dee's River and the tribe of Indians who once inhabited this same area.
| Time & Distance |
Hours |
Miles |
| Asheville, NC |
4 |
200 |
| Atlanta, GA |
6 |
300 |
| Charlotte, NC |
2 |
110 |
| Charleston, SC |
2 |
110 |
| Columbia, SC |
1.5 |
80 |
| Myrtle Beach, SC |
1.25 |
70 |
| Wilmington, NC |
2 |
115 |
Florence boasts a relatively temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 63 degrees. The average January temperature is 44.7 degrees and the July average temperature is around 81.0 degrees. Annual rainfall is 43 inches and annual relative humidity ranges from 50 to about 80 percent. The summer rainfall is the heaviest of any season, averaging 36% of the annual total. Winters are usually mild although temperatures can range as low as 20 degrees. Snow flurries may occur but are infrequent. It is unusual to have any measurable amount of snowfall or a snow cover lasting more than a day.
The population of Florence County was estimated at 132,356 in 2005. The population of the Pee Dee region, which encompasses a 60 mile radius around Florence, was estimated at 1,042,013 in 2005. As the area continues to bring new businesses and industries to the area, we are continuing to grow at about a rate of 2% year over year.
Transportation is still a major economic force now as it was back then. This axis of commerce for the Pee Dee's is accessible to two major interstate highways - I-95 (north and south) and I-20 (east and west), U.S. Highways 301, 52, 76, 378; and S. C. Highways 327, 51, and 341. The Florence Regional Airport is located two miles east of downtown Florence and was recently expanded. We have 20 trucking terminals, and Greyhound-Trailways bus system is also available. Pee Dee's Regional Transportation Authority (PDRTA) provides public transportation within the city and many rural locations within the county, in addition to a "shuttle" service that runs to the Myrtle Beach area. CSX Transportation systems serve Florence as well as two northbound and southbound Amtrak trains that stop daily at the Florence station
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