EZ Home Search Guide To Living in Florence County, SC 

Florence County is a jumping-off point to greater South Carolina and its famous Lowcountry landmarks. In this Pee Dee region where I-95 and I-20 meet is a place worth stopping and staying. Residents enjoy a robust lifestyle amplified by the area’s amenities, such as outdoor recreation, local cuisine, and art and culture. Explore more about Florence County and why this regional hub is a great place to live.

About Florence County

Florence County is the crossroads of South Carolina. The Great Pee Dee River, a historically vital waterway for the area’s development, forms its northeastern border. Another waterway, Lynches River, forms part of the northwestern border. In between awaits a network of creeks and rivers, all part of the Great Pee Dee watershed. These creeks and rivers provide recreation opportunities for locals through boating, fishing, and water sports.

The weather here is mild all year, with a temperate climate. Expect ample sunshine in the summer and cool winter days. Proximity to the coastline means breezes make their way inland, cooling the region’s environment.

Florence County is the center of the “Pee Dee” region, and its bordered by:

• Williamsburg County to the South.
• Marion County to the East. 
• Dillion County to the Northeast. 
• Marlboro County to the North. 
• Darlington County to the Northwest. 
• Lee County to the Southwest. 
• Sumter County to the Southwest. 
• Clarendon County to the Southwest. 

Florence County History

The Pee Dee Area was initially inhabited by its namesake Native Americans, the Pee Dee tribe. After European settlement, 11 townships of 20,000 acres each were created. Anyone who could “improve” 50 acres would receive the land for free. While it attracted immigrants from Pennsylvania, the settlement was so slow the government offered bounties to people who would move in. 

The river network was essential for transportation during the colonial era. Lumber and cattle were important products, and the river system helped to move it all along. 

After the Revolutionary War, cotton production became important in this region of the state. Plantations were constructed, and African-Americans were imported to work. The advent of the railroad and the construction of three lines into the area boosted the area’s growth. 

Those three railroads originally intersected in what today is the town of Florence. The town began as a railroad depot and an Inn along the line. The community was planned with seven streets and 96 lots. 

During the Civil War, Florence received Union prisoners from Southern Georgia and other areas. The city constructed a prison stockade, but construction was barely underway when 6,000 prisoners arrived from Charleston, many suffering from diseases like smallpox, yellow fever, and exhaustion. Conditions were overcrowded, and many prisoners died, including a woman who was masquerading as a man. 

After the Civil War, in 1888, the South Carolina General Assembly officially created the county of Florence, pulling in surrounding towns and naming the City of Florence as the county seat. 

Florence’s importance as a rail and transportation center only increased through the turn of the century. An airfield was constructed in the late 1920s, known as Gilbert Field. An army base was built here during World War II, and it spurred the growth of the local industry. The Florence Army Airfield continued to be a major training site during the war. 

During the 1940s, Florence had the most extensive rail station in South Carolina, with 14 passenger trains and 48 freight trains passing through every day. 

The construction of I-20 and I-95 through Florence further help cement its importance as a transportation center and serve as a tourism hub. Today, Florence is the hub of an eight-county Pee Dee region. 

Florence County Cities and Areas 

The City of Florence, from which the county drew its name, serves as the regional hub and the county seat. Since I-95 and I-20 pass through the city, the city is a regional economic hub and a stopping point for travelers on their way to Myrtle Beach.

Significant cities in Florence County are: 

• Johnsonville
• Lake City, established over 150 years ago and with a historic downtown center
• Coward, a rural farming community
• Olanta
• Pamplico, a quiet town once a hub for the tobacco market
• Quinby, a small town claiming to be rated the safest in South Carolina
• Scranton
• Timmonsville, a small town and center of manufacturing for Hondo Motor Company’s ATVs.

Florence County Job Market

Florence County’s major industries are health care and social assistance, retail trades, accommodation and food service, and manufacturing. Significant employers include, but are not limited to, McLeod Regional Medical Center, National Health Corporation, Medical University of South Carolina Hospital Authority, Francis Marion University, QVC, Inc, and McCall Farms. 

According to Florence’s South Carolina Community Profile, the 2020 unemployment rate was 5.6%, below South Carolina’s 6.2%, and the United States’ 8.1%. Looking back over time, the county’s unemployment rate tends to be at or below the South Carolina unemployment rate. In June 2021, both Florence County and South Carolina reported a 4.5% unemployment rate below the United States average of 6.1%. 

Florence County Population Demographics

The average age of a Florence County resident is 39.2 years, as of the 2019 US Census report. Approximately 138,293 people resided inside Florence County. Population only increased by 1% from April 2010 to July 2019. The age bracket with the highest number of residents was the 20-24 group, followed very closely by the 50 to 54-year-old group. Of the total population, about 23.5% are children under 18 years old.

Occupants of Florence County show the area is diverse, with 53.3% identifying as white alone and 43.2% identifying as black or African-American alone. Around 2.8% identified as Hispanic or Latino. 

As far as education, approximately 21% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Around 49% have completed some college or higher. The median household income of each family was $47,058 in 2019. 

Florence County Education

The county is broken up into five public school districts. Which school district applies to you depends on where you live. Here’s some more information about the public school districts. 

• Florence School District 1, covering 284 square miles of the county. Served communities include Claussen, Egginham, Evergreen, Oakdale, Quinby, Mars Bluff, and City of Florence. It is the 15th largest school district in the state. Schools: 11 elementary, four middle, three high, and one Career Center
• Florence School District 2, 1 combined elementary and middle, and one high school, all bearing the name Hannah-Pamplico.
• Florence School District 3, covering lower Florence County. Schools: six elementary, two intermediate/middle, one high school, one career center, one alternative school
• Florence School District 4, serving Timmonsville and surrounding rural area. Schools: 1 elementary, middle, and high school, all sharing one address and facility.
• Florence School District 5, serving Johnsonville and surrounding rural areas in lower Florence County. Schools: 1 elementary, middle, and high school 

In 2021, 16 private schools were available in Florence County for youth. Around 94% of the schools were religiously affiliated. Some of the top-ranked schools include All Saints Episcopal Day School, Maranatha Christian School, and Florence Christian School. 

Two institutions of higher education are available in Florence County. 

Francis Marion University is located in Florence. Over 4,000 students are enrolled in this institution which offers 75 undergraduate degrees, 12 master’s, and one doctoral program. 

Florence-Darlington Technical College offers technical education and workforce training. It awarded over 1,500 degrees in 2018 in fields like business, information technology, and health care.

Florence County Health Care

Two health care systems serve Florence area residents. As a hub for health care in the region, people often travel from the surrounding counties to visit the medical services available in Florence. Around 80% of the county’s physicians are board-certified.

McLeod Regional Medical Center is a 517-bed referral and teaching medical complex on a 75-acre campus. It is also a regional referral center for 12 counties located in Southeastern South Carolina. The various institutes associated with the medical complex include heart and vascular, cancer treatment and research, children’s hospital, and orthopedic and spine care. The children’s hospital has a highly acclaimed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

MUSC Health Florence Medical Center is an acute care facility with 396 beds. The facility has over 300 Physicians attending various specialties. The range of services includes heart and vascular care, cancer treatment, general surgery, women’s health, and diagnostics. There is also an emergency department and a primary stroke center. 

Florence County Things To Do

When it’s time for entertainment, Florence County has you covered. Besides the miles of trails over land and water, there are also entertainment facilities for those hot summer days or cool rainy ones. 

Florence is also home to more arts and culture than you would expect for a South Carolina region. The local university creates a thriving end dynamic downtown environment that includes a Performing Arts Center. Traveling shows often work their way through the venues, meaning we see stops from off-broadway productions, comedians, and other performing artists.

Our area has been a crossroads throughout American history, so naturally, historical attractions are spread across Florence County. If you enjoy exploring the American Revolution or the Civil War era, there are plenty of sites for you to visit and appreciate.

For indoor entertainment fun, you’ll find a laser tag, indoor golf center, cinema, and Extreme Air sports facilities in the area. 

Florence County Local Attractions

Start with the Florence County Museum to get you oriented to your new home. Check out the exhibit on the MK-6 Atomic Bomb accidentally dropped on Mars Bluff in Florence.

The War Between the States Museum highlights the Civil War history throughout Florence. It’s associated with the Florence Stockade and National Cemetery, a Civil War Era National Monument. In March, the Columns Plantation in Mars Bluff hosts a Civil War reenactment of the Skirmish at Gamble’s Hotel. 

The Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center offers a full season of entertainment. Check their schedule to see what performances are coming up next. If they don’t have anything coming up in town, try the Florence Little Theater, where a community group performs excellent shows.

The Florence Center, at the intersection of I-20 and I-95, hosts different traveling shows, sporting events, and expositions. Check their calendar to see what’s coming next.

Young Plantations is famous for its pecans. Stop in for samples of flavored pecans or use it as a jumping-off point to start the South Carolina pecan Trail.

Lynches River County Park, located in Coward, has a treetop canopy walk and environmental Discovery Center. Take the kids in the summer when the splash pad is running for a fun day.

Experience history by paddling along the South Carolina Revolutionary Rivers Trail. It winds for 66 miles and stops at important historical sites, giving you a perspective that few see. 

Moore Farms Botanical Gardens, located in Lake City, occasionally offers open garden events or botanical workshops. Southern Living magazine said it was “paradise found.”

Florence County Dining

Throughout Florence and its surroundings, you’ll find southern-style home cooking and Lowcountry dining. As a regional epicenter, Florence also has culinary inspiration from around the world. A few highlights:

• Lisa’s at the Railway in Lake City is a place to experience a little bit of history along with some delicious chicken wings. Trains Rumble past the restored train depot, making it fun for families with young children.
• Enjoy authentic Italian cuisine at Stefano’s, which includes imported meats and cheeses.
• Tubb’s Shrimp and Fish is famous for its Soulful Southern Seafood and other inspired dishes.
• At Schoolhouse BBQ, not only do you get slow-smoked meats but it is served up inside the former Scranton colored school that was built by the works progress administration in the 1930s. It’s a buffet with history. 
• Red Bone Alley is known for its famous shrimp and grits. It has a Charleston cafe vibe. 
• Julia Belle’s Restaurant offers a southern classic fried green tomato BLT made with tomato sourced right from the on-site farmer’s markets. 

Florence County Shopping

If you like getting a sense of an area’s flavor, and you have to try the South Carolina Pecan Trail. There is a passport that you can get stamped at different stops. Pick up different variations of this nut and dine at destinations along the way. 

Visit the City Center Farmers Market on Saturdays morning for artisanal food and crafts. The farmer’s market happens all year round.

Antique shops are spread across Florence County, making it perfect if you enjoy finding Hidden Treasures from the past. There were about 15 at the last count. 

Magnolia Mall has over 50 stores and restaurants available for you to browse.

The Lake City Farmer’s Market happens every Thursday in late spring until late November at the Bean Market, a historical masonry structure built in the 1930s. While there, explore the downtown district and its small-town shops.

Florence County Local Secrets 

Kick back at Florence After Five in the middle of Dargan street on the last Friday of each month from April to October. There is live music plus other vendors available.

You can get up close and personal with the stars in the sky at the Dooley Planetarium, open on the second and fourth Sunday of the month for viewing. 

The South Carolina Pecan Festival is usually held on the first Saturday each November. Enjoy activities for the whole family, plus arts and crafts vendors and food trucks.

Making Florence County Your Home

Florence County is a place to put down roots. It has a strong economy, modern attractions, and deep roots in the past. Its ample space means you can live in a city, suburb, small southern town, or find a slice of rural paradise. Whatever you choose, you are never far from the amenities you desire.