Florence County, South Carolina

Florence_Public_Library

Florence County
U.S. county
County of Florence
[[File:Map of {{{state}}} highlighting {{{county}}}.svg|300px|alt=Map of {{{state}}} highlighting Florence County|Location within the U.S. state of [[{{{state}}}]]]] Location within the U.S. state of [[{{{state}}}]]
[[File:{{{state}}} in United States.svg|300px|alt=Map of the United States highlighting {{{state}}}|{{{state}}}'s location within the U.S.]] {{{state}}}'s location within the U.S.
Coordinates:
Country	United States
Seat	Florence
Area
• Total	804 sq mi (2,080 km2)
• Land	800 sq mi (2,000 km2)
• Water	4.0 sq mi (10 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	137,059
• Density	170/sq mi (66/km2)
Website	[[1] www.florenceco.org/%20www.florenceco.org]]

[[Category:{{{state}}} counties]]

Florence County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 137,059. Its county seat is Florence. The county was formed in 1888 from parts of Marion, Darlington, and Williamsburg counties.

History

Florence County was established in 1888 and named after the city of Florence, which in turn was named for Florence Harllee, the daughter of a prominent local businessman. The county has a rich history tied to the development of the railroad industry in the region.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 804 square miles (2,080 km²), of which 800 square miles (2,100 km²) is land and 4.0 square miles (10 km²) (0.5%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Darlington County - north
• Marion County - east
• Williamsburg County - south
• Clarendon County - southwest
• Sumter County - west
• Lee County - northwest

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, there were 137,059 people, 52,653 households, and 35,789 families residing in the county. The population density was 171 people per square mile (66/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 54.2% White, 41.2% Black or African American, 1.2% Asian, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.4% of the population.

Government and politics

Florence County is governed by a council-administrator system. The county council consists of nine members elected from single-member districts. The council appoints a county administrator who is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the county government.

Economy

The economy of Florence County is diverse, with key sectors including manufacturing, healthcare, retail, and education. The county is home to several major employers, including McLeod Health, Florence-Darlington Technical College, and Otis Elevator Company.

Education

Florence County is served by several public school districts, including Florence Public School District One, Two, Three, and Four. Higher education institutions in the county include Francis Marion University and Florence-Darlington Technical College.

Transportation

Florence County is a major transportation hub in the region, with access to several major highways, including Interstate 95 and Interstate 20. The county is also served by the Florence Regional Airport and the Amtrak station in Florence.

Communities

Cities

• Florence

Towns

• Johnsonville
• Lake City
• Olanta
• Pamplico
• Scranton
• Timmonsville

Unincorporated communities

• Evergreen
• Hannah
• Mars Bluff
• Quinby

See also

• List of counties in South Carolina
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Florence County, South Carolina

External links

• Official website of Florence County