Florence, Madison County, Ohio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Florence, Ohio
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Country | United States |
State | Ohio |
Counties | Madison |
Elevation | 1,145 ft (349 m) |
Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
ZIP code |
43140
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Area code(s) | 740 |
GNIS feature ID | 1062768 |
Welcome to Florence, a small community in Ohio, United States! It's not a big city or a formally organized town. Instead, Florence is known as an unincorporated community. This means it doesn't have its own local government, like a mayor or city council.
Florence is located in Madison County, specifically within Paint Township. You can find it along U.S. Route 42, a main road that connects the towns of London and South Charleston.
What is an Unincorporated Community?
An unincorporated community like Florence is a group of homes and businesses that are not part of an official city or village. Instead, they are governed by the larger county or township they are in. For Florence, that means Madison County and Paint Township handle services like roads and public safety.
This type of community often grows naturally over time. It might be centered around a crossroads, a school, or, as in Florence's case, a railroad station. Florence is located at an elevation of about 1,145 feet (349 meters) above sea level. Its geographic coordinates are 39°50′52″N 83°32′50″W.
A Look Back: How Florence Began
Florence didn't start out as a planned town with streets and lots drawn on a map. This process is called being "platted." Instead, Florence simply grew on its own.
The community began to form around a station on the Pennsylvania Railroad. In the past, railroads were incredibly important for travel and moving goods. A railroad station would often become a hub, attracting people and businesses.
Florence in the Early 1900s
By 1915, Florence was a small but active place. It had a few key buildings that served the local area:
- A grain elevator, which was used to store and move crops from local farms.
- A general store, where people could buy all sorts of everyday items.
- The railroad station itself, which was a busy spot for passengers and freight.
- A freight depot, where goods were loaded and unloaded from trains.
At that time, there were only a few houses in Florence. It was a quiet community, but vital for the farmers and residents in the surrounding area, thanks to its connection to the railroad.