Florence County, South Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Florence County
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Florence Public Library
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Location within the U.S. state of South Carolina
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 South Carolina's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  South Carolina |
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| Founded | 1888 | ||
| Named for | Florence Harllee | ||
| Seat | Florence | ||
| Largest community | Florence | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 804.28 sq mi (2,083.1 km2) | ||
| • Land | 800.51 sq mi (2,073.3 km2) | ||
| • Water | 3.77 sq mi (9.8 km2) 0.47% | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 137,059 | ||
| • Estimate
(2023)
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137,214  |
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| • Density | 170.4120/sq mi (65.7965/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| Congressional districts | 6th, 7th | ||
Florence County is a county in the state of South Carolina. It's a place where many people live and work. In 2020, about 137,059 people called Florence County home. The main city and county seat (the center of government) is Florence. This county is also part of the larger Florence, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
History of Florence County
Florence County was officially created in 1888. It was formed from parts of other nearby counties. These included sections of Darlington and Marion Counties. Later, small parts of Williamsburg and Clarendon Counties were also added. The county was named after Florence Harllee, the daughter of General W. W. Harllee.
Geography of Florence County
Florence County covers a total area of about 804 square miles. Most of this area, around 800 square miles, is land. The rest, about 3.8 square miles, is water.
Counties Near Florence County
Florence County shares its borders with several other counties. These are like its neighbors on a map.
- Williamsburg County - to the south
- Marion County - to the east
- Dillon County - to the north
- Marlboro County - to the north
- Darlington County - to the northwest
- Lee County - to the west
- Sumter County - to the southwest
- Clarendon County - to the southwest
Major Roads in Florence County
Many important roads and highways run through Florence County. These roads help people travel and transport goods.
People of Florence County (Demographics)
The number of people living in Florence County has grown over the years.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 25,027 | — | |
| 1900 | 28,474 | 13.8% | |
| 1910 | 35,671 | 25.3% | |
| 1920 | 50,406 | 41.3% | |
| 1930 | 61,027 | 21.1% | |
| 1940 | 70,582 | 15.7% | |
| 1950 | 79,710 | 12.9% | |
| 1960 | 84,438 | 5.9% | |
| 1970 | 89,636 | 6.2% | |
| 1980 | 110,163 | 22.9% | |
| 1990 | 114,344 | 3.8% | |
| 2000 | 125,761 | 10.0% | |
| 2010 | 136,885 | 8.8% | |
| 2020 | 137,059 | 0.1% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 137,214 | 0.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020 |
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What the 2020 Census Showed
In 2020, the United States Census counted 137,059 people in Florence County. There were over 53,000 households, which are groups of people living together.
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White | 69,021 | 50.36% |
| Black or African American | 56,877 | 41.5% |
| Native American | 330 | 0.24% |
| Asian | 2,309 | 1.68% |
| Pacific Islander | 48 | 0.04% |
| Other/Mixed | 4,191 | 3.06% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 4,283 | 3.12% |
What the 2010 Census Showed
The 2010 United States Census found 136,885 people in Florence County. The population density was about 171 people per square mile. Most people identified as white (54.9%) or black/African American (41.3%). About 2.2% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino origin. The average age of people in the county was 37.6 years old.
Economy of Florence County
The economy of Florence County is quite strong. In 2022, the total value of all goods and services produced, called the GDP, was about $8.5 billion. This shows how much money is made in the county each year. The number of people without jobs, called the unemployment rate, has been low. It has been between 2.3% and 3.8% from 2022 to 2024.
Many large companies and organizations provide jobs in Florence County. Some of the biggest employers include:
- Duke Energy (an energy company)
- Francis Marion University (a college)
- GE HealthCare (a healthcare technology company)
- Honda (a car and motorcycle manufacturer)
- McLeod Health (a healthcare system)
- Otis Worldwide (an elevator company)
- QVC (a shopping channel)
- Ruiz Foods (a food company)
- Walmart (a large retail store)
Communities in Florence County
Florence County has several cities and towns where people live.
Cities in Florence County
- Florence (This is the county seat, meaning it's the main city for the county's government.)
- Johnsonville
- Lake City
Towns in Florence County
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller areas that are not officially cities or towns.
Notable People from Florence County
Some well-known people have connections to Florence County.
- Roger K. Kirby (born 1960), a politician
- Kent Lee (1923–2017), a Navy admiral
- Georganna Sinkfield (born 1943), a politician
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Florence (Carolina del Sur) para niños
