Pee Dee facts for kids
The Pee Dee region is the northeastern part of South Carolina. It gets its name from the Pee Dee River and the Pee Dee Native American tribe. The main city in this area is Florence. The region also includes the beautiful Grand Strand, which are beaches stretching from the North Carolina border down to Winyah Bay in Georgetown County.
Along the coast, the Pee Dee region is a popular spot for tourism. People come here for the beaches, amusement parks, shopping, fishing, and golf. Many people also choose to retire here because it's affordable and has lots of golf courses. Further inland, you'll find rivers, marshes, and sandy areas. This part of the region is known for its forests, with many pine plantations and baldcypress trees.
Even further inland, the land is mostly flat but a bit higher. This area is used for farming. Farmers grow crops like tobacco, cotton, soybeans, and other fresh produce. Florence, which started as a railroad hub, is now a growing center for making pharmaceuticals and other light industrial products. It's also a major place for medical and dental care. The Pee Dee Region also produces paper, steel, and recreational vehicles.
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Where is the Pee Dee Region?
There isn't one exact way to define the Pee Dee region. It's generally understood to include counties that are fully or partly within the Pee Dee River's watershed. This means the counties are connected by the river system.
The population of the Pee Dee region has been growing steadily over the years. For example, in 1950, about 510,179 people lived here. By 2010, that number had grown to 871,876.
Counties Always Included
Some counties are always considered part of the Pee Dee region:
Counties Usually Included
These counties are often included in the Pee Dee region:
Counties Rarely Included
These counties are sometimes, but not often, considered part of the Pee Dee region:
Major Cities in Pee Dee
The Pee Dee region has several important cities. Here are some of the biggest ones, based on 2010 population numbers:
Primary Cities
- Florence - 37,056 people
- Myrtle Beach - 27,109 people
Cities with Over 5,000 People
- Bennettsville - 9,425 people
- Cheraw - 9,069 people
- Conway - 15,584 people
- Darlington - 6,720 people
- Dillon - 6,316 people
- Georgetown - 8,950 people
- Hartsville - 7,556 people
- Lake City - 6,478 people
- Marion - 7,042 people
- North Myrtle Beach - 15,516 people
What Drives the Pee Dee Economy?
The economy of the Pee Dee region is quite varied. Its largest city is Florence. The coastal part, known as the Grand Strand, relies heavily on tourism. This area offers beaches, amusement parks, shopping, fishing, and golf. Many people also move here after retiring because it's affordable and has a mild climate.
Inland, the economy shifts to natural resources. There are many rivers, marshes, and sandy areas where forestry is very important. You'll see large pine plantations and baldcypress trees being harvested for timber. Further inland, on slightly higher ground, farming is a key part of the economy. Farmers grow crops like tobacco, cotton, soybeans, and various produce.
Colleges and Universities
The Pee Dee region is home to several colleges and universities, offering different types of education.
Four-Year Colleges
These colleges offer bachelor's degrees and sometimes higher degrees:
- Coastal Carolina University in Conway
- Coker University in Hartsville
- Francis Marion University in Florence
Two-Year or Specialized Colleges
These colleges offer associate degrees or focus on specific technical skills:
- Florence-Darlington Technical College in Florence
- Horry-Georgetown Technical College in Conway
- Northeastern Technical College in Cheraw
- Williamsburg Technical College in Kingstree
- Webster University in Myrtle Beach
