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Florence County, South Carolina

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Florence County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 137,059.[2] Its county seat is Florence.[3] Florence County is included in the Florence, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Florence County
County
Florence Public Library
Florence Public Library
Flag of Florence County
Flag
Official seal of Florence County
Seal
Map of South Carolina highlighting Florence County
Location within the U.S. state of South Carolina
Map of the United States highlighting South Carolina
South Carolina's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°02′N 79°43′W / 34.03°N 79.71°W / 34.03; -79.71
Country United States
State South Carolina
Founded1888
Named forFlorence Harllee[1]
SeatFlorence
Largest communityFlorence
Area
 • Total
804.28 sq mi (2,083.1 km2)
 • Land800.51 sq mi (2,073.3 km2)
 • Water3.77 sq mi (9.8 km2)  0.47%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
137,059
 • Estimate 
(2023)
137,214 Increase
 • Density170/sq mi (66/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts6th, 7th
Websitewww.florenceco.org

History

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Florence County was formed from main sections of Darlington and Marion Counties, plus other townships from Williamsburg and Clarendon Counties, starting in 1888. The last section of Williamsburg County was not added until 1921. Florence County was named after its county seat, Florence,[4] which its founder, General William Harllee in turned named for his daughter, Florence.[5] On December 26, 1921, Black American male Bill McAllister was lynched for having an affair with a white woman.[6]

Geography

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Interactive map of Florence County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 804.28 square miles (2,083.1 km2), of which 800.51 square miles (2,073.3 km2) is land and 3.77 square miles (9.8 km2) (0.47%) is water.[7]

State and local protected areas

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Major water bodies

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Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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Major infrastructure

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
189025,027—
190028,47413.8%
191035,67125.3%
192050,40641.3%
193061,02721.1%
194070,58215.7%
195079,71012.9%
196084,4385.9%
197089,6366.2%
1980110,16322.9%
1990114,3443.8%
2000125,76110.0%
2010136,8858.8%
2020137,0590.1%
2023 (est.)137,214[2]0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12]
1990–2000[13] 2010[14] 2020[2]

2020 census

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Florence County racial composition[15]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 69,021 50.36%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 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%

As of the 2020 census, there were 137,059 people, 53,047 households, and 35,763 families residing in the county.

2010 census

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At the 2010 census, there were 136,885 people, 52,653 households, and 36,328 families living in the county.[16][14] The population density was 171.1 inhabitants per square mile (66.1 inhabitants/km2). There were 58,666 housing units at an average density of 73.3 units per square mile (28.3 units/km2).[17] The racial makeup of the county was 54.9% white, 41.3% black or African American, 1.2% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 1.1% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.2% of the population.[16] In terms of ancestry, 8.4% were American, 7.8% were English, 6.7% were Irish, and 6.2% were German.[18]

Of the 52,653 households, 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% were married couples living together, 19.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.0% were non-families, and 26.3% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.06. The median age was 37.6 years.[16]

The median household income was $40,487 and the median family income was $48,896. Males had a median income of $38,934 versus $30,163 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,932. About 14.5% of families and 18.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.1% of those under age 18 and 14.0% of those age 65 or over.[19]

2000 census

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At the 2000 census, there were 125,761 people, 47,147 households, and 33,804 families living in the county. The population density was 157 people per square mile (61 people/km2). There were 51,836 housing units at an average density of 65 units per square mile (25 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 58.65% White, 39.34% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. 1.10% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[20] Of the 47,147 households 33.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.70% were married couples living together, 18.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 24.50% of households were one person and 8.20% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.08.

The age distribution was 25.90% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.80% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.20 males.

The median household income was $35,144 and the median family income was $41,274. Males had a median income of $32,065 versus $21,906 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,876. About 13.50% of families and 16.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.30% of those under age 18 and 16.50% of those age 65 or over.

According to the 2000 census, the population of Florence County was classified as 58% urban and 42% rural, containing the two urban areas of Florence (2000 pop. 67,314) and Lake City (8,728). Along with Darlington County, it comprises part of the Florence, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Law and government

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Law enforcement

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In 2020, Florence County Sheriff Kenney Boone pled guilty to embezzlement and misconduct in office. He was not sentenced to jail time.[21] As of 2021 the current sheriff is T.J. Joye.[22]

Politics

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As part of the “Solid South,” Florence County was strongly Democratic throughout its early existence. In recent years, though, Florence has shifted to a Republican-leaning county, having not voted Democratic at the presidential level since Jimmy Carter in 1976. However, it has done so by relatively modest margins as the county has been decided by a single-digit margin in every election since 2008. In 2020, incumbent Republican president Donald Trump narrowly carried Florence County, winning 32,615 votes (50.56%) to 31,153 (48.29%) for Democratic candidate Joe Biden.

Typically, Democratic strength is concentrated in the City of Florence, while the suburban and rural areas lean strongly Republican.

Most of the county is located within the state's 7th congressional district, which is represented by Republican Russell Fry. A small portion of the county, specifically the areas around Lake City, is located in the majority-minority 6th district, and is represented by Democrat Jim Clyburn.

United States presidential election results for Florence County, South Carolina[23]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 32,615 53.34% 27,706 45.32% 819 1.34%
2020 32,615 50.56% 31,153 48.29% 742 1.15%
2016 29,573 51.05% 26,710 46.11% 1,648 2.84%
2012 28,961 49.83% 28,614 49.23% 547 0.94%
2008 29,861 51.16% 28,012 47.99% 500 0.86%
2004 27,689 55.89% 21,442 43.28% 414 0.84%
2000 23,678 57.14% 17,157 41.41% 602 1.45%
1996 18,490 51.26% 15,804 43.81% 1,776 4.92%
1992 19,802 50.77% 15,569 39.92% 3,632 9.31%
1988 19,490 60.50% 12,531 38.90% 193 0.60%
1984 22,753 60.51% 14,639 38.93% 208 0.55%
1980 17,069 50.19% 16,391 48.19% 551 1.62%
1976 13,539 45.27% 16,294 54.49% 71 0.24%
1972 18,106 65.30% 9,455 34.10% 165 0.60%
1968 8,917 36.19% 8,079 32.79% 7,642 31.02%
1964 10,346 59.11% 7,157 40.89% 0 0.00%
1960 5,815 48.84% 6,090 51.15% 1 0.01%
1956 1,855 19.00% 3,463 35.46% 4,447 45.54%
1952 5,236 49.51% 5,340 50.49% 0 0.00%
1948 192 3.76% 1,189 23.27% 3,729 72.97%
1944 128 3.99% 2,822 87.86% 262 8.16%
1940 95 3.53% 2,597 96.47% 0 0.00%
1936 25 0.59% 4,194 99.41% 0 0.00%
1932 29 0.90% 3,195 99.04% 2 0.06%
1928 93 5.27% 1,672 94.73% 0 0.00%
1924 32 2.46% 1,217 93.54% 52 4.00%
1920 79 4.29% 1,763 95.71% 0 0.00%
1916 26 1.34% 1,912 98.66% 0 0.00%
1912 6 0.38% 1,496 95.10% 71 4.51%
1908 28 1.87% 1,460 97.46% 10 0.67%
1904 31 2.07% 1,466 97.93% 0 0.00%
1900 74 5.43% 1,290 94.57% 0 0.00%
1896 136 8.00% 1,530 89.95% 35 2.06%
1892 293 15.40% 1,609 84.60% 0 0.00%

Economy

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In 2022, the GDP of Florence County was $8.5 billion (about $62,154 per capita).[24] The real GDP was $7.2 billion (about $52,808 per capita) in chained 2017 dollars.[25] In 2022-2024, the unemployment rate has fluctuated between 2.3-3.8%.[26]

Duke Energy, Francis Marion University, GE HealthCare, Honda, McLeod Health, Otis Worldwide, QVC, Ruiz Foods, and Walmart are some of the largest employers in the county.[27]

Employment and Wage Statistics by Industry in Florence County, South Carolina[27]
Industry Employment Counts Employment Percentage (%) Average Annual Wage ($)
Accommodation and Food Services 7,326 11.1 20,124
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 4,207 6.4 34,632
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting 191 0.3 49,036
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation 661 1.0 27,768
Construction 1,800 2.7 63,024
Educational Services 4,188 6.3 48,360
Finance and Insurance 1,584 2.4 88,192
Health Care and Social Assistance 15,179 22.9 59,124
Information 569 0.9 69,732
Manufacturing 7,301 11.0 64,896
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction 34 0.1 43,420
Other Services (except Public Administration) 1,599 2.4 39,364
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 2,217 3.4 78,000
Public Administration 3,165 4.8 50,336
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 844 1.3 51,636
Retail Trade 8,811 13.3 33,592
Transportation and Warehousing 3,572 5.4 46,436
Utilities 183 0.3 90,064
Wholesale Trade 2,713 4.1 65,416
Total 66,144 100.0% 49,641

Communities

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Cities

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Towns

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Census-designated places

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Other unincorporated communities

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Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Florence County, South Carolina". www.carolina.com. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "QuickFacts: Florence County, South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "Florence County". studysc.org. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  5. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 127.
  6. ^ The County Record, January 12, 1922, p. 1.
  7. ^ "2020 County Gazetteer Files – South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  8. ^ "Lynches River County Park". www.lynchesriverpark.com. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  9. ^ "Pee Dee Station Site Wildlife Management Area, SC, US". iNaturalist. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  12. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  13. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  14. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  15. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  16. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  17. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  18. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  19. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  20. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  21. ^ Jeffrey Collins (April 29, 2021). "Sheriff admits stealing public money; avoids prison". Associated Press. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  22. ^ "Home - Florence County Sheriff's Office". www.fcso.org. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  23. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  24. ^ U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (January 1, 2001). "Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Florence County, SC". FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  25. ^ U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (January 1, 2001). "Real Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Florence County, SC". FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  26. ^ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (January 1, 1990). "Unemployment Rate in Florence County, SC". FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  27. ^ a b "Florence County" (PDF). Community Profiles (4000041). Columbia, SC: S.C. Department of Employment & Workforce - Business Intelligence Department. April 19, 2024.

Work cited

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Further reading

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