Florence

This county seat sits where Interstate highways 20 and 95 cross in northeastern South Carolina, serving as an administrative hub for the region. The town connects major routes and organizes regional services for the surrounding area.

The settlement grew in the 1850s as a transfer point where three rail lines met: the Wilmington and Manchester, the Northwestern, and the Cheraw and Darlington. During the Civil War, it served as the location of a military prison camp.

The town takes its name from Florence Harllee, daughter of the general president of the Wilmington and Manchester Railroad. Visitors today notice this railway legacy in the layout of streets that curve around the historic track alignments.

Visitors reach the town via two major interstate highways that cross here, offering access from several directions. The downtown area is compact and easy to explore on foot.

A military cemetery on the outskirts preserves the graves of Union soldiers who died while held at the nearby stockade. Visitors today come here to remember this lesser-known episode of the Civil War.

Location: Florence County

Elevation above the sea: 42 m

Website: http://cityofflorence.com

GPS coordinates: 34.18389,-79.77417

Latest update: December 12, 2025 22:23