FLORENCE COUNTY Revised 7/1/2008
Date Formed:  1888
Land Area (square miles): 800
County Seat: Florence
Other Cities and Towns:
Coward, Johnsonville, Lake City, Olanta, Pamplico, Quinby, Scranton, Timmonsville
Form of Government: Council-Administrator
Council Members: 9
Method of Election Single Member
Term Length 4 years
Council of Government:  Pee Dee
County History
Florence County took its name from its county seat, the City of Florence. The county was formed in 1888 from parts of Marion, Darlington, Williamsburg, and Clarendon counties. The City of Florence was founded in the 1850s as a stop on the Wilmington and Manchester Railroad; it was named for Florence Harllee, daughter of William Wallace Harllee (1812-1897), the president of the railroad. Florence soon became an important transportation center for the Pee Dee region. During the Civil War it was the site of a Confederate prison camp. In later years tobacco growing became a major activity in the county. Some famous Florence County natives are artist William H. Johnson (1901-1970), astronaut Ronald E. McNair (1950-1986), and stock car racer Cale Yarborough.
Population Trends Value Rank Value Rank
Population 1980:  110,163 7 Numeric Change 1980-2000:  15,598 17
Population 1990:  114,344 11 Numeric Change 2000-2007: 6,125 14
Population 2000:  125,761 11 Avg. Ann. Growth Rate 1980-2000:  0.70% 32
Population Estimate 2006:  130,852 12 Avg. Ann. Growth Rate 2000-2007:  0.70% 18
Population Estimate 2007: 131,886 12 Percent Change 2006-2007: 0.78% 19
Persons Per Square Mile 2007:  164.9 12
Economic Data Value Rank Value Rank
Jobs 1980:  48,584 6 Personal Income (PI) 2006: $3,969,225 12
Jobs 1990:  60,293 8 Avg. Ann. Growth Rate (PI) 1969-2006: 8.0% 13
Jobs 2000:  69,898 9 Per Capita Personal Income  2006: $30,334 9
Jobs 2005: 68,421 9 % of U.S. PCPI 2006: 83% 9
Jobs 2006: 69,878 9 Average Wage Per Job 2006: $33,328 13
Numeric Change Jobs 2005-2006: 1,457 10 % of U.S. Avg. Wage Per Job 2006:  79% 13
Avg. Annual Growth Rate 1980-2000:  2.19% 14 Unemployment Rate 2007: 6.3% 29
Avg. Annual Growth Rate 2000-2006: 0.35% 13 Avg. Unemployment 1998-2007:  6.4% 24
Tax Data Value Rank Value Rank
Assessed Property 2005: $457,666,959 13 Per Capita Assessed Property 2005: $3,639 21
County Base Millage Rate 2007: 0.0818 28 Additional Sales Tax (if applicable) 
Value of One Mil 2007: $412,470 14 Local Option Sales Tax: 1.0%
Millage Cap FY09: 3.6% 19 Capital Projects Sales Tax: 1.0%
Net Taxable Sales FY06: $1,877,320,205 9 School District Sales Tax:  
Admissions Tax Collected FY06: $419,497 13 Transportation Sales Tax:  
Accommodations Tax Collected FY06:  $771,076 7
Financial & Employment Data Value Rank Value Rank
Total Revenues FY06: $71,914,256 11 Per Capita Revenues: $572 24
Total Expenditures FY06: $69,554,875 12 Per Capita Expenditures: $553 24
General Fund Budget FY08:  $46,581,778 10 Per Capita General Fund Budget: $370 31
Total Debt Outstanding FY07: $17,284,450 17 Per Capita Debt Outstanding: $130 26
Payroll FY 2008: $26,016,497 11 Credit Rating(s) FY07
Full-Time Employees FY08:  741 12 Moody's: A1
Part-Time Employees FY08 84 12 Standard & Poor:  
Full Time Emp/1,000 Cnty Residents:   5.89 25 Fitch: