FLORENCE COUNTY 2/2/2010
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 2000-2008: 7,039 14
Population 2000:  125,761 11 Avg. Ann. Growth Rate 1980-2000:  0.70% 32
Population Estimate 2007:  131,731 12 Avg. Ann. Growth Rate 2000-2008:  0.70% 18
Population Estimate 2008: 132,800 12 Percent Change 2006-2008: 0.80% 20
Persons Per Square Mile 2008:  166.0 12
Economic Data Value Rank Value Rank
Jobs 1980:  48,584 6 Personal Income (PI) 2007: $4,189,278 12
Jobs 1990:  60,293 8 Avg. Ann. Growth Rate (PI) 1969-2007: 7.9% 14
Jobs 2000:  69,898 9 Per Capita Personal Income  2007: $31,802 9
Jobs 2006: 69,878 9 % of U.S. PCPI 2007: 82% 8
Jobs 2007: 71,238 9 Average Wage Per Job 2007: $33,990 16
Numeric Change Jobs 2006-2007: 1,360 10 % of U.S. Avg. Wage Per Job 2007:  77% 16
Avg Ann Growth Rate Jobs 1980-2000:  2.19% 14 Unemployment Rate 2007: 7.1% 31
Avg Ann Growth Rate Jobs 2000-2007: 0.27% 14 Avg. Unemployment 1998-2007:  6.3% 25
Tax Data Value Rank Value Rank
Assessed Property 2007: $460,667,233 13 Per Capita Assessed Property 2007: $3,663 21
County Base Millage Rate 2009: 0.0818 28 Additional Sales Tax (if applicable) 
Value of One Mil 2009: $426,092 16 Local Option Sales Tax: 1.0%
Millage Cap FY10: 4.7% 20 Capital Projects Sales Tax: 1.0%
Net Taxable Sales FY07: $1,837,034,226 9 School District Sales Tax:  
Admissions Tax Collected FY07: $432,715 12 Transportation Sales Tax:  
Accommodations Tax Collected FY07:  $890,911 6
Financial & Employment Data Value Rank Value Rank
Total Revenues FY08: $77,450,279 12 Per Capita Revenues FY08: $616 28
Total Expenditures FY08: $74,879,668 13 Per Capita Expenditures FY08: $595 26
General Fund Budget FY10:  $49,344,246 12 Per Capita General Fund Budget FY10: $392 29
Total Debt Outstanding FY08: $19,345,063 15 Per Capita Debt Outstanding FY08: *** *
Payroll FY 2008: $26,427,314 12 Credit Rating(s) FY08
Full-Time Employees FY10:  755 13 Moody's: A1
Part-Time Employees FY10: 40 30 Standard & Poor:  
Full Time Emp/1,000 Cnty Residents:   6.00 26 Fitch:  
updated  2/2/2010