FLORENCE COUNTY 5/14/12
Florence,Florence,Florence,Florence
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
Census Population 1990 114,344 11 Numeric Change Census 1990-2010 22,541 14
Census Population 2000 125,761 11 Numeric Change Pop. Est. 2010-2011 795 13
Census Population 2010 136,885 12 Percent Change Pop. Est. 2010-2011 0.6% 15
Population Estimate 2010 137,067 13 Persons Per Square Mile 171.1 12
Population Estimate 2011 137,862 13
Economic Data Value Rank Value Rank
Jobs 2010 66,139 9 Personal Income 2010, in thousands $4,617,112 12
Jobs 2009 67,216 9 Per Capita Personal Income  2010 $33,685 8
Jobs 2008 66,139 9 % of U.S. Per Capita PI 2010 84% 8
Avg. Ann. Growth Rate Jobs 1990-2010 0.5% 14 Average Wage Per Job 2010 $37,340 13
Percent Change Jobs 2009-2010 -1.6% 27 % of U.S. Avg. Wage Per Job 2010 79% 13
Numeric Change Jobs 2009-2010 -1,077 43 Unemployment Rate 2011 11.0% 27
Tax Data Value Value
Assessed Property 2010 $493,575,353 Per Capita Assessed Property 2010 $3,606
County Base Millage Rate 2011 0.0818 Additional Sales Tax, if applicable
Value of One Mil 2011 $435,851 Local Option Sales Tax 1.0%
Net Taxable Sales FY10 $1,629,377,142 Capital Projects Sales Tax 1.0%
Admissions Tax Collected FY10 $404,522 School District Sales Tax  
Accommodations Tax Collected FY10 $858,714 Transportation Sales Tax  
County Finance & Employment Data Value
Total Revenues FY10 $91,861,117 Value
Total Expenditures FY10 $94,138,341 Per Capita Revenues FY10 $671
General Fund Budget FY12 $48,229,641 Per Capita Expenditures FY10 $688
Total Debt Outstanding FY11 $14,115,000 Per Capita Gen. Fund Budget FY12 $352
Payroll FY12 $25,931,414 Per Capita Debt Outstanding FY11 $104
Full-Time Employees FY12 736 Credit Rating(s) FY11
Part-Time Employees FY12 41 Moody's: Aa2
Full-Time Emp/1,000 Cnty Residents 5.38 Standard & Poor:  
Fitch: