South Carolina

Florence

137,059
2020 population
1890
first census record
14
census records

About Florence

Florence, South Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1890, when it recorded a population of 25,027. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 137,059.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 9 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Ambush at Tearcoat Swamp, Battle of Tearcoat Swamp Oct 25 1780, Battle of Snow's Island (British attack), and 32 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020137,059
2010136,885
2000125,761
1990114,344
1980110,163
197089,636
196084,438
195079,710
194070,582
193061,027
192050,406
191035,671
190028,474
189025,027
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Florence

Military engagements that took place in Florence, South Carolina.

Ambush at Tearcoat Swamp
1780
Battle of Tearcoat Swamp Oct 25 1780
1780
Battle of Snow's Island (British attack)
1781
Battle of Snow's Island (SC, 1781)
1781
Confederate Naval Station — Mars Bluff SC
1863
Confederate Prison Camp at Florence SC — 1864-65
1864
Action near Florence SC — Railroad Defenses
1864
Union Seizure of Florence SC Area — Sherman Threat
1865
Destruction of CSS Pee Dee — Great Pee Dee River
1865

Historic places in Florence

National Register of Historic Places listings in Florence, South Carolina.

Browntown
Johnsonville
Florence National Cemetery
Florence
Roseville Plantation
Florence
Snow's Island
Johnsonville
Blooming Grove
Florence
Askins, W. T., House
Lake City
Stockade, The
Florence
Young Farm
Florence
Rankin-Harwell House
Florence
Hopewell Presbyterian Church and Hopewell Cemetery
FLorence
Claussen House
Florence
Lake City Downtown Historic District
Lake City
Mt. Zion Rosenwald School
Florence
Florence Public Library
Florence
Florence Downtown Historic District
Florence
Red Doe
Florence
Poynor Junior High School
Florence
Smith-Cannon House
Timmonsville
Slave Houses, Gregg Plantation
Mars Bluff
Browse all South Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in South Carolina

Explore census history and historic records for more South Carolina counties.

GreenwoodHamptonHorryJasperKershawLancasterLaurensLeeLexingtonMarionMarlboroMcCormickNewberryOconeeOrangeburgPendletonPickensRichlandSaludaSpartanburg
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Everything a full report reveals about Florence County, South Carolina

This page charts the census history of Florence County, South Carolina. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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South Carolinahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from South Carolina›

Frequently asked about Florence

When does Florence first appear in the US census?
Florence, South Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1890, with a recorded population of 25,027.
What is the population of Florence?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Florence had a recorded population of 137,059.
Were any battles fought in Florence?
9 documented military engagements took place in Florence, including Ambush at Tearcoat Swamp, Battle of Tearcoat Swamp Oct 25 1780, Battle of Snow's Island (British attack).
How many historic places are in Florence?
32 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Florence, South Carolina.
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