Misplaced Pages

#690309

71-671: The distance that the main trail currently covers is 47 miles (76 km). The Atlantic Coast Line (ACL) and the Seaboard Air Line (SAL) railroads both served St. Petersburg and Clearwater for many years. They merged in 1967 to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (SCL), which consolidated the existing infrastructure. After the SCL joined CSX Transportation in the 1980s, 34 miles (55 km) of trackage in Pinellas County

142-605: A public library , a branch of the Florence County Library System. The Florence County Public Library has a room, the South Carolina Room, dedicated to South Carolina history and genealogy. McLeod Regional Medical Center is a 453-bed non-profit medical center located on a 75-acre (300,000 m ) campus in downtown Florence. The hospital complex in downtown contains the Cardiovascular Institute,

213-555: A Patheon pharmaceutical manufacturing facility and research and development center for Patheon API Services. Florence also serves as the financial and service hub for the Eastern Carolinas, with many financial and professional management institutions invested heavily within the city. Companies with regional operations and headquarters include Truist Financial , Monster.com , Otis Elevator , CSX Transportation and Wells Fargo . Florence has operation headquarters for AT&T and

284-546: A bit more modern, having been upgraded in 1883. However, the sprawling ACL system needed larger and more modern facilities to handle locomotive overhauls and freight car building. By the 1920s the two largest shop sites were at South Rocky Mount, North Carolina and Waycross, Georgia , each of which employed about 2,000 workers. To handle extensions into Florida, in 1926 the ACL established the Uceta shops and yard outside of Tampa, Florida at

355-833: A budding theater scene, starting with creating the Community Players in 1923. Over the years, the theater troop had several names, such as the Pinewood Plays, the Little Theater Guild, and eventually, the Florence Little Theater Guild. After a fire that took their original performance home at the Pinewood Club, the troop used spaces like the YMCA, high school gyms, and the Army Air Base movie house to perform. In 1968

426-435: A cost of $ 2 million. By the early 1900s the railroad had largely reached its final configuration and began to focus on upgrading its physical plant. By the 1920s the railroad's main line from Richmond, Virginia to Jacksonville, Florida had been double-tracked, which benefited the railroad during the 1920s when Florida boomed. In 1928 the ACL completed a line between Perry, Florida and Drifton, near Monticello, Florida ,

497-399: A household in the city was $ 35,388, and the median income for a family was $ 42,250. Males had a median income of $ 35,633 versus $ 23,589 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 20,336. Of the population 19.3% and 15.3% of families, and 28.2% of those under and 15.9% of those 65 and older, were living below the poverty line. Florence is the central city of a metropolitan area with

568-566: A long history in Florence, dating back to the 1920s when the Florence Swamp Foxes were founded. The minor league Florence Steelers played in Florence from 1948 to 1950. The Toronto Blue Jays had a minor league team that played in Florence from 1981 to 1986. Major league players Pat Borders , Jimmy Key , Cecil Fielder and Fred McGriff made stops in Florence during their minor league careers. Florence's Post 1 American Legion baseball team

639-408: A police substation was added on once crime-ridden Dargan Street. Special efforts are being aimed at the downtown area, which was once the center of the city's activity but remains dormant after retailers and shoppers left for suburban malls. The goal is to re-establish Evans as a vibrant commercial and residential corridor, and five blocks of Evans Street will be streetscaped. Florence is located in

710-579: A regional healthcare facility with 420-beds, serves eight counties in northeastern South Carolina. Regency Hospital opened in Florence in July 2001. It is a 40-bed Long Term Acute Care (LTAC) hospital located on the fourth and fifth floors of the Cedar Towers, at 121 Cedar Street. Regency, with its corporate office based in Alpharetta, Georgia, has 20 hospitals nationwide, and continues to aggressively grow throughout

781-402: A strong center for medical care, with four major medical providers McLeod Regional Medical Center , Medical University of South Carolina Hospital , Regency Hospital and HealthSouth . The growth of these providers has led to the transformation of the Florence skyline over the last 10 years, with development for demand with multi-story high-rises as well as community relation projects. With such

SECTION 10

#1732847836691

852-472: A strong medical community several companies have their global, continental, or national headquarters in Florence, including GE Healthcare manufacturing operations ( MRI manufacturing), TRICARE , a supplemental insurance company that serves the US Armed Forces and its civilian employees, and Assurant , a real property and personal insurance company. The city also serves the pharmaceutical industry , with

923-509: A total area of 23.49 square miles (60.8 km ), of which 23.39 square miles (60.6 km ) is land and 0.09 square miles (0.23 km ) (0.38%) is water. The climate experienced is humid subtropical ( Köppen : Cfa ) of the type found in the deep south , especially far from the coast. Autumn, winter and spring are mild, with occasional winter nights below freezing but rarely features extended cold and rigorous conditions. Florence's summers can be very hot and humid. The city, like others in

994-424: A total population of 205,566 (2010 US census), including the entire populations of Florence and Darlington counties. However, in the more detailed 2000 Census data, only about 54% of this metro was urbanized, consisting of the urban areas Florence (2000 pop.: 67,314), Hartsville (14,907), Darlington (12,066), and Lake City (8,728). The remainder of the Florence metro is considered rural. Like other midsize cities in

1065-655: Is a baseball stadium being built as part of the Florence Sports Complex to host the Flamingos starting in 2022. Until 2009, Florence was home to the American Indoor Football league's Florence Phantoms, which debuted in the league in 2006. The Phantoms played in the Florence Civic Center . Florence Memorial Stadium is a 7,000 seat football stadium 5 miles (8.0 km) to the east of the city. It

1136-460: Is also a small Hindu temple . The city of Florence has a council-manager form of government. City council members are elected every four years, without term limits . The council consists of seven members (three from districts and three at-large ), as well as the mayor. The council responsible for making policies and enacting laws, rules and regulations in order to provide for future community and economic growth. The council additionally provides

1207-506: Is located 2 miles (3.2 km) east of downtown Florence on US 76. The airport itself is serviced by American Eagle to Charlotte and is the second busiest airport in the region behind Myrtle Beach International Airport . It is located an hour west of Myrtle Beach. Amtrak 's The Palmetto trains 89, 90 and Silver Meteor (trains 97, 98) connect Florence with the cities of New York, Philadelphia , Wilmington , Baltimore , Washington , Jacksonville , Orlando , and Miami . Additionally

1278-541: Is one of the longest tenured teams in the state, beginning in 1932. Drawing the best high school talent from all over the Pee Dee area each summer, Post 1 has had over 30 players move on the professional ranks, including Reggie Sanders . They have won over 30 league titles and six state championships. They were the host site of the 2008 American Legion State Tournament. In 2012, Post 1 won the South Carolina state tournament and

1349-553: Is the governing body of the public schools in the area. As of 2010 , the district has an active enrollment of 14,500 students, attending a total of 20 schools, including 13 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 3 high schools serving the City of Florence, Effingham and Quinby areas. The school system also supports an alternative school for middle and/or high school students, a vocational career center, and an adult learning center. The district and its schools have been recognized as being among

1420-607: Is the home stadium for West Florence, Wilson, and South Florence high schools. There was an arena football team too, briefly, but its contract to play at the Florence Center was not renewed. Florence was also home to the Southern Professional Hockey League's now- Twin City Cyclones , who played from 2005 to 2007. This team was part of a two event package in 2004 to replace the now defunct Pee Dee Pride (to be

1491-674: Is the southeastern headquarters of Duke Energy Inc. Florence has benefited from being located at the intersection of I-95 and I-20 , approximately halfway between New York City and Miami, Florida. The city is located 80 miles (130 km) east from the state capital Columbia , 70 miles (110 km) west from Myrtle Beach , 120 miles (190 km) north of Charleston, and 110 miles (180 km) southeast of Charlotte, North Carolina . This has allowed Florence to remain competitive and bringing in and sustaining major manufacturers such as, General Electric, Honda , QVC Distribution Center and Otis Elevator. The Florence Public School District One

SECTION 20

#1732847836691

1562-474: The Silver Meteor , the ACL launched its first streamlined train, the all-coach Champion . ACL invested heavily in its passenger fleet after World War II but passenger revenue fell from $ 28.5 million in 1946 to $ 14.1 million in 1959. Until its 1967 merger the railroad continued to maintain and improve its passenger service, even replacing old stations with new. All of ACL's New York - Florida trains ran on

1633-652: The Civil War , and operated them as a network of independent companies. In 1897–98, most of the South Carolina lines in Walters' system were consolidated under the name of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company of South Carolina. In 1898, as the companies moved towards combining themselves into a single system, the lines in Virginia were combined into the new Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company of Virginia, and

1704-609: The Florida Special (ACL's premier, winter-only train) in New York City's Pennsylvania Station . Florence, South Carolina Florence / ˈ f l ɒr ən s / is a city in and the county seat of Florence County, South Carolina , United States. It lies at the intersection of Interstates 20 and 95 and is the eastern terminus of the former. It is the primary city within the Florence metropolitan area . The area forms

1775-1065: The Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz ) from the ECHL. The building was also the home of the South Carolina Fire Ants of Major League Roller Hockey in 1998. Florence and Grand Strand share a common defined market by Nielsen Media Research in Horry , Marion , Dillon, Darlington, Marlboro, Scotland, Robeson, and Florence counties. The Florence/Myrtle Beach Market is the 103rd largest market in the US as defined by Nielsen Media Research. CBS / MyNetworkTV affiliate WBTW 13, ABC / The CW affiliate WPDE-TV 15 and SCETV ( PBS ) outlet WJPM-TV 33 are licensed to Florence. NBC affiliate WMBF-TV 32 and Fox affiliate WFXB 43 are licensed to Myrtle Beach but also serve Florence. WBTW and WPDE have moved most of their operations to Myrtle Beach and Conway, respectively, due to

1846-679: The National Civic League . The city was founded as a railroad hub and became the junction of three major railroad systems, including the Wilmington and Manchester , the Northeastern , and the Cheraw and Darlington . The City of Florence was chartered in 1871 by the Reconstruction government and incorporated in 1890 following the 1888 creation of Florence County. Prior to its charter, the city

1917-926: The Pennsylvania Railroad north of Washington, D. C., then via the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad from Washington to Richmond. Tampa/St. Petersburg trains used ACL rails south of Richmond all the way to their destinations. Trains for Miami ran on the Florida East Coast Railway from Jacksonville to Miami, but after passenger service on the FEC effectively ended with a long-lasting strike in 1963, ACL transferred its Miami-bound trains to Seaboard rails at Auburndale, Florida . New York-Florida routes: Midwest-Florida routes: Other routes: In Preston Sturges' 1942 comedy The Palm Beach Story , main character Gerry Jeffers ( Claudette Colbert ) boards

1988-464: The Richmond and Petersburg Railroad formally merged, and two years later the combined company took control of the ACL's routes south of Virginia and the Norfolk and Carolina Railroad , which operated from Norfolk, Virginia to Tarboro, North Carolina . These mergers created an ACL system reaching from southern Virginia to South Carolina and Georgia. Other small acquisitions took place in 1901, and in 1902

2059-568: The Southeast , is prone to inversions , which trap ozone and other pollutants over the area. As of the 2020 census , there were 39,899 people, 15,624 households, and 9,671 families residing in the city. At the 2000 census , there were 30,248 people, 11,925 households, and 7,882 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,709.4 people per square mile (660.0 people/km ). There were 13,090 housing units at an average density of 739.7 per square mile (285.6/km ). The racial makeup of

2130-625: The Wilmington and Manchester , and the Northeastern . General William Harllee , the president of the W & M, built his home at the junction, and named the community "Florence", after his daughter. During the Civil War , the town was an important supply and railroad repair center for the Confederacy , and the site of the Florence Stockade , which held between 12,000 and 18,000 Union prisoners of war . Over 2,800 prisoners died of disease and were buried there. The burial ground adjacent to

2201-655: The Wilmington and Manchester Railroad began operations in 1853 to Florence, South Carolina , where the Northeastern Railroad operated to Charleston, South Carolina . In 1871, the W&;W and the W&M (renamed the Wilmington, Columbia & Augusta) began using the Atlantic Coast Line name to advertise the two lines. An investor from Baltimore, William T. Walters , gained control of these separate railroads after

Pinellas Trail - Misplaced Pages Continue

2272-580: The 12-mile extension to Hookerton was abandoned in 1933. The ACL's last major acquisition was the Atlanta, Birmingham and Coast Railroad , which it purchased in 1927, though the AB&;C was not merged into the ACL until 1945. Upon the formal incorporation of the ACL in 1900, an assessment was made of its repair and maintenance facilities. The oldest inherited shop site was at Wilmington, North Carolina , which dated to 1840. The shops in Florence, South Carolina were

2343-474: The ACL handled mostly seasonal agricultural products, but by World War II its freight traffic had become more diverse. During the 1950s, around 44% of all freight traffic consisted of manufactured and miscellaneous items, while bulk traffic like coal and phosphates also expanded during this time. During the 1950s, the ACL acquired some 13,000 new freight cars, to be used on high-speed trains offering reduced running times compared to earlier equipment. This allowed

2414-695: The ACL took over the Plant System , which operated numerous lines within Florida and Georgia. This same year the ACL took control of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad as well as the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway , though the two were never merged into the ACL and were operated independently. The ACL acquired the East Carolina Railway in 1935, running south from Tarboro to Hookerton , although

2485-529: The ACL was the Petersburg Railroad between Petersburg, Virginia , and a point near Weldon, North Carolina , founded in 1830. A route between Richmond, Virginia , and Petersburg was built by the Richmond & Petersburg Railroad , which was founded in 1836. In 1840 the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad , at the time known as the Wilmington and Raleigh and renamed in 1855, completed a route between Weldon and Wilmington, North Carolina . From Wilmington,

2556-669: The Center for Advanced Surgery, the Cancer Center, and the only specialized pediatrics unit in the northeastern portion of South Carolina. It encompasses acute care facilities, such as McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence, McLeod Medical Center in Dillon, McLeod Medical Center in Darlington, and also operates campuses all over the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. The Medical University of South Carolina Florence, formerly Carolinas Hospital System,

2627-487: The Florence City Council: During the latter part of the 20th century and early 21st century, Florence's economy was transformed from being based largely on rail and farming into a diversified economy as the major commerce, finance, rail and trucking services, health care, and industrial center of the Eastern Carolinas. There are over nine foreign affiliated companies and fourteen Fortune 500 companies in

2698-481: The Florence station also serves as the refueling and crew changing point for Amtrak's Auto Train service which operates service between Sanford station in Florida and Lorton station Virginia, Passengers may temporarily disembark the train to smoke, get some air or walk their service animals. Greyhound Lines and Southeastern Stages operates a station on Irby Street, in the southern part of downtown, providing Florence with intercity bus transportation. Baseball has

2769-579: The Grand Strand's larger population. Florence, along with The Pee Dee Region, makes up the 217th largest radio market in the United States. Cumulus Media and iHeart Media, the largest and third-largest radio station ownership groups in the country, operate radio outlets in Florence. The Morning News is the largest daily paper published in the Pee Dee, with a readership base extending across several counties. The paper has been in existence since 1922 and

2840-592: The Petitt Cup Tournament at their home field. The Flamingos play at the 1,755-capacity Sparrow Stadium at Francis Marion University . The stadium is also hosts some home games for the Florence–Darlington Technical College Stingers baseball team. Post 1 plays its home games at American Legion Field , adjacent to Memorial Stadium, where Florence's three public high schools play their home football games. Carolina Bank Field

2911-682: The Pinellas Trail itself and connecting trails) circling Pinellas County are complete. The connecting trails that will be part of the completed loop include the Duke Energy Trail and the St Petersburg North Bay Trail. Unlike most rail-trails that traverse rural countrysides, the Pinellas Trail travels through several urban areas. When traveling through some of the neighborhoods in sections of St. Petersburg and Tarpon Springs, trail users are encouraged to be cautious. In Clearwater,

Pinellas Trail - Misplaced Pages Continue

2982-850: The Southeast Regional and participated in the American Legion World Series in Shelby, North Carolina. Florence is home to the Coastal Plain League Florence Flamingos summer collegiate baseball team. Relocated to Florence in 1998, the team brings in players from collegiate sports conferences, including the Southeastern Conference and the Atlantic Coast Conference . The team hosted the 2004 All-Star game and Home Run Derby. In 2007, they hosted

3053-746: The central business district toward the McLeod Medical Center, features a number of historic buildings that have been rehabilitated. The redevelopment started with the $ 18 million Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation Library, and today now has the new Florence Little Theater, some 60 new apartments and the Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center which opened in September 2011, as well the new Florence Museum of Art, Science & History which opened October 11, 2014. New office space has emerged from once abandoned buildings, and

3124-562: The city was 50.0% White , 46.0% Black or African- American, 0.18% Native American , 1.16% Asian , 0.01% Pacific Islander , 0.21% from other races , and 0.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 0.76% of the population. There were 11,925 households, out of which 30.2% had children living with them, 41.9% were married couples living together, 20.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who

3195-535: The coastal plain of South Carolina. It is in the northeastern part of the state and the northern part of Florence County. The average elevation above sea level is around 140 ft (43 m). Jeffries Creek is a tributary of the Great Pee Dee River and is the main waterway that flows through the city, passing south of the city center. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has

3266-424: The core of the historical Pee Dee region of South Carolina, which includes the eight counties of northeastern South Carolina, along with sections of southeastern North Carolina . As of the 2020 census , the population of the city was 39,899, making it the 10th-most populous city in the state. Florence is one of the major cities in South Carolina. In 1965, Florence was named an All-American City , presented by

3337-619: The country. McLeod Regional Medical Center and MUSC Florence are the first and third largest employers in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. The Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority (PDRTA) is the principal agency responsible for operating mass transit in greater Florence area including Darlington , Marion , Chesterfield , Dillon , and the Lake City area. PDRTA also operates routes to Columbia , Myrtle Beach and Sumter . PDRTA operates express shuttles, and bus service serving Florence and its immediate surrounding areas. The authority

3408-589: The fast-emerging military industry in the Southeast. In 1942, Champion McDowell Davis (nicknamed "Champ") became president of the ACL after starting with the railroad in the 1890s as a messenger boy. He immediately began an improvement program that finished in the mid-1950s, including the rebuilding of several hundred miles of track, the installation of modern signaling systems and improvements to freight yards . The railroad spent at least $ 268 million in upgrading its physical plant during this period. On June 30, 1955,

3479-529: The first Florence Little Theater was built, but in 2008, they built a new Florence Little Theater due to a need for more space where it is still being used. In 2023 the Florence Little Theater celebrated 100 years of performances opening with The Sound of Music. In 2010, the city of Florence began a massive redevelopment of Downtown Florence. The city has completed several notable projects and has several more planned. The Downtown Redevelopment District

3550-489: The former railroad corridor. The Pinellas Trail is named after Fred Marquis, a former Pinellas County Administrator who served from 1979 until 2000. The Pinellas Trail is composed of the following railroad segments: As of June 2022, the Pinellas Trail Loop will extend to 75 miles (121 km) in length. As of April 2023, 63 miles (101 km) of the 75 miles (121 km) of the Pinellas Trail Loop (including

3621-518: The last link of the new " Perry Cutoff ". This created a more direct route between Chicago and Florida's west coast and bypassing Jacksonville, one which passed through Macon, Albany, and Thomasville, the route followed by ACL's passenger train Southland from December 1928 to 1957 when it was rerouted to Jacksonville. During the Great Depression ACL's freight traffic declined by around 60%, but

SECTION 50

#1732847836691

3692-429: The lines in North Carolina underwent a similar process in 1899, becoming the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company of North Carolina. In 1899 or 1900, due to a regulatory climate in Virginia that was better suited to the company than that in other states, the ACL of Virginia took control of the other lines and subsequently shortened its name to the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company. In 1898, Petersburg Railroad and

3763-452: The merger was approved by shareholders of both railroads. In 1963, a merger between the two companies was approved by the Interstate Commerce Commission , however, petitions for reconsideration were filed leading to a court decision to remand the approval of the merger on May 13, 1965, citing the Clayton Antitrust Act . Following another round of court decisions in 1966, the merger was allowed to proceed, and did so on July 1, 1967. The result

3834-421: The move from Wilmington completed over the following weeks. As early as October 1958 the ACL and competitor Seaboard Air Line Railroad had discussed the possibility of a merger, initiating extensive studies on the potential unified system. The results showed that the merger could save considerable money through savings incurred and reduced expenditures to the amount of $ 38 million annually. On August 18, 1960,

3905-431: The necessary support for the orderly and efficient operation of city services. Florence holds elections for mayor every four years, alongside national Presidential elections. Mayors serve as a member of the city council, without term limits. The council appoints a city manager to serve as chief administrative officer to run the day-to-day business of the city and to serve at the pleasure of the council. Current members of

3976-594: The prison became the Florence National Cemetery after the war and now has expanded. After the war, Florence grew and prospered, using the railroad to supply its cotton, timber, and by the turn of the century, tobacco. During the 20th century the economy of Florence came to rely heavily on the healthcare industry, driven by two major hospitals and a number of pharmaceutical plants. Industry grew, especially after World War II, when Florence became increasingly known for textiles, pharmaceuticals , paper, and manufacturing , in addition to agricultural products. Florence also has

4047-542: The railroad for Florida-bound tourists, with the Atlantic Coast Line contributing significantly to Florida's economic development in the first half of the 20th century. At the end of 1925, ACL operated 4,924 miles of road, not including its flock of subsidiaries; after some merging, mileage at the end of 1960 was 5,570 not including A&WP, CN&L, East Carolina, Georgia, Rockingham, and V&CS. In 1960, ACL reported 10,623 million net ton-miles of revenue freight and 490 million passenger-miles. The earliest predecessor of

4118-407: The railroad retired its last steam locomotive. In 1956 the railroad moved its headquarters, which had been sited at and adjacent to Wilmington, North Carolina's Union Station to Jacksonville, Florida . Jacksonville was selected from three candidate cities, the other two being Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina . Construction of the new office complex was finished in July 1960, with

4189-435: The railroad survived the 1930s without declaring bankruptcy; its success in this regard has been attributed to its leadership and careful financial practices, as well as owning the Louisville and Nashville, which remained strong through the Depression. During World War II ACL's passenger traffic increased 200% and freight traffic 150%. The railroad provided a submarine-proof alternative to coastal shipping, and it also served

4260-401: The railroad to remain competitive in the face of competition from the Interstate highway system . The ACL's passenger traffic consisted almost entirely of Florida-bound traffic, largely from the Northeast, but also from the Midwest via trains that were operated by multiple railroads and handled by the ACL at their southern ends. In 1939, in response to the Seaboard's popular new streamliner,

4331-553: The region. The gross domestic product (GDP) of the Florence metropolitan area as of 2009 was $ 6.8 billion, one of the highest among MSAs in the state. Milken Institute 2008 Best Performing Cities Index showed the Florence MSA as the 5th largest gainer in their evaluation of the top 124 small metropolitan areas in the United States. The report ranks U.S. metropolitan areas by how well they are creating and sustaining jobs and economic growth. The components include job, wage and salary and technology growth. Florence has blossomed into

SECTION 60

#1732847836691

4402-401: The same warning applies; trail users may have the right-of-way in areas with minimal vehicular traffic, but they do not when the trail crosses a major artery such as State Road 60 . 27°57′32″N 82°47′49″W  /  27.95889°N 82.79694°W  / 27.95889; -82.79694 Atlantic Coast Line Railroad The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad ( reporting mark ACL )

4473-477: The southern United States, Florence's population is largely dominated by Protestantism, the largest group being the Southern Baptists , followed by the Methodists . The rest of the population are distributed among other Protestant denominations as well as the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox Churches . The Greek Orthodox Church holds a large Greek Festival annually in September. There is one Reform Judaism synagogue in Florence, Beth Israel Congregation . There

4544-442: The state's best with numerous awards, including the Palmetto's Finest Award. Facilities of higher education in and around Florence include Francis Marion University and Florence–Darlington Technical College . Francis Marion University is a public university located in Florence, while Florence–Darlington Technical College, located in Florence, also operates satellite campuses in Hartsville , Lake City and Mullins . Florence has

4615-449: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.03. In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.0% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.5 males. The median income for

4686-457: Was a United States Class I railroad formed in 1900, though predecessor railroads had used the ACL brand since 1871. In 1967, it merged with long-time rival Seaboard Air Line Railroad to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad . Much of the original ACL network has been part of CSX Transportation since 1986. The Atlantic Coast Line served the Southeast , with a concentration of lines in Florida. Numerous named passenger trains were operated by

4757-450: Was abandoned, and purchased by the Florida Department of Transportation . After voter approval, the county acquired the property and began construction of the Pinellas Trail. The first 5 miles (8.0 km) opened in December 1990, linking John S. Taylor Park in Largo to Seminole City Park in Seminole . With the passage of the first Penny for Pinellas one-cent local option sales tax , plans were made to construct additional segments along

4828-583: Was established in June 1974; it is South Carolina's oldest and largest RTA. PDRTA began operations serving the six-county Pee Dee region of Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Marion, and Marlboro Counties. The PDRTA has provided transportation for more than 15 million passengers, and transports approximately 2,457 people daily. It operates services with 165 vehicles ranging in size from transit, intercity buses, and trolleys to lift-equipped vans and goshens. The city and its surroundings are served by Florence Regional Airport ( IATA : FLO; ICAO : KFLO), which

4899-454: Was originally a seventy square block area encompassing some 500 acres (2.0 km ) in the heart of the City of Florence, but now has added over 100 more acres of the Timrod Park area with its historic homes. The redevelopment of Florence has even created a new branding effort, to include new city department logos (not to be confused with the city seal) way finding signs and repainting of water towers. The historic downtown district running from

4970-423: Was part of one of the original townships laid out by the Lords Proprietors in 1719. The area was gradually settled through the late 19th and early 20th century. Early settlers practiced subsistence farming and produced indigo , cotton, naval stores and timber, which were shipped down the Great Pee Dee River to the port at Georgetown and exported. In the mid-19th century two intersecting railroads were built,

5041-483: Was the creation of the Seaboard Coast Line . The backbone of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad was its main line, which ran nearly 900 miles from Richmond, Virginia to just south of Tampa, Florida . By 1952, the company operated over 5,000 miles of track including the main line and numerous secondary lines and branch lines. The network extended as far west as Birmingham, Alabama and as far south as Everglades City, Florida at its height. During its early years,

#690309