Best Web Design in Florence, SC (2026)

Web Design for Florence, South Carolina

Florence is the commercial, medical, and cultural hub of South Carolina's Pee Dee region, a city that sprang almost overnight from the junction of three 1850s railroads. Nicknamed the "Magic City" for its rapid rise, it grew on cotton, tobacco, and rail traffic and today leans on healthcare, manufacturing, and a revitalized downtown. Its history runs from a Confederate prison stockade to a modern arts-and-museum district.

AppWT works with Florence, SC businesses from Livonia, Michigan, mostly online and travelling as needed.

About Florence

Also known as. The Magic City. Flo-Town. Tooth City, U.S.A. (from its regionally known dental clinics).

History. Florence emerged in the 1850s at the intersection of three railroads: the Wilmington and Manchester, the North Eastern, and the Cheraw and Darlington. The Wilmington & Manchester line bought five acres in 1853 to build a depot, giving the town its official start; it was named by railroad president William W. Harllee for his daughter, Florence Henning Harllee. During the Civil War the Florence Stockade held an estimated 12,000 to 18,000 Union prisoners, of whom more than 2,800 died; the dead are interred at Florence National Cemetery. The town of Florence was chartered by the state legislature on March 9, 1871, and grew substantially in the late 19th century as tobacco joined cotton in the local economy.

Local economy. Healthcare anchors the economy, led by McLeod Regional Medical Center (a 453-bed hospital) and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Florence. GE Healthcare operates an MRI-manufacturing facility in the area. Florence functions as a financial and service hub for the eastern Carolinas, with operations tied to Truist Financial, AT&T, Duke Energy, and CSX Transportation. Additional sectors include pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, textiles, and distribution.

Culture and community. The Greek Orthodox community hosts an annual Greek Festival each September. The Florence Little Theatre, a community theater, marked 100 years of performances in 2023. The Florence Flamingos of the Coastal Plain League play summer collegiate baseball at Sparrow Stadium.

What makes Florence distinct. The "Magic City" nickname came from Florence's seemingly overnight growth from a rail junction into a thriving city. The city was named after railroad executive William Harllee's daughter, Florence. NASCAR legend and four-time Daytona 500 winner Cale Yarborough hailed from Florence County (Timmonsville/Sardis area); other notable figures include MLB player Reggie Sanders, NFL Hall of Famer Harry Carson, and poet Henry Timrod. Florence lies in Francis Marion "Swamp Fox" country; nearby Francis Marion University is named for the Revolutionary War guerrilla commander. The city made its public bus transit fare-free starting in August 2025.

Florence Landmarks and Local Life

• Florence County Museum (Florence Museum of Art - Science & History, which opened its downtown building in 2014)
• Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center
• Florence National Cemetery
• Florence Stockade (Civil War prison site)
• Sparrow Stadium