"In 1888, the South Carolina General Assembly created the “County of Florence”, encompassing the towns of Timmonsville, Coward, and Lake City with the Town of Florence as its county seat."
"Florence is the hub of an eight county region called the “Pee Dee”. It is the center for business, health care, communications, education, retail sales, cultural opportunities, and recreation."
Florence County. Accessed November 13, 2015. View the history.
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South Carolina native Ronald McNair was the second African-American to go into space, and was part of the STS-51L crew that died when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after lift-off on...
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Blue Sky’s second work is located just outside of Florence County, S.C. Sky was commissioned to paint a historical piece, and Blue Sky chose to paint a mural of the Great Pee Dee River.
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“M” is for McNair, Ronald Erwin [1950-1986]. Astronaut. As a young child in Lake City, McNair had a keen interest in science. After graduating from North Carolina Agricultural and State Technical...
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Archie Hunter of Florence belonged to the third generation of a family of traditional chairmakers. His grandfather began selling his handmade chairs to supplement the meager income from his Kershaw...
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Clemson Extension Agent and Host of "Making It Grow Amanda McNulty travels to Jamestown in the Mars Bluff Community of Florence, SC and talks with Terry James about The Jamestown Foundation. The...
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Melvin Purvis’ life tragically ended on February 29, 1960, due to an accidental discharge of a firearm. Some speculate that his death was suicide, while some others say that Purvis may have been...
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Melvin Purvis was born in 1903, the first son of a large family from Timmonsville. He studied law at the University of South Carolina without much enthusiasm, but graduated in 1925. When his love...
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Melvin Purvis smoothly moved on from the FBI, making endorsements for various everyday items, like safety razors, cars, and cereal. The Junior G-Man Club for children, and the Park Brothers’ Melvin...
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The Columns, also known as the Rankin or Johnson House, was built near Florence by Dr. William R. Johnson around 1850-60. The full-façade porch of its Classical Revival architecture represents a style...
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The Corn Exposition in Florence, around 1900, celebrated the rich agricultural produce of this region. Courtesy of the South Carolina State Museum.
