In the midst of these dramatic social changes, an economic transformation was taking place. It was after the days of World War II, after 1945, when Florence really burst into the New South. In the early 1950s, DuPont opted to purchase property along the Pee Dee River. This era also brought General Electric, Roche Carolina, Honda of South Carolina, and many other national and international firms.
As the largest city, Florence provides health services for the region. Dr. Frank Hilton McLeod was born in 1868 and moved to Florence from Red Springs, North Carolina. Dr. McLeod opened a clinic in 1906, which became an infirmary, a hospital, and today serves the Pee Dee as McLeod Regional Medical Center. Carolinas Hospital System-- which had its origins as Sanders Memorial Hospital, Florence General Hospital, and Bruce Hospital are also located in Florence.
Florence has a very strong performing arts community. The Florence Little Theatre has existed for more than 80 years.
Florence does a wonderful job preserving historic buildings. The Mount Zion Rosenwald School, which was built in 1925, is an original structure that provided education for African American elementary children for grades one through six.
