Located at the intersection of I-95 and I-20, Florence County is attracting newcomers from across the country who are seeking affordable living, close proximity to larger cities and Southern hospitality.
“Florence has somewhat been discovered,” said Mike Miller, Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce president.
Florence County's population grew by less than 200 people from 2010 to 2020, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The past several years have seen a large spike, however, with the population growing by nearly 1,000 from 2020 to 2024.
One major draw to Florence County is its low cost of living, said Joey McMillan, broker-in-charge of Coldwell Banker McMillan and Associates, who has witnessed Florence’s growth.
McMillan has sold houses to people who come from states such as New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Washington. People coming from more expensive states are shocked to discover how low property taxes are in South Carolina and how much bang they get for their buck, McMillan said.
On top of low taxes and housing prices, McMillan hears clients talking about the generally low cost of living in Florence County as part of their reason for relocating to the Pee Dee.
Cost of living has increased across the country, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. While Florence’s cost of living has also taken a hit, it feels more affordable than many other states, McMillan said. Whether it’s grocery costs or restaurant prices, affordable living is attracting people to Florence. “I think the biggest issue is cost of living,” McMillan said.
A lot of Florence’s growth can be attributed to affordability and housing, Miller said, but people also make the switch to Florence because it has everything you need.
With access to quality healthcare from McLeod Health and the Medical University of South Carolina Health Florence Medical Center, along with educational offerings at Florence County schools, Francis Marion University and Florence-Darlington Technical College, transplants are basing their decision off of more than just cost of living, Miller said.
“We're not missing much of anything,” Miller said.
Florence County’s growing popularity makes sense considering it's at the heart of the 10-county Pee Dee region, said Gregg Robinson. Easily accessible by interstate and rich in healthcare and commercial development, people in the Pee Dee travel to Florence County and may even decide to settle down.
“We are a hub,” Robinson said.Industry is one of the major draws of moving to Florence County, Robinson, McMillan and Miller said.
Florence County has a quickly growing labor market, Robinson said, and new developments are creating more jobs and bringing more people to the heart of the Pee Dee.
Companies like Cheney Brothers, GE HealthCare, Pepsi of Florence, Otis Elevator, McCall Farms, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Charles Ingram Lumber Co. are contributing to Florence County’s growth, he said. That's on top of the development of Japan-based AESC's elecgric vehicle battery plant. The $1.6 billion battery factory will employ 1,620 people at full capacity.
McMillan sees people moving to Florence County for jobs at AESC frequently these days, he said.
AESC is not the only reason Florence County is attracting more newcomers, but it has been a catalyst for growth, Miller said. Having a development like that has encouraged new developments and catches the eyes of retailers that Florence County didn’t previously have.
Florence County has recently seen the addition of several new retailers including QuikTrip, Wingstop and Slim Chickens. A Dave’s Hot Chicken and a Panda Express are also on the way.
Publix recently announced that it would open a Florence location, anchored by a new shopping center.
James Beard Award-nominated chef Elliott Moss, a Florene native, opened Elliott's BBQ Lounge inside of Seminar Brewing in March. Locals hope it will raise the bar for food in Florence and contribute to Florence's evolving dining scene.
The snowball effect of new companies and investments bringing in popular retailers and more entertainment will help Florence continue to grow, Miller said.
“You've seen it in other parts of South Carolina, I'm sure,” Miller said. “But it is just finally now happening in Florence, and it's going to continue for the next decade.”
It’s not just industry and cost of living that’s driving people to Florence County though, Miller and Robinson said. The county also offers close proximity to other cities and a sense of hospitality.
If you live in Florence County, you can get to Charlotte and Charleston in just over two hours and Columbia and Myrtle Beach are only about an hour and a half away.
That access to other cities and to the beach may encourage people to move to Florence, Miller said.
People from colder parts of the country may also be drawn to living closer to the beach, Robinson said.
Florence is a destination for retirees. The beach is accessible, but it’s far enough inland that it’s more affordable, Robinson said.“Our temperatures and our things to do and access to the coastline is a driving force between a lot of this realignment that we're seeing from the Midwest and Northeast,” Robinson said.
Entertainment also abounds at the Florence Little Theatre, the Francis Marion Performing Arts Center and the Florence Symphony Orchestra, Miller said.
Florence County is also home to the SC Pecan Music and Food Festival and Lake City's ArtFields festival.
Millan frequently has clients who move to Florence County because of a job transfer, he said. Oftentimes, they’re hesitant about what the area has to offer. Once they settle down and discover the Pee Dee and Florence’s charm, however, they don’t want to leave, McMillan said.
“The people are nice, neighbors are nice,” McMillan said. “We're friendly folks down here, and people like living here.”