Florence is located in Florence County and it is the county seat. It is situated east of Columbia between Darlington and Lake City, along Highway 52 near Lynches River State Park.
Florence's climate is temperate. Winters are usually mild, although temperatures may dip into the teens. The annual average daytime temperature is 63.2 degrees.
Chartered in 1871 and incorporated in 1890, the original township formed as a railroad terminal. The town was named after Florence Henning Harllee, daughter of William Wallace Harllee, the first president of the Wilmington & Manchester Railroad.
Today, Florence has a population of approximately 33,000 residents. The city boasts a performance theater, symphony orchestra, ballet companies, museums and festivals, as well as several city parks featuring seasonal floral displays
There also is a Florence, Arizona.
Florence is part of the Florence, South Carolina metro area.