A City of Character – One of the Best Places to Live, Florence, SC
Alright, here we are sliding into week number 7 of our tour of the best places to live in North Carolina and South Carolina with populations between 30,000 and 50,000 people.
As you know we’ve spent most of our ranging around the Piedmont Region of North Carolina and to tell you the truth it seems like we were wandering around Hickory, NC for a long time … but not today!
For those of you who are South Carolina fans, FINALLY…
Today we are traveling south into the Palmetto state (South Carolina) and start the final leg of our journey.
By now you know we are in the “City of Character”, Florence, SC, population 31,570.
The city of Florence, SC sits in the heart of the Pee Dee Region of northeastern South Carolina and has come to embody the laid back southern charm and hospitality this area is known for.
Much like the other towns and cities we just finished visiting in North Carolina’s Piedmont region, Florence started out as a railroad junction and has benefited greatly from being at the crossroads of so much north, south, and west traffic.
In fact, if accessibility and getting out of town is one of your concerns, don’t worry about Florence because you’re near the crossing of two major national interstate highways (I-95 and I-20), several regional highways, a regional airport, as well as railroad lines.
This is important to You because it means Florence, SC is a place with jobs and long-term economic viability. It means all the quality of life intangibles that come with that.
Another good sign is Florence has spent a lot of time and money revitalizing its historic downtown in a way that pays homage to its past while offering something new and hip that is attracting businesses and people to the downtown area.
I love Florence’s historic southern railroad town vibe with the classic historic district down to the magnolia trees covered in Spanish Moss.
However, its also quickly apparent that Florence is a pretty cosmopolitan place with art galleries and museums, performing arts centers, fine dining places and exciting new clubs.
Florence, South Carolina definitely has many of the amenities and services of a much larger city.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention all the green spaces and the city’s wonderful system of neighborhood parks that offer fun and relaxation. These spaces speak volumes about how people in Florence value a higher quality of life.
What are some other things you might wonder about when it comes to Florence?
Well as far as the local weather, Florence is known for its very agreeable climate with a year round average temperature of 63 degrees.
Needless to say this makes spending time enjoying yourself outdoors that much easier and outdoor recreation opportunities abound. From fishing or canoeing on the nearby Pee Dee River to hiking, golf and a variety of other pursuits.
And don’t forget the many great beaches of the Grand Strand are a short car drive away.
I’ll also note that Florence also knows how to celebrate and has a number of annual festivals. The South Carolina Pecan Festival being one of the largest.
For those of you interested in lifelong learning opportunities you should know that South Carolina offers a tuition exemption for those over 60 so I recommend checking out local Francis Marion University for classes.
Okay, so Florence, SC is known for its wonderful climate, surrounding natural beauty and ample outdoor recreational opportunities but what will really catch your eye is how incredibly affordable the local housing market is.
Single family resale homes, town-homes and manufactured housing can all be found at very affordable rates. The median home value around Florence is approximately $142,000 which compares well with other nearby communities.
Gotta go but I'll see you next week when we stay in South Carolina moving along to another of our best cities and towns in South Carolina with a population of 30,000 to 50,000.
Remember if you are looking for more info on Florence, SC or other Best Places to relocate or retire in South Carolina check out our SC Best Places.
Til next week,
Bob
About Bob Bencivenga
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Bob Bencivenga is a professional site locator and location analyst for major corporations and has been researching the growth of NC and SC to find the Best Places to Retire or Relocate that are still affordable. |
| Visit his blog The Carolina Report and sign up for FREE updates by email,his FREE Affordable Best Places To Live Report and, get FREE Expert Advice on how to find Your Best Place to Retire or Relocate to in North Carolina and South Carolina, additional resources, and a lot more.
Bob does not sell real estate. |
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