Florence is at the intersection of I-95 and I-20, approximately halfway between New York City and Miami, Florida. The city is located 80 miles east from the state capital Columbia, 70 miles west from Myrtle Beach and 110 miles southeast of Charlotte, North Carolina.
As of the census of 2000, there were 30,248 people, 11,925 households, and 7,882 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,709.4 people per square mile (659.8/km²). There were 13,090 housing units at an average density of 739.7/sq mi (285.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 52.96% White, 44.77% Black (U.S. Census), 0.18% Native American, 1.16% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.76% of the population.
There were 11,925 households out of which 30.2% had children living with them, 41.9% were married couples living together, 20.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 82.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,388, and the median income for a family was $42,250. Males had a median income of $35,633 versus $23,589 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,336. 19.3% of the population and 15.3% of families were below the poverty line. 28.2% of those under the and 15.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Florence is the central city of a metropolitan area with a total population of 198,443 (2005 estimate), including the entire populations of Florence and Darlington counties. However, in the more detailed 2000 Census data, only about 54% of this metro was urbanized, consisting of the urban areas Florence (2000 pop.: 67,314), Hartsville (14,907), Darlington (12,066), and Lake City (8,728). The remainder of the Florence metro is considered rural.
Florence is located on the Interstate 95 corridor, linking it to Miami and New York, and Interstate 20, which ends in Florence (David McLeod Blvd Business Spur), linking the city to Atlanta, Dallas, and to the American West. North Carolina wants to extend Interstate 20 from Florence, SC to Wilmington, NC following along the path of U.S. Highway 76 Other major roadways that service the Florence area are U.S. Highway 301 linking Florence to Florida and north to Delaware, U.S. Highway 52 linking Florence to Canada and Charleston, U.S. Highway 76 which links Florence to Chattanooga, Tennessee and U.S. Highway 378 that links Florence with Columbia. The proposed Interstate 73 is planned to pass just north of the City of Florence.
Florence is also served by the Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority (PDRTA) which is South Carolina’s Oldest and Largest RTA. PDRTA runs a bus system that serves the Florence area and nearly all of Florence County and Pee Dee Region as well. The system operates routes to Columbia, Myrtle Beach and Sumter.
Amtrak's The Palmetto train and the The Silver Service trains connect Florence with the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Jacksonville, Tampa and Miami.
Florence is served by the Florence Regional Airport (FLO), which is located 2 miles east of downtown Florence on US 76. It is the second-busiest airport in the region, served by DayJet, Delta Connection and US Airways Express.
Florence is served by Greyhound.