Florence
Around Florence
Illustration made for Popchat
Metro area · South Carolina · 200k people
Florence
Locals say Pee Dee · “The Magic City”
Where the Pee Dee flows and the South feels like home
Francis Marion red
Welcome to the Pee Dee! Whether you're here for the racing, the river, or just the sweet tea, you'll find a friendly pace and plenty of Southern charm. Take a stroll through a historic downtown and say hey to a neighbor.
Clubs for Florence
No clubs for Florence yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Florence. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Florence. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Darlington Raceway NASCAR's original superspeedway, host of the Southern 500
- Pee Dee State Farmers Market Fresh produce, plants, and local crafts
- Florence Civic Center Concerts, expos, and sporting events
- Francis Marion University Patriots athletics and cultural events
- Lynches River County Park Riverfront trails, canoeing, and camping
- Florence County Museum Local history and art exhibits
- Outdoors Fishing on the Great Pee Dee River
- Outdoors Hiking and biking at Lynches River County Park
- With kids Catch a Florence Flamingos baseball game
- With kids Visit the Florence County Museum
- Evenings Bar-hopping in downtown Florence
- Evenings Live music at local venues
- Locals love barbecue joints
- Locals love riverfront parks
Through the year
- Southern 500 September NASCAR race at Darlington Raceway
- ArtFields April 9-day art competition and exhibition in Lake City
- Pee Dee State Fair October Agricultural fair with rides, food, and livestock
Humid subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters. Best time to be out is spring and fall. Best: Spring and fall are ideal for being outside, with mild temperatures and lower humidity.
Talk like a local
- “Pee Dee”
- The local region, named after the Pee Dee River
- “Down East”
- A term for a rural or backwoods area
Getaways
- Myrtle Beach Beach, boardwalk, and family attractions
- Columbia State capital with museums and riverwalk
- Sumter Historic sites and Swan Lake Iris Gardens
- Pinehurst Golf mecca with world-class courses
Local flavour
Teams
- Francis Marion University Patriots NCAA Division II
- Coker University Cobras NCAA Division II
- Florence Flamingos Coastal Plain League
Also rooting for Carolina Panthers (NFL), Atlanta Braves (MLB), Clemson Tigers (NCAA), South Carolina Gamecocks (NCAA)
Eat and drink
- Chicken bog A rice, chicken, and sausage dish native to the Pee Dee
- Mustard-based barbecue South Carolina style, popular across the region
- Shrimp and grits Coastal influence, common in local restaurants
- Sweet tea Southern staple, served everywhere
Where people go
- Darlington Raceway Iconic NASCAR track, home of the Southern 500
- Historic downtowns Florence, Hartsville, and others with Southern charm
- Pee Dee State Farmers Market Local produce and Southern goods
- Riverfronts The Great Pee Dee and Little Pee Dee rivers
- Barbecue joints Family-owned spots serving mustard-based Q
Heritage and traditions
The Pee Dee region takes pride in its deep Southern roots, agricultural heritage, and the roar of NASCAR at Darlington Raceway. Locals are proud of their friendly, down-home culture, the legacy of the Pee Dee River, and the resilience of communities that have thrived on tobacco, cotton, and now a diverse economy.
This time of year in Florence
- Pee Dee State Fair October October fair with rides, livestock, and fried foods.
- Pecan harvest and festival October October is pecan season, celebrated with the Pecan Music & Food Festival.
- Pee Dee State Fair October A classic agricultural fair with rides, livestock, and food in Florence.
- South Carolina Pecan Music & Food Festival October Celebrates the pecan harvest with music, food vendors, and pecan-themed treats in Florence.
Say it like a local: “fixin' to” — Getting ready to do something
Festivals
- ArtFields April A multi-day art competition and exhibition in Lake City, held each April.
- Southern 500 September The oldest NASCAR race, held at Darlington Raceway over Labor Day weekend.
- Pee Dee State Fair October A classic agricultural fair with rides, livestock, and food in Florence.
- Hartsville's By the River May A riverside music and arts festival in Hartsville, usually in May.
- South Carolina Pecan Music & Food Festival October Celebrates the pecan harvest with music, food vendors, and pecan-themed treats in Florence.
- Lee County Cotton Festival September Held in Bishopville, this festival honors the area's cotton heritage with parades and crafts.
Landmarks with a story
- Florence Stockade A Civil War prisoner-of-war camp site, now a memorial with interpretive markers.
- Darlington Historic District Antebellum and Victorian homes along tree-lined streets, listed on the National Register.
- Kalmia Gardens A 30-acre public garden in Hartsville with a historic plantation house and nature trails.
- South Carolina Cotton Museum In Bishopville, this museum preserves the history of cotton farming in the Pee Dee.
- Ronald McNair Memorial A statue and park in Lake City honoring the astronaut and Lake City native.
- Old Darlington County Courthouse A 19th-century courthouse in Darlington, now a museum.
Food traditions
- Boiled peanuts A roadside staple, often sold at gas stations and farmers markets; green peanuts boiled in salty brine.
- Friday night fish fry Churches and community groups host fish fries, especially during Lent, featuring fried catfish and hushpuppies.
- Sunday potluck After church, families gather for a spread of fried chicken, casseroles, and desserts.
- Collard greens on New Year's Cooked with ham hock, served with cornbread for good luck and prosperity.
- Sweet potato pie A holiday favorite, often served at Thanksgiving and Christmas alongside pecan pie.
Music and arts
- Gospel music A strong tradition in African American churches, with community choirs and annual concerts.
- ArtFields A competitive art exhibition that transforms Lake City into a gallery each spring.
- Pee Dee folk art Local crafts include quilting, woodcarving, and pottery, often showcased at festivals.
- Bluegrass and country music Jam sessions and small concerts at community centers and churches.
A little history
- 1850s Florence founded as a railroad town
- 1864-1865 Florence Stockade operated as a Confederate prisoner-of-war camp
- 1950 Darlington Raceway opened, becoming the first paved superspeedway
- 1950-1986 Ronald McNair, born in Lake City, became a NASA astronaut and died in the Challenger disaster
- Pre-colonial The Pee Dee Native American tribe inhabited the region along the river that bears their name
Rivalries
- Clemson vs. South Carolina Palmetto State rivalry in football and basketball
- Francis Marion vs. Coker Local college basketball and baseball matchups
- Florence vs. Darlington Friendly high school football rivalry
- Game day NASCAR race weekends
- Game day Friday night high school football
- Outdoors Hunting
- Outdoors Boating on the Great Pee Dee
- With kids Kalmia Gardens
- With kids South Carolina Cotton Museum
People speak with a warm Southern accent, often dropping the final 'g' (e.g., 'huntin''). The Pee Dee region has its own drawl, with 'Florence' pronounced 'Flaw-rence' and 'Hartsville' as 'Harts-vul'. You'll hear 'y'all' regularly and a slower, friendly pace of speech.
Only here
- The Southern 500 at Darlington is the oldest NASCAR race, earning the track the nickname 'The Track Too Tough to Tame.'
- The Pee Dee River is named after the Pee Dee Native American tribe, and the region takes its name from the river.
- The Florence Stockade is one of the few Civil War POW camps in the South, now a quiet memorial.
- The South Carolina Cotton Museum in Bishopville celebrates the state's cotton history with a giant cotton bale.
New here? A few tips
- Embrace the heat and humidity in summer; drink plenty of sweet tea and use air conditioning.
- Learn to say 'Flaw-rence' and 'Harts-vul' to sound like a local.
- Try chicken bog and mustard-based barbecue early on—they're Pee Dee staples.
- Be aware of NASCAR race weekends at Darlington; traffic can be heavy and hotels book up fast.
- Watch for farm equipment on rural roads, especially during planting and harvest seasons.
Make this page better
Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.
Sign in and join a club here to suggest.
Nearby
Every areaDillonSouth CarolinaWhere the Pee Dee flows through tobacco towns and open skiesBishopvilleSouth CarolinaWhere the cotton grows tall and the pace is slow.CherawSouth CarolinaWhere the Pee Dee flows and southern charm grows.SumterSouth CarolinaWhere Southern spirit takes flightManningSouth CarolinaWhere the pines meet the waterLaurinburgNorth CarolinaWhere the Scottish highlands meet southern hospitality.RockinghamNorth CarolinaWhere the sandhills meet the speedway.LumbertonNorth CarolinaRiver town roots and Lumbee pride
Florence, SC. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.