The City
Florence is a city brimming with history, character, and Southern charm. Florence is the economic and cultural center of the Pee Dee region, an eight-county area located in the beautiful northeastern section of South Carolina. The City of Florence is a fine example of a genteel, Southern city. Florence boasts a population of approximately 33,000 residents. This mid-sized Southern city is large enough to boast a performance theater, symphony orchestra, many ballet companies, museums, festivals, and the world- class recreation complex Freedom Florence. Still, the City is small enough to preserve a small-town feeling with a number of tree-lined streets and parks, all of which add to the pleasant lifestyle that citizens enjoy. Residents exude a strong sense of community pride and Southern hospitality.

For more information on Florence, visit the Web site www.cityofflorence.com.

Geography and Climate
The City of Florence is the largest city in the Northeastern portion of South Carolina in the heart of eight counties between the Piedmont and Coastal regions of South Carolina. The City is approximately 80 miles Northeast of Columbia, SC; 100 miles North of Charleston, SC; 90 miles South of Fayetteville, NC; and about 70 miles West of Myrtle Beach, SC. Florence is the largest city in Florence County and serves as the county seat.

Florence is located at the intersection of I-95, the major north/south artery on the East Coast, and I-20 that begins in Florence and runs through Atlanta to the western United States. U.S. Highways 52, 301, and 76 also meet in Florence, providing access to Charleston, Myrtle Beach, and a direct connection via U.S. 76 with Chicago. In addition, Florence is accessible by a recently expanded regional airport and both Amtrak and CSX railway services.

The climate of Florence is temperate. Winters are usually mild although temperatures may dip into the teens. The warm season begins in April and extends into September.

Housing
Many of our residents buy homes. Several local banks offer no-money-down 100% financing to our residents for purchasing homes. There are several desirable neighborhoods within minutes of the medical center, as well as apartment complexes and condominiums. For a listing of local real estate agencies, visit the BellSouth Yellow Pages Web site at www.yp.bellsouth.com or the Florence Chamber of Commerce at http://www.florencescchamber.com/ or www.florenceweb.com.

Schools
There are three nearby colleges serving the region:
Francis Marion University is one of South Carolina's 12 state-supported universities. Enrolling 4,000 students, the campus is situated on 300 wooded acres, and features a number of recreational facilities that are available for use by the McLeod Family Medicine Residents. For more information on Francis Marion, visit their Web site at www.fmarion.edu.

Coker College, a private, four-year liberal arts college is located in Hartsville, SC. For more information on Coker College, visit their Web site at www.coker.edu.

Florence-Darlington Technical College is a post-secondary, two-year institution whose primary emphasis is broad technical education. For more information on Florence-Darlington Tech, visit their Web site at www.flo.tec.sc.us.

Sports
The area's temperate climate allows residents to participate in outdoor activities virtually all year round. Florence has a dozen local parks, and there are three state parks within a short distance of Florence. The Pee Dee River and area lakes are great for water sports. Golf enthusiasts have access to some of the finest golf courses found anywhere. An hour drive will put you in Myrtle Beach, home of over 100 golf courses. The Freedom Florence Sports Complex holds regional softball tournaments, baseball leagues, and also features picnic areas, walking/jogging trails, and a playground. The Phantoms, an Arena League Football team, draws thousands of fans to their home games played at the 10,000-seat Florence Civic Center. Furthermore, Darlington International Raceway draws in excess of 70,000 NASCAR fans to the Pee Dee area.

Arts
The Florence Little Theatre stages theatrical productions, ranging from musicals, dramas, comedies, and children's theater. The volunteer-driven, community theatre offers six major productions each year.

The Florence Symphony Orchestra is the oldest and one of the few remaining volunteer orchestras in South Carolina. The September through May concert season offers five performances, concluding the season with a pops concert.

The Florence Ballet Company is a regional dance troupe featuring a repertoire of both contemporary and classic dance. Each December, the company presents "The Nutcracker," and a Spring Repertoire Program each March.

Transportation
The Florence Regional Airport is located two miles east of downtown Florence. US Air provides commuter service to/from Charlotte, NC, eight times daily. Delta Airlines (ASA) provides daily flights to/from Atlanta five times daily.

An Amtrak passenger service station is located in Florence next to the Human Resource Department of McLeod Health. Amtrak has connecting service with Pee Dee Regional Transit Authority from Florence to Conway, Myrtle Beach, Camden, and Columbia. Two northbound and southbound Amtrak trains stop daily at the Florence station.

The Greyhound-Trailways Bus system serves Florence County. Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority (PDRTA) provides public transportation within the city and many rural locations within the county as well as a shuttle service to Myrtle Beach.