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The Pee Dee region of South Carolina covers the northeastern
corner of the state. It is the area of the lower watershed of the
Pee Dee river, named after the Pee Dee Native American tribe.
Native Americans from the Southeast used the Great Pee Dee
and the Little Pee Dee rivers as a main means of transportation,
making it an easy way to trade goods between North and South
Carolina.
During the years of the American Revolution, the Pee Dee region
became known as the home of Revolutionary War hero General
Francis Marion, the “Swamp Fox." His knowledge of the area and
unique and unconventional war tactics were used to help defeat
the British. Francis Marion University, a liberal arts institution is
named in honor of General Marion.
Through the years the area has maintained its reputation for
transportation. Since the time of the Pee Dee tribe, the means of
transportation became more sophisticated with the building of
the Railroads in the mid 19th century. Tracks were laid through
an area called the Pines, now known as Florence, South
Carolina, in the 1850’s. The city of Florence was named after
Florence Henning Harllee who was the daughter of the president
of the Northeastern Railroad. The city of Florence became the
junction of three major railroad systems; the Wilmington and
Manchester, The Northeastern, and the Cheraw and Darlington.
Florence would quickly grow as a planned city. In 1888 Florence
became the county seat of Florence County; at the time of
formation, it would take 600 square miles to establish a county—
land was used from already established Darlington, Marion,
Clarendon and Williamsburg counties.
In the mid 20th Century, Florence became the junction of I-20
and I-95 with the building of the Interstate system. On I-95
Florence is the mid way point on the direct route between New
York City and Miami. I-20 is a major east-west interstate highway
in the southeastern United States and terminates at I-95 in
Florence.The community has flourished with new industry,
tourism and serves as a major regional medical hub.
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