Moving to Florence, SC - Looking for Nice Area (Hartsville: homes, community)

[lainykai]

I agree with most of what the other posts have said. The West and South sides of town are very nice. I live in the historical area near the country club and it is nice also, but I don't know if it has the space you are looking for. You mentioned Effingham so I wanted to give you a bit of feedback. There are some very nice country homes out there and several horse ranches (though small). However it is also home to the county jail. You can view that as either "who wants to live near the county jail" or "there is a heavy police presence and criminals do their best to stay away" : ). I never had any issues while I lived there.

[SCGamecock]

Effingham covers a broad area of central Florence county and is divided by Highway 52. The half to the east of U.S. 52 generally has smaller homes on smaller lots with lower income residents. The county jail is located on that side.

The half to the west of U.S. 52 along U.S. 301 consists of larger homes sitting on several acres and has that nice country charm feel. The crime on that side is limited to stolen lawn and garden equipment and the residents don't even think about the jail on the "other" side. The politicians were smart enough to not locate the jail on the good side. A portion of this side did suffer some tornado damage last month from the strong thunderstorms which passed through the state. It was comforting to see the residents coming together to help each other.

[KellyCrash]

Originally Posted by eureka1

There's a Toyota plant in Timmonsville; it might be interesting to find out where their executives live. A local realtor could probably help. Let us know where you end up, OK?

It's not Toyota. There is a HONDA plant in Timmonsville. It's my understanding that they're not making cars there, but other Honda products like ATVs.

I think Effingham might be just what you're looking for. My father's family has owned property there for years. It's just outside of Florence, but an easy commute into town.

[MaeParker04]

I have lived in Florence for my whole life, I was even born at McLeod in 1985. Florence isnt as small as people say it is. Yes, Its quite boring, but its gotten better over the years.
We have just gained 2 starbucks, a barnes and nobles, a home depot and we are getting our 2nd super walmart soon (They are building it now). I grew up in West Florence Its a lot more decent than East and North Florence, South Florence is nice as well, but Its more of the "redneck" side of town.
If you are looking for nightlife, Its really not the town for that. We have clubs and bars..but several have closed down for stupid reasons over the past couple of months. The best place to go for nightclubs is Myrtle Beach..about an hour east of us.

Now as for as the blue law, drinking is aloud at private bars only, just not in public.
If you want to drink on a sunday, more power to you, just do it at home...is my opinion.

[Tommy1981]

Originally Posted by MaeParker04

Now as for as the blue law, drinking is aloud at private bars only, just not in public.
If you want to drink on a sunday, more power to you, just do it at home...is my opinion.

I agree. People from other areas of the country that don't have to worry about Blue Laws hear about them and think its the worst thing ever. People that live here just get used to the schedule of it. The liquor store around 6pm on Saturday is about the busiest place in town. Same thing with the grocery stores around 11pm on Saturday. Everybody just buys enough for the next day and drink it all day long. I'm sure its not as convenient, but its not like you can't drink on Sunday, you just have to make sure you've got enough before the stores close on Saturday.

[barbieGuitard]

My home is in Florence, we are currently away travelling through Oregon on business. I LOVE FLORENCE. I have missed it so much and can't wait to return. We ended up with the most super neighbors one could have and the people are really great. There is something to say about Southern hospitality. That was one big thing I missed about Florence. It is just a skip and jump away from Myrtle Beach which is absulutely paradise to me. Getting homesick just talking about it to be honest. There is not much crime from what we know of, we lived there since 2002 and just moved away a year ago and were suppose to be heading back that way soon. I don't have anything bad to say about Florence, it is to me the perfect town, not too small and not too big. You will love it.

[cslov]

I am moving to Florence also, my husband is already there and has been for the last 2 months. We are looking to buy a home in the kirby farms area. How is that area? How do you get around the school zoning issue? Lester elementary does not seem to rank very high. I need help with the school situation without costing an arm and a leg!!!

[bzgirlie]

My son has recently gotten a teaching position in Lake City. He will be relocating from the Youngstown, Ohio area. Anyone familiar with apartments in the area? and what a typical monthly rent should be? We have never been to SC, so have no idea of what to expect. Thanks, in advance.

[Woodlands]

I lived in Florence for several years while attending Francis Marion University. Used to take the back roads into town and frequently traveled through Quinby. Returned to the area recently and traveled through the area and noticed that Quinby has gotten "bigger". Not in terms of development but the Town Limit signs have extended to the east of the town limit. The only reason why I am familiar with this area is because as College Student always speeding through Florence on 378 and now on to the back roads to avoid the "silver and blue" we were always fearful of getting stopped and arrested in Quinby, this peculiar town off the beaten path.... We were not that bright, because we did not know that Quinby did not have a Police force. Damn, we just thought they could hide really well....

I say all that to say, for those of you who live in Florence... I am curious to know more about it ...is there is anymore info on the town.. is it good area is it bad.. how does it stay in existence, are there any plans for it since it is very near I-95 and just north of town...just curious

[Tired of City Life]

My posting here in defense of Marion, SC may be a bit late for the inquiry about Florence that slighted Marion. I have lived in all the big cities in SC, and lived in Florence for about 4 years before buying a beautiful circa 1910 home in Marion. The Pee Dee area, as Florence, Marion, etc. are labeled, does not offer as much to do as Charleston. However, Florence has really grown in the last few years. Never thought Barnes & Noble would come! I moved to the small town of Marion, which to smart people, is a bedroom community for FLorence, because I fell for a beautiful old house. If I could have found a house like this in Florence, I could not have afforded it without risking being a victim in the mortgage crisis. Most of the really unique old homes in Florence are in bad neighborhoods. My home has 4 fireplaces, 10-ft. ceilings, hardwood floors, old growth trees & shrubs and lots of charm & character. It is a fixer upper, but I'd rather have this home than a perfect, cookie cutter house in the middle of a bare piece of land that used to be a cotton field. It is quiet here and I feel as safe here as in any of the bigger cities--perhaps safer. And I am a single woman. Are we totally safe anywhere? If you think so, I have some land in Florida for sale. Traffic in Marion is light. Complete strangers will wave as you drive by or greet you on the street. How many places do you know where the Fed X driver will stop a 2nd time on his way out of town since I wasn't home the first time he tried a delivery? This has happened twice. I would like to have more restaurants here but FLorence & the Conway/Myrtle Beach area are close. More single professional people my age would be nice. If I could have afforded a house like this in a bigger town, I probably wouldn't have moved here. Overall, my house and the quality of life make up for lack of shopping, restaurants, etc. I liked Florence well enough. Any town with 2 Krispy Kremes has its priorities right! Basically, our happiness in where we live depends on what is inside us and what we do to be happy. (The old "bloom where you are planted" philosophy.) Sorry to run on so but I have a B.A. in Journalish and Masters in Speech, so length is inevitable when writing something. Good luck!