Florence Arizona
Florence, founded in 1866, is the fifth oldest town in Arizona. An Indian agent named Colonel Levi Ruggles staked and patted the town in 1866. The origin of the town’s name was cited from different sources but all agreed that it was taken from someone’s daughter or sister.
It is a rural community located in the central area of Pinal County. It is also the seat of Pinal County since its formation in 1875. It has an elevation of 1,493 feet and it was incorporated in 1908. Since the 1920s, the area had been the agricultural center of the county. The town’s business district is still located on the Main Street and even with all the improvements made; much of the town remained the same as it was back in the 1880s. The diversity of the community is appreciated by its residents and tourists alike since Florence offers the convenience and lifestyle available in a small western community. The town is also less than an hour away from both Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas.
The Pinal County government complex and the Arizona State Prison are both located in Florence. Downtown Florence was also designated as an official “Historic District.” The 1stand 2nd county courthouses were among those listed on the National Register. The 1st was built in 1877 and open to the public as McFarland State Park and the 2nd which was built in 1891 is still in use today.
Florence has a population of 17,105 as of U.S. Census 2004.
