Florence is the seat of Pinal County and located halfway between the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas. Founded in 1866 by Colonel Levi Ruggles, Florence is one of the oldest towns in Arizona. While Florence is rich in history with many buildings and a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is also poised for significant new growth. Florence is an ideal place for businesses to take advantage of existing and emerging opportunities, particularly with Territory Square, to expand downtown to the Gila River.
Major employers in Florence include Pinal County, Florence Hospital at Anthem, Arizona Department of Corrections, Department of Homeland Security, GEO Group, CoreCivic, Florence Unified School District and the town of Florence. Three major transportation corridors run through Florence, including State Route 287 with direct access to Chandler, State Route 79 with access to Tucson and Phoenix and Hunt Highway with access to the east valley of Maricopa County. Florence is 20 miles from Interstate 10.
Florence has year-round sunshine, a warm climate and many opportunities for hiking, horseback riding and four-wheeling that make it popular for retirees and recreational enthusiasts. Box Canyon, Martinez Canyon, Silverbell Mine, Coke Ovens, Gila River and many other sites to the east of Florence provide visitors with fantastic scenic views of the Sonoran Desert. A short hike to the summit of Poston Butte concludes at the final resting place of Charles D. Poston, the "Father of Arizona." Many prominent historic buildings reside in Florence including McFarland State Historic Park, built in 1878, which serves as the town’s visitor center. Also, the recently renovated 1891 Pinal County Courthouse acts as the home of the Pinal County Board of Supervisors. Several special events occur in Florence every year such as the Tour of Historic Florence in February, Country Thunder U.S.A. music festival in April and the world’s oldest children’s rodeo, the Florence Junior Parada, every Thanksgiving weekend with an accompanying parade.
Florence is home to McFarland State Historic Park, Pinal County Historical Museum, Florence Aero Modeler Park, Charles Whitlow Rodeo Grounds and a quaint historic downtown. Anthem at Merrill Ranch is a master planned community developed by Pulte Homes offering many fine amenities. Florence residents enjoy a new library and aquatics center with soccer fields and pickleball courts.
| Founded | 1866 | Incorporated | 1900 |
| Elevation | 1,500 ft. | Location | Pinal County |
| Phoenix | 61 miles | San Diego | 380 miles |
| Tucson | 70 miles | Los Angeles | 435 miles |
| Las Vegas | 356 miles |
| 2000 | 2010 | 2023 (est.) | |
| Florence | 17,054 | 25,537 | 25,250 |
| Pinal County | 179,727 | 376,369 | 439,128 |
| State of Arizona | 5,130,632 | 6,401,569 | 7,285,370 |
Office of Economic Opportunity
Arizona Dept. of Revenue & Arizona Tax Research Foundation
| Florence | 2.00% |
| Pinal County | 1.10% |
| State | 5.60% |
Arizona Dept. of Revenue & Arizona Tax Research Foundation
| 2000 | 2010 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian Labor Force | 2,181 | 3,725 | 4,305 |
| Unemployed | 100 | 304 | 241 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6% | 8.2% | 5.6% |
Office of Economic Opportunity
| Count | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| Less than high school | 6,196 | 27.0% |
| High school or equivalent, no college | 7,075 | 30.8% |
| Some college or Associate degree | 7,062 | 30.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree | 2,616 | 11.4% |
American Community Survey
| Count | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| Education, health care & social assistance | 945 | 26.4% |
| Public administration | 626 | 17.5% |
| Finance, insurance & real estate | 341 | 9.5% |
| Retail trade | 302 | 8.4% |
| Professional, scientific, & administrative services | 294 | 8.2% |
| Arts, entertainment, food & recreation services | 271 | 7.6% |
| Construction | 271 | 7.6% |
| Other services, except public administration | 150 | 4.2% |
| Manufacturing | 141 | 3.9% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, & mining | 86 | 2.4% |
| Information | 69 | 1.9% |
| Transportation, warehousing, & utilities | 62 | 1.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 27 | 0.8% |
American Community Survey
This profile was prepared by the Arizona Commerce Authority in cooperation with local sources. For further information, please contact: