If you are thinking about visiting Florence and have some qualms about the safety of the city, we got you covered.
We are going to deep dive into the statistics, look at some maps, graphs and talk to the residents of the city to give you a better understanding of how safe Florence really is.
Is Florence, South Carolina Safe To Visit?
Statistically speaking, Florence is a unsafe place to visit. In 2020, Florence had a violent crime rate of 1,408.56 per 100,000 people.
Florence’s violent crime rate is 3.5x greater than the national average, its property crime rate is more than 3x greater than the national average and its murder rate is 4.6x greater than the national average.
Here’s a chart that gives you some perspective on the violent crime rate of Florence:
Florence, South Carolina Crime Stats
Here’s a breakdown of all the crimes in the city for 2020 compared to 2019:
Here’s a map showing you how violent crimes have trended in Florence over a 30 year period.
Violent crime peaked in 1999 when Florence reported 668 violent crimes and had a violent crime rate of 2,154.84 per 100,000 people
Violent crime has decreased 16% from its peak from 1999.
*Violent crimes include; homicides, rape, robbery and aggravated assaults and the violent crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population; the result is multiplied by 100,000.
Florence’s Property Crime Stats
In 2020 Florence reported 2,390 property crimes and had a property crime rate of 5,990.13 per 100,000 people.
The national average for property crime is 1958.2 per 100,000 residents. Florence’s property crime rate is roughly 3.1x greater than the national average.
Florence’s property crime rate is roughly 2.2x greater than the state average.
Year over year property crime in Florence has decreased by 5%.
Here’s a map showing you how property crimes have trended in Florence over a 30 year period.
Property crime peaked in 2000 when Florence reported 3,826 property crimes and had a property crime rate of roughly 12,341.94 per 100,000 people
Property crime has decreased 38% from its peak from 2000.
*Property crimes include; burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson and property crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population; the result is multiplied by 100,000.
Florence’s Murder Stats
In 2020, Florence reported 12 homicides, which is a 71% increase from 2020.
Florence homicide rate in 2020 was roughly 30.08 per 100,000 people.
Florence’s murder rate is 4.6x greater than the national average.
Florence’s murder rate is 2.9x greater than the state average.
Here’s a map showing you how homicides have trended in Florence over a 30 year period.
2020 was Florence’s deadliest year on record.
Florence vs Other Cities In South Carolina
Here’s a graph showing you the violent crime rates of the 11 most populous cities in South Carolina. Florence had the highest violent crime rate of all the cities.
Florence, South Carolina vs The Most Dangerous Cities in the United States
Here’s a list of the top 18 most dangerous cities in the United States ranked by violent crime rates. Florence’s violent crime rate is 1.7x less than Memphis, the most dangerous city on the list.
Florence is not completely safe from hurricanes and is something you have to take into consideration when visiting. Although coastal cities are more vulnerable, hurricanes can travel up to 200 miles inland. However, once a hurricane moves inland it rapidly weakens to a tropical storm (40-75mph winds).
When is hurricane season in Florence?
Hurricane season in Florence officially runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. The peak of hurricane season is mid-August to mid-October.
Is it safe to visit Florence during hurricane season?
It is safe to visit Florence during hurricane season, as long as you don’t visit when a hurricane is about to hit! Fortunately there is usually adequate warning when a hurricane is brewing in the area.
Charleston is not in tornado alley. The states of Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska are consider part of tornado alley. A study of tornadoes that occurred between 1921–1995 concluded almost 1/4 of all significant tornadoes occur in this area.
What do residents of Florence say about it’s safety?
"Florence has steadily declined over the past 15 years. It’s not safe to be anywhere after dark."
"Its not bad and it isn’t. It’s boring though."
"Crime reports online are similar to all other news: sensationalized. There are plenty of peaceful neighborhoods.
Is Florence safe for women?
While there are no guarantees, Florence is generally safe for female solo travelers as long as you learn the layout of the city, avoid problem areas, stay in well lit/well populated areas and avoid walking by yourself at night.
Is Florence safe at night?
Florence is safe at night as long as you stay away from the sketchy neighborhoods mentioned above. You should be able to mitigate your chances of being a victim if you study the layout of the city and avoid areas where crime is high.
Streets and squares that are perfectly safe in the day can be questionable at night. Stay where the tourists go during the day and avoid any places that are outside normal pedestrian areas at night.
Is Florence’s tap water safe to drink?
The tap water in Florence, South Carolina is safe to drink. From Oct. 31, 2018 to Dec. 31, 2021, Florence only had 0 health violations.
While the tap water in Florence meets the EPA health guidelines, it can still contain contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run.
If you have any concerns about the tap water in Florence, we suggest that you use bottle water for your drinking needs.
Tips to stay safe while visiting Florence, South Carolina
Learn the layout of the city and figure out which areas you should avoid. Book your accommodations accordingly.
Save the sight seeing for the daytime. At night the situation can drastically change in certain neighborhoods.
Always be aware of your surroundings. That means to keep your ears and eyes open. Keep your headphones off and don’t scroll aimlessly through your phone.
Always listen to your gut and trust your instincts. If a situation feels unsafe or if you feel uncomfortable, even if you don’t know why, leave. Don’t stick around to find out.
Map your route before you leave. Don’t just jump in the car, set the GPS and drive. You need to know where you are going and what you are going through.
Don’t walk by yourself at night.
Don’t leave any valuables in your car.
Always park in a well-lit or secure area.
12 Things to Know About Florence, South Carolina
Florence is named after South Carolina’s Militia General W.W. Harlee’s daughter (Florence)
Florence is known for it’s past as being an old railroad depot.
Florence’s original city limits formed a circle with a 1 mile radius. You can still see traces of the circular outline on city maps. The Florence city limits know encompasses 19.8 square miles.
The city of Florence has a population of about 40,000 people.
Florence was once the denture capital of America.
The city of Florence has 14 parks/recreation areas that encompasses 600 acres.
Florence is a large producer of pecans, cotton, soybeans, peanuts, tobacco and peaches.
Otis Elevator, GE MRI, Honda ATVs, QVC, FedEx, Nucor steel, and many more companies have manufacturing factories in Florence, because of its location between I-95 and I-20
One of Florence’s best known intersections is called “Five Points”.
Florence is also known for Francis ‘Swamp Fox’ Marion, a military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War Swamp Fox. Francis Marion University is named after him
On March 11, 1958, an Air Force bomber dropped a nuclear weapon on a farm right outside of Florence. The payload either wasn’t loaded in the warhead or didn’t detonate — the stories differ.
The Florence Fire Department’s oldest working fire truck is 89 years old.
A Few Things You Should Do While Visiting Florence According To Locals
Florence Rail Trail – Nice trail for walking or biking and it connects many parts of the city.
Seminar Brewing – Good food menu with the best beer in town.
RiverRat’s – Rent kayaks and journey down the Lynches River.
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