View source for Florence, Arizona

{{Short description|Town in Pinal County, Arizona}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Florence, Arizona
| other_name         = {{langx|ood|S-auppag}}
| settlement_type    = [[Town]]
| image_skyline      = Main Street original town-site of Florence Arizona National Register of Historic Places.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Main Street of the original town-site of Florence. The town-site was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on October 26, 1982, reference #82001623.
| image_map          = Pinal County Arizona Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Florence Highlighted 0423760.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Florence in Pinal County, Arizona
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| pushpin_map        = Arizona#USA
| pushpin_map_alt    = 
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Arizona##Location in the United States
| pushpin_label      = Florence
| pushpin_label_position = 
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{USA}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|Arizona}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Arizona|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Pinal County, Arizona|Pinal]]
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Keith Eaton<ref>{{cite web |title=Keith Eaton: Mayor |url=https://www.florenceaz.gov/keitheaton/ |publisher=Town of Florence |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250304212122/https://www.florenceaz.gov/keitheaton/ |archive-date=March 4, 2025 |access-date=May 21, 2025}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 162.33
| area_total_sq_mi   = 62.68
| area_land_km2      = 162.23
| area_land_sq_mi    = 62.64
| area_water_km2     = 0.10
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.04
| elevation_ft       = 1539
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est     = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_total   = 26785
| population_footnotes = 
| population_urban   = 
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_km2 = 165.11
| population_density_sq_mi = 427.62
| timezone           = [[Mountain Standard Time Zone|MST]] (no [[Daylight savings time|DST]])
| utc_offset         = -7
| coordinates        = {{coord|33|2|19|N|111|23|13|W|region:US-AZ|display=inline,title}}
| timezone_DST       = 
| utc_offset_DST     = 
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code        = 85128, 85132, 85179
| area_code          = [[Area code 520|520]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 04-23760
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2412633<ref name="gnis">{{GNIS|2412633}}</ref>
| website            = http://www.florenceaz.gov/
| footnotes          = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{Cite web |title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_04.txt |access-date=October 29, 2021 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
}}
[[File:Florence-Ruins of Levi Ruggles House-1866.JPG|thumb|The Ruins of Levi Ruggles House. The house was built in 1866 and the ruins are located on Ruggles Street between Quartz and Willow streets.]]
[[File:Florence-Florence Cemetery-Tombstone of Joseph Phy-1888.JPG|thumb|The Tombstone of Josephus "Joe" Phy]]
[[File:Florence-Bridge over Gila River.JPG|thumb|The historic Florence Bridge originally built in 1885 over the Gila River and rebuilt in 1909.]]
'''Florence''' ([[O'odham language|O'odham]]: '''S-auppag''') is a town in [[Pinal County, Arizona|Pinal County]], [[Arizona]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Florence, which is the [[county seat]] of Pinal County, is one of the oldest towns in that county and includes a National Historic District with over 25 buildings listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Pinal County, Arizona|National Register of Historic Places]]. The population of Florence was 26,785 at the 2020 census.<ref name="wwwcensusgov">{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census website |url=https://www.census.gov |access-date=August 5, 2014 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

==History==
The area where the current town of Florence is located was once inhabited by the [[Hohokam]], ancestors of the [[O'odham]] people.<ref>[http://www.azcentral.com/news/native-americans/?content=arizona-tribal-map#ixzz3cYDBlx1j Arizona Republic]</ref> Prior to the establishment of the town, the [[Gila River]] served as a part of the border between the United States and Mexico. In 1853, the [[Gadsden Purchase]] extended American territory well south of the Gila.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peterson, Charles S. |year=1992 |title=Pioneer Settlements in Arizona |url=http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/daily/history/gathering/Arizona_EOM.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220004602/http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/daily/history/gathering/Arizona_EOM.htm |archive-date=February 20, 2012 |access-date=March 16, 2012 |publisher=Light Planet}}</ref>

[[Levi Ruggles]], a veteran of the [[American Civil War]], founded the town of Florence on the south bank of the Gila River. He came to Arizona Territory in 1866 as a U.S. Indian Agent. Recognizing the agricultural potential of the valley, he found an easily fordable crossing on the Gila River and surveyed a townsite there. With the aid of [[Richard Cunningham McCormick|Governor R.C. McCormick]], he secured a post office in August of the same year. Ruggles held numerous public offices including that of [[Arizona Territorial Legislature|Territorial Legislator]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=26709 |title=Levi Ruggles, Founder of Florence |access-date=June 2, 2015 |archive-date=June 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150603131028/http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=26709 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Florence became the county seat in the newly formed Pinal County. Silver was discovered in 1875 in the nearby mountains which led to the creation of the famous Silver King Mine.<ref name="AF">[http://www.visitflorenceaz.com/aboutflorence.shtml About Florence]</ref>

===Adamsville===
In 1870, Fred Adams founded a farming community two miles west of the original Florence townsite. The farming town had stores, homes, a post office, a flour mill, and water tanks, It was named Adamsville. In the 1900s (decade), the [[Gila River]] overflowed after a storm and ran over its banks. Most of the small town was wiped out and the residents moved to Florence. The area where the town was established is now a [[ghost town]] and is currently within the boundaries of Florence. At the junction of Highway 79 and 287 there is a historical marker about Adamsville.<ref>[http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/az/adamsville.html Ghost towns]</ref>

A canal was built in the 1880s which enabled water from the Gila River to be diverted for irrigation. Farming and ranching then played a major role in Florence's economy. All of the federal land transactions for Southern Arizona were conducted in Florence until 1881, when the [[Federal Land Office]] was moved to [[Tucson, Arizona|Tucson]].

===Tunnel Saloon Gabriel-Phy shootout of 1888===
One of the most notable gunfights in the Old Southwest occurred in Florence. Sheriff Pete Gabriel hired thirty-nine year old Joseph (Joe) Phy as his deputy in 1883. Gabriel decided to not run for sheriff in 1886 and supported his deputy Phy for the job. Later Gabriel withdrew his support because of personal differences with Phy. The two friends became bitter enemies and had a confrontation on May 31, 1888, in the Tunnel Saloon. A gunfight ensued and spread to the street. Both men received gunshot wounds. Phy died a few hours after the gunfight, but Gabriel survived the encounter and died 10 years later.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shootout at the Tunnel Saloon |url=http://www.guns.com/2011/07/29/gunfights-on-gunscom-shootout-at-the-tunnel-saloon/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150127191937/http://www.guns.com/2011/07/29/gunfights-on-gunscom-shootout-at-the-tunnel-saloon/ |archive-date=January 27, 2015 |access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>

===Second Pinal County Courthouse===
The second Pinal County Courthouse was built in 1891. It was the site where the trials of three notorious women were presented. They were [[Pearl Heart]], [[Eva Dugan]] and [[Winnie Ruth Judd]], known as the "Trunk Murderess". [[Pearl Hart]] (birth surname: Taylor) was an [[outlaw]] of the [[American Old West]]. She committed one of the last recorded [[stagecoach]] [[robbery|robberies]] in the United States; her crime gained notoriety primarily because of her gender. She was tried in 1899 and was acquitted, however the judge ordered a second trial and she was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 17, 1899 |title=Pearl Hart Acquitted |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A01E1DB1530E132A25754C1A9679D94689ED7CF |work=New York Times |page=9}}</ref>

In the 1930s [[Eva Dugan]] was convicted of murder. She was sentenced to be executed by [[hanging]]. However, it resulted in her [[decapitation]] and influenced the State of Arizona to replace hanging with the gas chamber as a method of [[execution]].<ref>[http://www.executedtoday.com/2011/02/21/1930-eva-dugan-her-head-jerked-clean-off/ 1930: Eva Dugan, her head jerked clean off, Executed Today]</ref>

[[Winnie Ruth Judd]] was a Phoenix medical secretary who was found guilty of murdering and dismembering her friends Agnes Anne LeRoi and Hedvig Samuelson over the alleged affections of her lover Jack Halloran. The jury found her guilty of first-degree murder on February 8, 1932. An appeal was unsuccessful. Her trial was marked by sensationalized newspaper coverage and suspicious circumstances. Judd was sentenced to be hanged February 17, 1933, and sent to the Arizona State Prison in Florence. The sentence she received raised debate about capital punishment.<ref name="NYT_1998-10-27">{{Cite news |last=Goldstein |first=Richard |date=October 27, 1998 |title=Winnie R. Judd, 93, Infamous As 1930's 'Trunk Murderess' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/27/us/winnie-r-judd-93-infamous-as-1930-s-trunk-murderess.html |access-date=January 12, 2010 |work=The New York Times |quote=Winnie Ruth Judd, who spent three decades in an Arizona state mental hospital as the notorious ''trunk murderess'' in one of the most sensational criminal cases of 1930s, died in Phoenix on Friday. She was 93.}}</ref> Her death sentence was overturned after a ten-day hearing found her mentally incompetent; she was then sent to Arizona State Asylum for the Insane on April 24, 1933.<ref>Arizona State Hospital History http://www.azdhs.gov/azsh/history.htm</ref>

===Tom Mix Monument===
In 1940, the cowboy movie star [[Tom Mix]] was killed when he lost control of his speeding Cord Phaeton convertible and rolled into a dry wash (now called the Tom Mix Wash) in Florence, Arizona. Mix, who was a regular tenant in the Ross/Fryer–Cushman House, was returning to Florence from Tucson. There is a 2-foot–tall iron statue of a riderless horse with a plaque on the site of the accident.<ref>[http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/silent-film-star-tom-mix-dies-in-arizona-car-wreck-brained-by-suitcase-of-death History]</ref>

==Geography and climate==
Florence is located at {{Coord|33|2|32|N|111|23|4|W|type:city}} (33.042204, −111.384521).<ref name="GR1">{{Cite web |date=February 12, 2011 |title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html |access-date=April 23, 2011 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|8.3|sqmi|km2}}, all land, situated in the lower [[Sonoran Desert]]. The town has the typical hot [[desert climate]] of lowland Arizona, with sweltering hot summers and mild winters. Like most of Arizona, Florence receives half of its average summer rainfall in the months of July, August, and September, during the [[North American monsoon]] season, with August being the wettest month. Thunderstorms occur in the late afternoon to evening hours, as well as the early night hours, bringing heavy downpours, thunder, lightning, blowing dust, and the risk of flash flooding. The winter months of December, January, and February bring the other half of the yearly rainfall to the town from winter storms that move in from the [[Pacific Ocean]]. December is the second wettest month in Florence.  
{{Weather box
|location = Florence, Arizona (1971 to 2000)
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 89
|Feb record high F = 92
|Mar record high F = 99
|Apr record high F = 105
|May record high F = 115
|Jun record high F = 118
|Jul record high F = 119
|Aug record high F = 118
|Sep record high F = 117
|Oct record high F = 112
|Nov record high F = 97
|Dec record high F = 91
|Jan high F = 66.3
|Feb high F = 70.4
|Mar high F = 74.5
|Apr high F = 82.6
|May high F = 91.2
|Jun high F = 100.8
|Jul high F = 102.4
|Aug high F = 100.8
|Sep high F = 96.8
|Oct high F = 86.9
|Nov high F = 74.3
|Dec high F = 66.1
|Jan low F = 38.3
|Feb low F = 40.8
|Mar low F = 44.3
|Apr low F = 49.8
|May low F = 58.3
|Jun low F = 67.3
|Jul low F = 75.5
|Aug low F = 74.6
|Sep low F = 68.5
|Oct low F = 56.9
|Nov low F = 44.3
|Dec low F = 38.6
|Jan record low F = 11
|Feb record low F = 18
|Mar record low F = 20
|Apr record low F = 23
|May record low F = 32
|Jun record low F = 35
|Jul record low F = 54
|Aug record low F = 50
|Sep record low F = 41
|Oct record low F = 30
|Nov record low F = 14
|Dec record low F = 16
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain inch = 1.07
|Feb rain inch = 1.06
|Mar rain inch = 1.16
|Apr rain inch = 0.41
|May rain inch = 0.26
|Jun rain inch = 0.17
|Jul rain inch = 0.93
|Aug rain inch = 1.22
|Sep rain inch = 0.90
|Oct rain inch = 0.90
|Nov rain inch = 0.75
|Dec rain inch = 1.22
|Jan rain days = 4.7
|Feb rain days = 4.5
|Mar rain days = 4.2
|Apr rain days = 1.9
|May rain days = 1.5
|Jun rain days = 0.7
|Jul rain days = 3.5
|Aug rain days = 4.8
|Sep rain days = 2.7
|Oct rain days = 2.9
|Nov rain days = 2.7
|Dec rain days = 3.4
|unit rain days = 0.01 inch
|source 1 = National Climatic Data Center<ref>{{Cite web |year=2011 |title=Florence, AZ |url=http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim20/az/023027.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140825162258/http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim20/az/023027.pdf |archive-date=August 25, 2014 |access-date=March 31, 2013 |publisher=Weather.com}}</ref>
|date=March 2013
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1880 = 902
| 1890 = 1486
| 1910 = 807
| 1920 = 1161
| 1930 = 1318
| 1940 = 1383
| 1950 = 1776
| 1960 = 2143
| 1970 = 2173
| 1980 = 3391
| 1990 = 7510
| 2000 = 17054
| 2010 = 25536
| 2020 = 26785
| estyear = 2022
| estimate = 24795
| estref = <ref>{{Cite web |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |access-date=April 14, 2024}}</ref>
| align-fn = center
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{Cite web |title=Census of Population and Housing |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=June 4, 2016 |publisher=Census.gov}}</ref>
}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Racial Makeup
|-
! Race ''<small>(NH = Non-Hispanic)</small>'' !! % 2020<ref>{{cite web |title=HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE (2020) |url=https://data.census.gov/table?t=Race+and+Ethnicity&g=160XX00US0423760&d=DEC+Demographic+and+Housing+Characteristics |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref> !! % 2010<ref>{{cite web |title=HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE (2010) |url=https://data.census.gov/table?t=Race+and+Ethnicity&g=160XX00US0423760&y=2010 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref> !! % 2000<ref>{{cite book |title=Arizona: 2000 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |pages=26-27 |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2002/dec/phc-1-4.pdf}}</ref> !! Pop. 2020 !! Pop. 2010 !! Pop. 2000
|-
| White Alone (NH) || 53.4%|| 46.6%|| 49.7%|| 14,305|| 11,911|| 8,478
|-
| Black Alone (NH) || 7.4%|| 6.1%|| 8.9%|| 1,988|| 1,545|| 1,524
|-
| American Indian Alone (NH) || 4.3%|| 14%|| 4.1%|| 1,149|| 3,571|| 692
|-
| Asian Alone (NH) || 0.9%|| 0.9%|| 0.8%|| 229|| 218|| 136
|-
| Pacific Islander Alone (NH) || 0.1%|| 0.1%|| 0%|| 36|| 19|| 6
|-
| Other Race Alone (NH) || 0.2%|| 0.1%|| 0.3%|| 45|| 18|| 49
|-
| Multiracial (NH) || 4.2%|| 1.1%|| 0.8%|| 1,132|| 276|| 128
|-
| Hispanic (Any race) || 29.5%|| 31.2%|| 35.4%|| 7,901|| 7,978|| 6,041
|}

As of 2015,<ref name="FlorenceCensus2015">{{Cite web |title=ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates |url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_5YR/DP05/1600000US0423760 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213093951/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_5YR/DP05/1600000US0423760 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=December 30, 2016 |website=American Fact Finder |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2015 5-year estimates}}</ref> there were 30,770 people, and 6,832 households in the town. There were 9,319 housing units in an incorporated are of 8.8 square miles. The racial makeup of the town was 82.2% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 6.0% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 4.5% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 1.0% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.3% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 4.1% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.0% from two or more races. 36.7% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 6,832 households,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Selected Social Characteristcis |url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_5YR/DP02/1600000US0423760 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213105644/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_5YR/DP02/1600000US0423760 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=December 30, 2016 |website=American Fact Finder |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2015 5-year estimates}}</ref> out of which 22.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 13.2% under the age of 18, 86.8% from 18 years and over, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years.

The median income for a household in the town was $47,891. About 12.3% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 24.7% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Selected Economic Characteristics |url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_5YR/DP03/1600000US0423760 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213110839/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_5YR/DP03/1600000US0423760 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=December 30, 2016 |website=American Fact Finder |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2015 5-year estimates}}</ref>

== Prisons ==

In 1909, the Yuma Territorial Prison (memorialized in the movie '[[3:10 to Yuma (1957 film)|3:10 to Yuma]]') was closed and the inmates relocated to the new Florence Territorial Prison.

As of 2016 Florence is home to multiple state, federal, county and private prisons:
* [[Arizona State Prison Complex – Florence]], run by the [[Arizona Department of Corrections]], housing Arizona state prisoners, the former Arizona State Prison, and location of Arizona's execution chamber<ref>"[http://www.azcorrections.gov/adc/datasearch/dr_faq.asp Death Row Information and Frequently Asked Questions] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527105027/http://www.azcorrections.gov/adc/datasearch/dr_faq.asp |date=May 27, 2010 }}." [[Arizona Department of Corrections]]. Retrieved on August 16, 2010.</ref>
* [[Arizona State Prison Complex – Eyman]], run by the [[Arizona Department of Corrections]], housing Arizona state prisoners and [[List of people executed in Arizona|Arizona's death row]]
* [[Arizona State Prison Florence-West]], operated by the [[GEO Group]], housing Arizona state prisoners
* [[Central Arizona Correctional Facility]], operated by the GEO Group, housing Arizona state prisoners<ref>{{Cite web |title=Central Arizona Correctional Facility |url=http://www.geogroup.com/Maps/LocationDetails/42 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812143326/http://www.geogroup.com/maps/locationdetails/42 |archive-date=August 12, 2016 |access-date=July 29, 2016 |website=GEO Group}}</ref>
* [[Central Arizona Detention Center]], run by [[Corrections Corporation of America]], housing prisoners for the [[United States Marshals Service]], TransCor America LLC,<ref>a subsidiary of CCA</ref> [[U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement]], [[Pascua Yaqui Tribe]] government, and the [[United States Air Force]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Central Arizona Detention Center |url=http://www.cca.com/facilities/central-arizona-detention-center |access-date=July 29, 2016}}</ref>
* [[Florence Correctional Center]], run by CCA, houses inmates for [[U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement]], for the [[Vermont Department of Corrections]], and for the [[United States Marshals Service]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Florence Correctional Center |url=http://www.cca.com/facilities/florence-correctional-center |access-date=July 29, 2016 |website=Corrections Corporations of America}}</ref>
* The Pinal County Adult Detention Center, operated by the county, housing local prisoners
* The Pinal County Youth Justice Center, operated by the county, housing local juvenile prisoners

Located just north of Florence during [[World War II]] was a large [[prisoner of war]] camp for [[Germany during World War II|German]] and [[Italy during World War II|Italian]] prisoners of war, mainly captured during the [[North Africa campaign]], called [[Arizona during World War II#Prisoner of war camps|Camp Florence]] on 500 acres of land.<ref>[https://campflorencedays.blogspot.com/ "Camp Florence Days", a book and blog by a WWII guard at the Florence POW camp.]</ref>  Japanese Americans arrested as "enemy aliens" after the U.S. entered the war, were also interned nearby at the [[Gila River War Relocation Center]].<ref>[http://encyclopedia.densho.org/Florence%20%28detention%20facility%29/ "Florence (detention facility)"] ''Densho Encyclopedia'' (accessed June 17, 2014)</ref> The prisoners were paid 50 cents an hour to pick cotton. The men were not allowed to buy cigarettes with their prison wages. However, they could buy tobacco which they rolled themselves.<ref>[http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2327087/posts Star]</ref> [[McFarland State Historic Park]]  on Ruggles Ave. has a display and information on this period of Arizona history.

==Transportation==
The City of Coolidge operates Central Arizona Regional Transit (CART), which provides transportation between Florence, [[Coolidge, Arizona|Coolidge]], [[Central Arizona College]] and [[Casa Grande, Arizona|Casa Grande]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ride The Cart – Partnership in Motion |url=http://ridethecart.com/ |access-date=January 27, 2020}}</ref>

Florence is served by [[Arizona State Route 79]] and [[Arizona State Route 287]].

[[Copper Basin Railway]] provides freight rail service to Florence.

==Miscellaneous==
Florence is considered the hub of Pinal County filled with historic buildings and rich history.
* Florence is the location of the 2nd [[Anthem, Arizona|Anthem]] development in the state of Arizona being built by Pulte and [[Del Webb]]. It is located six miles to the northwest of downtown historic Florence.
* The town's preserved Main Street and open [[desert]] scenery were the setting of the motion picture ''[[Murphy's Romance]]''.
* Florence is the host of the annual "[[Country Thunder]]" music festival.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Country Thunder USA - Florence, AZ - April 1 - 4, 2009 |url=http://www.countrythunder.com/ct_2003/assets/07web/az/mainaz.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206222559/http://countrythunder.com/ct_2003/assets/07web/az/mainaz.html |archive-date=February 6, 2009 |access-date=January 31, 2009}}</ref>
* The town is also the home of the Florence Jr. Parada Rodeo, the oldest [[rodeo|junior rodeo]] in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Florence Junior Parada Rodeo |url=http://www.florencejrparadarodeo.com/ |website=florencejrparadarodeo.com}}</ref>
* Florence is considered to be the hometown of Adolfo “Harpo” Celaya, a World War II veteran who is one of the {{USS|Indianapolis|CA-35|6}} survivors. In 2017 Celaya was honored as the Florence Post Office was dedicated in his name.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 22, 2017 |title=Officials dedicate Florence post office to WWII veteran &#124; Cronkite News |url=https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2017/09/22/officials-dedicate-florence-post-office-wwii-veteran/}}</ref>

==Points of interest==
* [[McFarland State Historic Park]] – The first Pinal County Courthouse was built in 1876 and is located at W. 24 Ruggle St. in the McFarland State Historic Park.
* [[St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery (Florence, Arizona)|St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery]] was established in 1995 by Elder [[Ephraim of Arizona]], a Greek Orthodox priest and monk.
* [[Florence High School (Arizona)|Florence High School]] – The high school was built in 1887 and is located in 1000 S. Main St. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places on June 22, 1987, reference #87001306.
* [[Poston Butte]] – The pyramid tomb of [[Charles Debrille Poston]], known as "The Father of Arizona" is located on Primrose Hill which was renamed Poston Butte.
{{Gallery
|title=Points of interest
|width=180px
|height=200px
|align=center
|File:Florence-First Pinal County Courthouse-1878.JPG|The first Pinal County Courthouse was built in 1876.
|File:St Anthony Monastery (Florence, Arizona).jpg|St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery
|File:Florence-Florence High School-1887-1.JPG|Florence High School.
|File:Florence-Tomb of Charles Debrille Poston-1902.jpg|Pyramid tomb of [[Charles Debrille Poston]].
|File:John_Nicholas_Saloon_and_Beer_Hall.jpg|John Nicholas Saloon and Beer Hall, Florence
}}

==Historic properties==
Florence has various historic structures. Some are listed in the National Register of Historic Places while others are considered historical by the Florence Historic District Advisory Commission.
{{Further |List of historic properties in Florence, Arizona}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Florence, Arizona}}
* [http://www.florenceaz.gov Town of Florence official website]
* [http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/cities/economics/cities-on-the-rise-arizona/ Florence Named NerdWallet's #1 City on the Rise in Arizona] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140816105235/http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/cities/economics/cities-on-the-rise-arizona/ |date=August 16, 2014 }}

{{Pinal County, Arizona}}
{{Phoenix Metropolitan Area}}
{{Arizona county seats}}
{{Arizona during World War II}}
{{Japanese American internment camps}}
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[[Category:Florence, Arizona| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Pinal County, Arizona]]
[[Category:County seats in Arizona]]
[[Category:Phoenix metropolitan area]]