The Great Pee Dee River allowed Florence to become a transportation hub, and in 1853 the area became an important junction of two rail lines. During the Civil War Florence had one of the South's largest prisoner of war camps. Many of the captured Union soldiers succumbed to disease and war injuries and were buried in the Florence National Cemetery, 1 mile east of US 301S on National Cemetery Road. Florena Budwin, believed to be the first woman buried in a national cemetery, is interred here. Learn More...