Best Places to Live in Pee Dee (Florence)
This region's three towns each carry a genuinely distinct national identity within a shared, small-town Pee Dee character: Florence's interstate-crossroads healthcare hub, Darlington's NASCAR heritage, and Cheraw's jazz-and-historic-preservation legacy.
Exploring the idea of moving?
We can connect you with a local real estate professional who knows the area -- no pressure, just a starting point.
Learn moreFlorence: Interstate Crossroads and Regional Healthcare Hub
Florence sits directly at the intersection of Interstate 95 and Interstate 20 -- framed by regional economic-development sources as 'halfway between Miami and New York' with access to 30 major US markets -- and is home to McLeod Health, a not-for-profit system founded in 1906 and headquartered in Florence, operating a real 7-hospital network reaching from Florence to Myrtle Beach.
Darlington: NASCAR's "Too Tough to Tame" Superspeedway
Darlington's national name recognition rests almost entirely on Darlington Raceway -- NASCAR's first purpose-built superspeedway, opened in 1950, nicknamed 'The Lady in Black' and 'Too Tough to Tame.' The track still hosts two real 2026 NASCAR Cup Series race weekends together generating an estimated $118 million in annual statewide economic impact. Outside race weeks, Darlington's real economy centers on manufacturing (Georgia-Pacific, Nucor's original 1969 bar mill, PolyQuest).
Cheraw: Dizzy Gillespie's Birthplace and "The Prettiest Town in Dixie"
Cheraw carries two genuine, independently verified identity anchors: it is the birthplace of jazz legend John 'Dizzy' Gillespie, commemorated with a bronze statue and the annual Cheraw Jazz Festival, and it carries the real, long-standing nickname 'The Prettiest Town in Dixie.' Cheraw holds one of South Carolina's largest and most intact historic districts (200-plus National Register-listed properties) and is home to the 7,362-acre Cheraw State Park, the oldest state park in the SC Parks system.
Key takeaways
- Florence anchors this region's healthcare and interstate-logistics economy at the I-95/I-20 crossroads.
- Darlington's identity centers on NASCAR's Darlington Raceway, alongside a real manufacturing economic base outside race weeks.
- Cheraw offers a genuine jazz heritage (Dizzy Gillespie's birthplace) and one of South Carolina's largest intact historic districts.
Want to know what your budget actually buys here?
Tell us a bit about what you're looking for and we'll connect you with someone local who can walk you through real numbers.
Get local guidanceRead the full Pee Dee (Florence) overview for the complete picture, including every city and town we've researched in the area.
Planning a move?
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll connect you with a local expert who can help you make it happen.
Talk to a local expert