Editing Florence, Oregon

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name             = Florence, Oregon
| settlement_type           = City
| image_skyline             = Florence OR aerial.jpg
| imagesize                 = 300px
| image_caption             = Aerial view of Florence
| image_map                 = Lane_County_Oregon_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Florence_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                   = 250px
| map_caption               = Location in [[Oregon]]
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type          = Country
| subdivision_name          = United States
| subdivision_type1         = State
| subdivision_name1         = [[Oregon]]
| subdivision_type2         = [[List of counties in Oregon|County]]
| subdivision_name2         = [[Lane County, Oregon|Lane]]
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes      = 
| government_type           = 
| leader_title              = Mayor
| leader_name               = Rob Ward<ref>{{cite web |title=City Of Florence Website |url=https://www.ci.florence.or.us/council/florence-city-council |date=2024 |access-date=April 3, 2024 |archive-date=April 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240403205416/https://www.ci.florence.or.us/council/florence-city-council |url-status=live }}</ref>
| established_title         = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date          = 1893
<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref                 = Imperial
| area_total_sq_mi          = 6.22
| area_footnotes            = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web |title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory |url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE%3D%2741%27&outFields=NAME%2CSTATE%2CPLACE%2CAREALAND%2CAREAWATER%2CLSADC%2CCENTLAT%2CCENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=October 12, 2022 |archive-date=February 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213084631/https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE%3D%2741%27&outFields=NAME%2CSTATE%2CPLACE%2CAREALAND%2CAREAWATER%2CLSADC%2CCENTLAT%2CCENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json |url-status=live }}</ref>
| area_total_km2            = 16.11
| area_land_sq_mi           = 5.53
| area_land_km2             = 14.33
| area_water_sq_mi          = 0.69
| area_water_km2            = 1.78
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of          = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes      = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
| population_total          = 9396
| population_density_km2    = 655.68
| population_density_sq_mi  = 1698.17
| population_note           = 
<!-- General information -->
| timezone                  = [[Pacific Standard Time Zone|Pacific]]
| utc_offset                = −8
| timezone_DST              = Pacific
| utc_offset_DST            = −7
| coordinates               = {{coord|43|59|31|N|124|06|50|W|type:city_region:US-OR|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes       = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft              = 66
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
| postal_code_type          = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code               = 97439
| area_code                 = [[Area codes 541 and 458|458 and 541]]
| blank_name                = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info                = 41-26050<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/ |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website |archive-date=December 27, 1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961227012639/https://www.census.gov/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| blank1_name               = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info               = 2410511<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2410511 }}</ref>
| website                   = [http://www.ci.florence.or.us www.ci.florence.or.us]
}}
[[Image:FlorenceDistances.jpg|thumb|upright|A sign in the Florence Old Town area denoting distances to other cities named "Florence" in North America]]

'''Florence''' is a coastal city in [[Lane County, Oregon|Lane County]], in the U.S. state of [[Oregon]]. It lies at the mouth of the [[Siuslaw River]] on the Pacific Ocean and about midway between [[Newport, Oregon|Newport]] to the north and [[Coos Bay, Oregon|Coos Bay]] to the south along [[U.S. Route 101 in Oregon|U.S. Route 101]]. As of August 14, 2023, the city had a total population of 9,553.<ref name="2020CensusFlorenceOR">{{cite web |title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US4126050 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 27, 2021 |archive-date=August 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827185844/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US4126050 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 14, 2023 |title=Section 1- Proponent Input |url=https://www.ci.florence.or.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/mayor_and_council/meeting/25437/written_input_recieved_after_8.10.pdf |access-date=December 29, 2023 |archive-date=December 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231229223437/https://www.ci.florence.or.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/mayor_and_council/meeting/25437/written_input_recieved_after_8.10.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

==History==
The Florence area was originally inhabited by the [[Siuslaw people|Siuslaw]] tribe of Native Americans. Some claim that the city was named after state senator [[A. B. Florence]], who represented Lane County from 1858 to 1860; another claim is that Florence was named after a French vessel that was wrecked at the mouth of the [[Siuslaw River]] on February 17, 1875.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.northwestmagazines.com/oregon_coast_florence_origin_of_name.php |title=Northwest Magazines |access-date=February 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820063331/http://www.northwestmagazines.com/oregon_coast_florence_origin_of_name.php |archive-date=August 20, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Exploding whale===
On November 12, 1970, Florence was the site of a famous scene when the [[Oregon Department of Transportation]] used 20 cases of explosives to try to [[Exploding whale|blow up a dead beached whale]], with unintended consequences.<ref name="linnmantranscript">{{Cite web |title=The Exploding Whale - Annotated transcript of the video |url=https://www.theexplodingwhale.com/evidence/resources/transcript |access-date=January 8, 2007 |website=www.theexplodingwhale.com |language=en-US |author=Paul Linnman ([[KATU]] TV) |others=transcribed by Hackstadt, J.; Hackstadt, S. |archive-date=January 2, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070102203452/http://www.theexplodingwhale.com/evidence/resources/transcript/ |url-status=live }}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=January 2011}}<ref name="snopes">{{cite web |last1=Mikkelson |first1=Barbara |last2=Mikkelson |first2=David P. |date=March 19, 2000 |title=Thar She Blows! |url=http://www.snopes.com/critters/disposal/whale.htm |access-date=January 8, 2007 |work=Critter Country |publisher=snopes.com |archive-date=March 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329075007/http://www.snopes.com/critters/disposal/whale.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="transcriptwhaledisposal">{{cite web |date=July 1994 |title=Son of Blubber |url=http://tafkac.org/animals/exploding.whale/son_of_blubber.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717092953/http://tafkac.org/animals/exploding.whale/son_of_blubber.html |archive-date=July 17, 2011 |access-date=January 8, 2007 |publisher=Oregon Department of Transportation employee newspaper, TranScript }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Video: The exploding whale | date=March 22, 2006 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_t44siFyb4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/1_t44siFyb4 |archive-date=December 11, 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=March 22, 2006 |publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore }}</ref> In 2020, residents voted to name a new park Exploding Whale Memorial Park.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pietsch |first=Bryan |date=June 20, 2020 |title='Exploding Whale' Park Memorializes Blubber Blast 50 Years Later |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/20/us/exploding-whale-memorial-park.html |access-date=June 20, 2020 |archive-date=June 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620214802/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/20/us/exploding-whale-memorial-park.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Accidental ban on sex===
The Florence City Council brought national attention to Florence after it approved a poorly-worded ordinance at its regular meeting on November 26, 1977. Intending to prevent people from having sexual intercourse in view of bystanders, the council approved a measure that made it illegal to have sex "while in or in view of a public or private place." Days later, a re-reading of the ordinance showed that it applied to sex in private. According to the [[United Press International]] report that followed days later, "City officials said they would not enforce the new ordinance until it could be amended."<ref>{{Cite news |author= |date=December 2, 1977 |title=Ban on Sex Accidentally Imposed in Oregon City |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-choose-words-caref/130330142/ |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |page=I-5 }}</ref>

==Geography==
Florence is located on the [[Oregon Coast]], at the mouth of the [[Siuslaw River]], just north of [[Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area]]. It is situated at nearly the same latitude as [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]], and is located roughly midway between the other main central-coast cities of [[Newport, Oregon|Newport]] and [[Coos Bay, Oregon|Coos Bay]]. Florence annexed Driftwood Shores Hotel and Conference Center, north of town, in [[Heceta Beach, Oregon|Heceta Beach]], in 2008.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thesiuslawnews.com/V2_news_articles.php?heading=0&story_id=1864&page=72 |title=Beach contamination gains attention from city, county |first=Shawn |date=January 13, 2009 |work=[[Siuslaw News]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216044013/http://www.thesiuslawnews.com/V2_news_articles.php?heading=0&story_id=1864&page=72 |archive-date=February 16, 2012 |url-status=dead |author=Penrod, Shawn |access-date=March 20, 2009 }}</ref>

To the south of Florence, the unincorporated community of [[Glenada, Oregon|Glenada]] lies just across the Siuslaw River on U.S. Route 101; the city of [[Yachats, Oregon|Yachats]] is {{convert|23|mi}} to the north.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://check-distance.com/search?from=Florence,+Oregon,+United+States+of+America&to=Yachats,+Oregon,+United+States+of+America&flat=43.9827&flon=-124.1&tlat=44.3128&tlon=-124.105 |title=Distance from Florence, Oregon, United States of America to Yachats, Oregon, United States of America |website=check-distance.com |language=en |access-date=February 13, 2019 |archive-date=February 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214061458/https://check-distance.com/search?from=Florence,+Oregon,+United+States+of+America&to=Yachats,+Oregon,+United+States+of+America&flat=43.9827&flon=-124.1&tlat=44.3128&tlon=-124.105 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|5.87|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|5.30|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.57|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=December 21, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 25, 2012 }}</ref>

==Climate==
Like most of [[Western Oregon]], Florence has a [[Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Csb'') though cooler and wetter than usual for the type. The cooling effect of the Pacific makes summers as much as {{convert|9.4|F-change|C-change|1|disp=or}} cooler than [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]] by daily mean and {{convert|15.4|F-change|C-change|1|disp=or}} cooler by afternoon high. Outside of the short dry season in July and August, rainfall in Florence is generally frequent and heavy, totalling almost twice as much as in the Willamette Valley.
{{Weather box
|location = Florence, Oregon, 1991&ndash;2020 normals, extremes 2006&ndash;2020
|single line = Y
|collapsed = Y
|Jan record high F = 68
|Feb record high F = 68
|Mar record high F = 77
|Apr record high F = 82
|May record high F = 91
|Jun record high F = 88
|Jul record high F = 84
|Aug record high F = 89
|Sep record high F = 93
|Oct record high F = 82
|Nov record high F = 70
|Dec record high F = 62
|year record high F =

|Jan high F = 49.1
|Feb high F = 51.1
|Mar high F = 52.9
|Apr high F = 55.5
|May high F = 60.1
|Jun high F = 63.5
|Jul high F = 67.9
|Aug high F = 67.4
|Sep high F = 66.3
|Oct high F = 60.7
|Nov high F = 53.4
|Dec high F = 47.5

|Jan mean F = 43.9
|Feb mean F = 44.1
|Mar mean F = 45.7
|Apr mean F = 47.7
|May mean F = 51.8
|Jun mean F = 54.9
|Jul mean F = 58.7
|Aug mean F = 58.3
|Sep mean F = 56.4
|Oct mean F = 52.3
|Nov mean F = 46.9
|Dec mean F = 42.5
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 38.7
|Feb low F = 37.2
|Mar low F = 38.5
|Apr low F = 39.8
|May low F = 43.5
|Jun low F = 46.4
|Jul low F = 49.5
|Aug low F = 49.3
|Sep low F = 46.5
|Oct low F = 44.0
|Nov low F = 40.3
|Dec low F = 37.4

|Jan record low F = 22
|Feb record low F = 22
|Mar record low F = 12
|Apr record low F = 27
|May record low F = 29
|Jun record low F = 35
|Jul record low F = 37
|Aug record low F = 39
|Sep record low F = 34
|Oct record low F = 27
|Nov record low F = 23
|Dec record low F = 17
|year record low F =

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 10.22
|Feb precipitation inch = 9.35
|Mar precipitation inch = 9.33
|Apr precipitation inch = 6.36
|May precipitation inch = 3.87
|Jun precipitation inch = 2.85
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.51
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.07
|Sep precipitation inch = 2.26
|Oct precipitation inch = 5.95
|Nov precipitation inch = 11.25
|Dec precipitation inch = 12.50
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 20.1
|Feb precipitation days = 20.4
|Mar precipitation days = 21.5
|Apr precipitation days = 18.7
|May precipitation days = 13.0
|Jun precipitation days = 10.4
|Jul precipitation days = 3.8
|Aug precipitation days = 6.0
|Sep precipitation days = 9.0
|Oct precipitation days = 15.3
|Nov precipitation days = 19.9
|Dec precipitation days = 21.3

|Jan snow inch = 0.3
|Feb snow inch = 0.1
|Mar snow inch = 0.0
|Apr snow inch = 0.1
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 0.1
|Dec snow inch = 0.0
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 0.5
|Feb snow days = 0.3
|Mar snow days = 0.0
|Apr snow days = 0.1
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.1
|Dec snow days = 0.2

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>{{cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00352973&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title=U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Florence #2, OR |access-date=May 19, 2023 |archive-date=May 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520041513/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00352973&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |url-status=live }}</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>{{cite web |url=https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=pqr |publisher=National Weather Service |title=NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Portland |access-date=May 19, 2023 |archive-date=April 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220417183135/https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=pqr |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 68
|1900= 222
|1910= 311
|1920= 317
|1930= 339
|1940= 458
|1950= 1026
|1960= 1642
|1970= 2246
|1980= 4411
|1990= 5162
|2000= 7263
|2010= 8466
|2020= 8921
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="2020CensusFlorenceOR" /><ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web |url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:41&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108 |title=Census Population API |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=October 12, 2022 |archive-date=February 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213085226/https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:41&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

{{update|section|date=August 2021|reason=New information is available from the 2020 Census report.}}

===2010 census===
As of the census<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web |title=U.S. Census website |url=https://www.census.gov/ |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=December 21, 2012 |archive-date=December 27, 1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961227012639/https://www.census.gov/ |url-status=live }}</ref> of 2010, there were 8,466 people, 4,226 households, and 2,374 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1597.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 5,103 housing units at an average density of {{convert|962.8|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 92.5% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.4% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.0% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.3% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.3%, [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.4% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 3.2% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 5.4% of the population.

There were 4,226 households, of which 15.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.8% were non-families. 37.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.98 and the average family size was 2.51.

The median age in the city was 57 years. 13.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 15.5% were from 25 to 44; 28.4% were from 45 to 64; and 36.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.4% male and 53.6% female.

===2000 census===
[[Image:Florence, Oregon.jpg|thumb|{{center|A sailboat on the [[Siuslaw River]]}}]]
Per the census<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 7,263 people, 3,564 households, and 2,145 families living in the city. The 2007 population estimate was 8,270.<ref name="psu">{{Cite web |url=http://www.pdx.edu/media/p/r/prcCertifiedRelease_07_web_cities.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227001633/http://www.pdx.edu/media/p/r/prcCertifiedRelease_07_web_cities.pdf |url-status=dead |title=PSU:Population Research Center |archive-date=February 27, 2008 }}</ref> The population density was {{convert|1,476.3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 4,174 housing units at an average density of {{convert|848.4|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.88% White, 0.28% African American, 0.92% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.14% [[Pacific Islander]], 0.56% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. 2.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 3,564 households, out of which 16.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.02 and the average family size was 2.52.

[[File:Florence Waterfront (Lane County, Oregon scenic images) (lanD0093).jpg|thumb|Florence Waterfront]] In the city, the population dispersal was 16.8% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 16.0% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 38.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 56 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males. The median income for a household in the city was $30,505, and the median income for a family was $36,784. Males had a median income of $30,962 versus $23,878 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,008. 14.4% of the population and 10.0% of families were below the poverty line. 25.9% of those under the age of 18 and 8.3% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

==Economy==
The former mainstays of Florence's economy were logging, [[commercial fishing]], and agriculture,<ref name=Rhody>{{Cite web |url=https://florencechamber.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223083717/http://florencechamber.com/events/rhody-festival.shtml |url-status=dead |title=Florence Area Chamber of Commerce &#124; Visit Florence, Oregon |date=March 27, 2024 |archive-date=February 23, 2009 |website=florencechamber.com }}</ref> but today tourism is increasingly significant.<ref name=LCD>{{Cite web |url=http://egov.oregon.gov/LCD/OCMP/CstZone_Intro.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061010040242/http://egov.oregon.gov/LCD/OCMP/CstZone_Intro.shtml |url-status=dead |title=Oregon Coastal Management Program |archive-date=October 10, 2006 }}</ref> Some local businesses include Sand Master Park, [[Mo's Restaurants]] and Three Rivers Casino Resort, which is run by the [[Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians]]. The Port of Siuslaw promotes commercial fishing, shipping and tourism.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.portofsiuslaw.com/pages/about.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301195142/http://portofsiuslaw.com/pages/about.php |url-status=dead |title=Port of Siuslaw: About |archive-date=March 1, 2009 }}</ref> About one-third of Florence's population consists of [[retirement|retirees]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://florencechamber.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220085239/http://florencechamber.com/florence-overview/index.shtml |url-status=dead |title=Florence Area Chamber of Commerce &#124; Visit Florence, Oregon |date=March 27, 2024 |archive-date=February 20, 2009 |website=florencechamber.com }}</ref>

==Arts and culture==
===Annual cultural events===
Florence has held an annual ''[[Rhododendron]]'' festival, flower and garden show since 1908.<ref name=Rhody/>

Florence has also hosted [https://www.facebook.com/powerofflorence The Power of Florence], an annual volunteer event, since 2013. According to the group's Facebook page, the event is a "proclaimed city-wide day dedicated to volunteering and giving back".

=== Museums and other points of interest ===
The [[Siuslaw Pioneer Museum]] is located in a historic 1905 schoolhouse.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.siuslawpioneermuseum.com/ |title=Siuslaw Pioneer Museum &#124; Florence, Oregon Pioneer History |website=Siuslaw Pioneer Museum }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://florencechamber.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218224611/http://florencechamber.com/business-directory/siuslaw-pioneer-museum.shtml |url-status=dead |title=Florence Area Chamber of Commerce &#124; Visit Florence, Oregon |date=March 27, 2024 |archive-date=February 18, 2009 |website=florencechamber.com }}</ref>

Old Town Florence is located on the Siuslaw riverfront. The Port of Siuslaw marina is to the east, and the [[Art Deco]] 1936 [[Siuslaw River Bridge]] is to the west. The boardwalk promenade was built along the marina to improve the area.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.florenceoregon.net/business.htm |title=Florence Oregon Business Development Resources |access-date=August 23, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513071926/http://www.florenceoregon.net/business.htm |archive-date=May 13, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Many businesses are on US101 itself, which runs through the town, north to south.

North of Florence on [[U.S. Route 101 in Oregon|U.S. Route 101]] are the [[Sea Lion Caves]], a [[tourist attraction]] that features a [[sea cave]] that is the year-round home of a population of [[Steller sea lion]]s.

===Historic buildings===
Historic buildings on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in the Florence area include the [[Edwin E. Benedict House]], a deteriorating house on the Siuslaw River that is said to have been [[Ken Kesey]]'s inspiration for the Stamper House in his novel ''[[Sometimes a Great Notion]]'',{{citation needed|date=November 2024}} [[Heceta Head Light|Heceta Head Lighthouse and Keepers Quarters]], [[Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park|Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park Historic District]], the Siuslaw River Bridge, and the William Kyle and Sons Building in Old Town.{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}}

==Parks and recreation==
[[File:OregonDunesNRA.jpg|thumb|The [[Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area]] near Florence]]
There are several parks and other sites managed by the [[Oregon Parks and Recreation Department]] near Florence, including [[Darlingtonia State Natural Site]] and Heceta Head Lighthouse at Devil's Elbow to the north, and Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park to the south. The [[Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area]], managed as part of the [[Siuslaw National Forest]], begins south of Florence.

==Education==
Florence is served by the three-school [[Siuslaw School District]], which includes Siuslaw Elementary School, Siuslaw Middle School, and [[Siuslaw High School]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.siuslaw.k12.or.us/ |title=Siuslaw School District |website=www.siuslaw.k12.or.us }}</ref> [[Lane Community College]] has a center in Florence.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.lanecc.edu/about-lane/our-locations/florence-center |title=Florence Center &#124; Our Locations &#124; Lane Community College |website=www.lanecc.edu |access-date=April 1, 2024 |archive-date=April 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240401092007/https://www.lanecc.edu/about-lane/our-locations/florence-center |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Media==
* The ''[[Siuslaw News]]'' is a weekly<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thesiuslawnews.com/article/siuslaw-news-to-return-to-weekly-news |title=Siuslaw News to return to weekly news |access-date=October 30, 2022 |archive-date=October 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221030151347/https://thesiuslawnews.com/article/siuslaw-news-to-return-to-weekly-news |url-status=dead }}</ref> newspaper published in Florence. ''[[The Register-Guard]]'', published in [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]], is also distributed in Florence.
* KXCR, 90.7 FM, is a 501(c)(3), non-profit, non-commercial, community radio station.
* Locally owned and operated radio stations [[KCST-FM]] and [[KCFM (AM)]] provide music, news, local and regional sports, and emergency public service programming 24 hours a day.
* Radio translator K211BP rebroadcasts [[KRVM-FM]] from Eugene.
* Non-profit organization West Lane Translator, Inc. maintains licenses and transmission facilities for five High Definition television translators, as well as 6 FM radio translators providing free over-the-air programming to the Florence area.

==Transportation==
[[Image:Siuslaw River Bridge at Florence OR.jpg|thumb|{{center|The [[Siuslaw River]] bridge in Florence}}]]

===Highways===
* [[U.S. Route 101 in Oregon|U.S. Route 101]]
* [[Oregon Route 126]]

===Air===
* [[Florence Municipal Airport]]

==Healthcare==
[[Peace Harbor Hospital]] serves western Lane County.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.peacehealth.org/foundation/peace-harbor/donate-now/Pages/Default.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110123152638/http://www.peacehealth.org/foundation/peace-harbor/donate-now/Pages/Default.aspx |url-status=dead |title=Peace Harbor Hospital Foundation |archive-date=January 23, 2011 }}</ref> It is also one of the area's largest employers.

==Sister city==
Florence had one [[Town twinning|sister city]]:

* {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Yamagata, Gifu|Yamagata]], Japan: Yamagata-shi was established in 2003 by the merger of [[Ijira, Gifu|Ijira]] (Florence's former sister city), [[Takatomi, Gifu|Takatomi]], and [[Miyama, Gifu|Miyama]].

==See also==
* ''[[Kyllo v. United States]]'', a Supreme Court case involving a Florence resident

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Florence, Oregon}}
{{Wikivoyage|Florence (Oregon)}}
* [https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Pages/local/cities/e-k/florence.aspx Entry for Florence] in the ''[[Oregon Blue Book]]''
* [https://sand-boarding.com/florence-oregon-travel-guide/ Florence Travel Guide & Sandboarding]

{{Lane County, Oregon}}
{{Oregon}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1893 establishments in Oregon]]
[[Category:Cities in Lane County, Oregon]]
[[Category:Cities in Oregon]]
[[Category:Oregon Coast]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Oregon]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1893]]
[[Category:Port cities in Oregon]]