Business View Magazine | October 2020

355 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2020 FLORENCE (to the north) and Tucson (to the south), also giving access to the interstate highway systems that carry goods to the surrounding region. Despite a growing year-round population (about 28,000 residents in 2019), and thousands of additional visitors that spend their winters in town, Florence is still seen as a rural community – but one that is close to the amenities associated with urban lifestyles. Nonetheless, it is the access to trails, open space, wildlife, and beautiful off-road adventures that makes Florence a destination for many thrill-seekers, T he Town of Florence was founded in 1866 and is the sixth-oldest, non-Native American settlement in Arizona. The county seat of Pinal County, Florence is an employment and government hub for the region, and actually grows in population during the day (something that is atypical among rural communities). Three major transportation corridors – Highway 287, Highway 79, and Hunt Highway – run through the town, providing direct connectivity to the suburban and metropolitan centers of Phoenix Smarter than the average city