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Florence is located in Pinal County in central Arizona midway between Phoenix and Tucson at the junction of State Highway 79 and State Highway 287. Arizona became a territory under the signature of Abraham Lincoln in 1863 and Florence was founded in 1866 as a farming community along the banks of the Gila River. The town boomed in the in the 1870s with the discovery of silver in the nearby Silver King Mine. Business prospered as the town became the commercial hub for area mines and ranching developed and farming continued. Florence is the County Seat as well as being one of the oldest towns in Arizona. Florence is proud of its history and the designation of the old town as a National Historic District. Over 100 buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic places and the town strives to strike a balance between preserving the past and preparing for the future so that an authentic sense of place is maintained and new growth and revitalization is encouraged.