Florence, IL

Florence is a Pike County village whose small size sits within a much older river landscape. The Illinois State Archives records Florence's establishment as a village in 1925 and certification in 1939. The state historic-preservation office identifies the Florence Bridge over the Illinois River as a nearby transportation landmark, and the Pike County Historical Society maintains county artifacts in an 1866 schoolhouse museum. Florence's present setting is best understood through its river crossing, older building stock, and relationship to the county's larger communities.