Florence Live Cam

The county seat of, Lauderdale County

The City of Florence, population 40,000, is located in the beautiful northwest corner of the State of Alabama, 20 miles south of the border with Tennessee and 20 miles east of the Mississippi border.

Florence has the advantage of being situated on two lakes formed by TVA dams on the Tennessee River and is, therefore, a mecca for anglers, boaters, and water sports enthusiasts. The Parks and Recreation Department is recognized as among the best in the Southeast with four major parks, an 18-hole golf course, numerous playgrounds throughout the community, four community centers, a coliseum, and other recreational amenities. It was determined by a company specializing in appraising the historical importance of cities that Florence, because of the many historic buildings and districts in Florence, was tied for the Most Historic City in Alabama with one other Alabama city.

Florence is the site of the University of North Alabama which adds to the educational and cultural activities of the city. The city government has, as a part of its structure, an Arts and Museums Department which consists of four museums/art galleries. There are, in addition, several independent, citizen groups devoted to cultural activities ranging from dramas and musical stage productions, to the annual Renaissance Faire and Feast and the week-long W. C. Handy Music Festival. The latter two, along with two other local presentations, have been honored as among the 20 best festivals in the Southeast.

In addition to the usual services provided by a municipality, Florence has a Utilities Department comprising an electrical department, a natural gas department, and a water/wastewater department to provide the people of the city with their utilities at the lowest possible cost. The city has one of the lowest crime rates in the United States and its progressive Police Department ensures that this will continue. Fire coverage is provided from five stations located throughout the city and the overall city fire rating is well above average for cities of all sizes. Fire equipment is above the established standards both in amount and function.

Florence was the first city in Alabama to establish a city-wide recycling system and weekly recycling pick-up continues. Collection of household waste is once per week in carts provided by the City, pick-up of garden/lawn waste is weekly, other trash is also on a weekly basis and provision is made for exceptional trash pick-up as needed. The Florence City School System is rated among the highest in the State of Alabama and is constantly striving to improve its status. The City of Florence, Alabama, in all respects lives up to its reputation of being The Renaissance City.

Citizens who have questions about how city ordinances apply to them should call the city department involved, as it is the departments that administer the application of ordinances. If the department has questions about how an ordinance applies in a particular situation, the department will contact the city attorney for legal advice. The city attorney will not give legal advice concerning application of city ordinances to the public in the absence of a request by the mayor, the city council or city staff. The city attorney cannot give legal advice concerning private legal disputes such as divorces, contracts, landlord/tenant, boundary disputes with neighbors, or any other private civil matters.

The Florence Parks and Recreation Department has a great responsibility in serving the citizens of Florence. The types of leisure services to be provided for our citizens are decided with the participation of interested citizens, the Park and Recreation Board, elected officials, and the staff of the department. We seek to cooperate and coordinate with all other agencies, public and private, including churches, schools and social organizations, to provide as many recreational services as possible for the citizens of Florence.

We are living in a time when boredom, frustration, and discouragement come easily. Society and people are complex and we who offer leisure services must have an extensive and varied program to meet these complex needs. The most difficult job and the greatest responsibility for our entire staff is educating our citizens in the ways available to spend their leisure time.

Both the Board and the staff must consider the future recreational needs of the people of Florence and take bold steps to fulfill those needs. Both a great challenge and a great opportunity have been placed in our hands and they must be met with enthusiasm and open minds that think positively.

The Planning Department acts as adviser to the Planning Commission which is charged with overseeing the physical development of the city. Review of most new development proposals and the formulation of all regulations involving zoning, subdivisions, annexations, and most commercial and multi-family construction, as well as others, begin in the Planning Department.

Planning has been a priority of the elected officials of Florence since the original layout of the town by Italian, Ferdinand Sannoner in 1818. While other cities throughout the country have struggled with dying downtowns and urban sprawl the City of Florence has continued to maintain a strong Central Business District with thriving retail and restaurant use.

The completion of the Florence Harbor project and the establishment of a full-service marina is a big first step taken by the City of Florence in development of 3.5 miles of riverfront. Construction is underway of a Riverwalk following the shore of the Tennessee River from the Florence Conference Center/Renaissance Tower to McFarland Park/Florence Harbor. The Florence Alabama Comprehensive Plan was declared the best planning effort in the State and the City of Florence was presented with the Alabama Chapter of the American Planning Association Award in 1996.

The City of Florence has a mantle of green provided by thousands of majestic trees. Because of its setting along the banks of the Tennessee River, the view has been described as "an ocean of green with a blue ribbon running through it." Many trees date back to the mid 1800s when the city was young and growing. Others in the area have reached the status of state champion trees.

The City of Florence continues to pursue improvement and progressive growth in its urban forestry programs. Tree planting programs and renewal of older urban trees continue to improve the diversity and health of our precious city trees and the urban environment.

In 2001, Tree City USA named Florence as a Tree City for the 14th consecutive year based on its ongoing improvement in tree care programs. The City of Florence also has been the recipient of the Growth Award for nine years based on environmental improvement and higher levels of tree care.

Several years of progressive urban forestry activities resulted in the city's designation in 1997 as a 10-year national "Tree City-USA." An active volunteer Tree Commission worked with the mayor and city council to secure a matching grant from the Alabama Forestry Commission in 1997 to establish a Department of Urban Forestry/Horticulture. This department is directed by a professional forester/horticulturist who plans and executes the landscaping needs of various city departments.

In addition to acquiring, planting and caring for new plantings of trees and ornamental plants, special attention is applied to old, mature trees and their maintenance, timely removal, and replacement. Seasonal forestry technicians and other department staffs work with the Urban Forester/Horticulturist to execute the landscaping beautification program for the city.

Citizens and businesses are encouraged to provide and practice good stewardship of our landscape trees and other plants. Educational programs are planned to help them make wise decisions in preserving and improving urban trees. As stated by an anonymous arborist, "After all, people who touch trees do care for the trees and world we share."

Others interested in sharing information about establishing urban forestry/horticulture programs are invited to contact this department.