6624 W Sonoma Way, Florence
(602) 483-4665
DeLex Realty
Florence is a historic small town and the county seat of Pinal County, on the Gila River about an hour southeast of Phoenix along SR 79 and SR 287. Florence homes for sale range from older homes near the 1800s downtown to newer master-planned neighborhoods to the north, led by Anthem at Merrill Ranch and Magic Ranch.
Florence surprises a lot of the buyers I work with. It is one of the oldest towns in Arizona, with a real Main Street and a National Register historic district, yet most of its newer homes sit in planned communities a few miles north, close to San Tan Valley. Below I cover where it is, a short history, the main neighborhoods, the homes, schools, getting around and my tips for buying and selling here.
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Florence sits in the lower Sonoran Desert on the south bank of the Gila River in Pinal County. State Route 79 and State Route 287 run through town, and Hunt Highway connects the north side of Florence to San Tan Valley, Queen Creek and the Gateway Freeway (SR 24). The Arizona Commerce Authority puts Florence about 61 miles from Phoenix and about 20 miles from Interstate 10. Coolidge and Casa Grande are to the southwest.
Levi Ruggles founded Florence in 1866, and it became an incorporated town in 1900. The first Pinal County Courthouse, built in 1878, is now McFarland State Historic Park, named for former Governor and U.S. Senator Ernest McFarland, who bought the building and gave it to the state. The county moved into a newer courthouse in 1891. The downtown historic district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and has more than 25 listed buildings.
The Arizona State Prison at Florence opened in 1908 to replace the Yuma Territorial Prison, and corrections has been a big part of the local economy since. On Poston Butte north of town is the tomb of Charles D. Poston, often called the Father of Arizona. Down SR 79 about 17 miles south, a monument marks the spot where silent film cowboy Tom Mix died in 1940.
Most Florence listings are single-family homes. In the north-side communities you will find homes built from the mid-2000s to today, mostly one- and two-story stucco homes on suburban lots. In Anthem at Merrill Ranch, Del Webb, Pulte, D.R. Horton and Meritage Homes all list new homes in 2026, so you can compare resale and new construction side by side. Near downtown, homes are older and more varied, from small historic homes to ranch-style houses on larger lots. Around the edges of town you will also see some rural parcels, where I check wells, septic and road access before you buy.
Florence is served by Florence Unified School District, which also covers much of San Tan Valley and part of Queen Creek. District schools serving Florence include Florence High School, whose historic building dates to the 1880s, plus Florence Middle School, Florence Elementary, Anthem K-8 and Florence Virtual Academy. Always confirm the school boundary for a specific address with the district. See my Florence Unified homes page for more.
Hunt Highway is the main commuter road toward the Valley, and it is changing. Pinal County's Hunt Highway widening project is rebuilding the stretch through Magic Ranch as a five-lane road, and the Town said a two-year widening project north of Franklin Road was set to start in July 2026, with intersection work at Hunt and Attaway. ADOT has also selected a route for its planned North-South Corridor through Pinal County. Ask me how a commute from a specific street looks today.
Major employers include Pinal County government, the Arizona Department of Corrections, federal agencies, private corrections companies, Florence Unified and the Town itself. North Florence has a grocery-anchored shopping center on Hunt Highway near Merrill Ranch Parkway, and HonorHealth Florence Medical Center on Hunt Highway has a 24-hour emergency department. For bigger shopping trips, most people head north to San Tan Valley and Queen Creek. Water comes from the Town of Florence east of Felix Road and from EPCOR in the Anthem area and other areas to the west.
How far is Florence from Phoenix? Florence is about 61 miles from Phoenix, roughly an hour's drive depending on traffic. Many people drive north on Hunt Highway toward the Gateway Freeway.
Is Florence the same as San Tan Valley? No. Florence is its own incorporated town and the Pinal County seat. San Tan Valley is a separate community to the north along Hunt Highway.
Are there new homes in Florence? Yes. Several builders are selling in Anthem at Merrill Ranch in 2026, including a Del Webb 55+ section, and the Town is reviewing more planned communities.
What school district serves Florence? Florence Unified School District serves the town. Always confirm the assigned schools for a specific address with the district before you buy.
Anthem at Merrill Ranch | Moving to San Tan Valley | Moving to Queen Creek | Moving to Casa Grande | Arizona 55+ communities | All Arizona city guides | All Florence listings
Details come from the Town of Florence, Arizona State Parks, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Arizona Commerce Authority, Pinal County, ADOT, Florence Unified School District, HonorHealth and local news, and can change. Confirm school boundaries, utilities, HOA documents and zoning for any specific property. Listings are from the MLS and may not include every home for sale.
Copyright 2026 Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service, All rights reserved. The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service. All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s) nor Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless.
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