Attractions and Business In Pee Dee and Florence SC

Pee Dee is a Native American term that means Something Good!

I believe that, because the Pee Dee Region was one of favorites during family vacations.

The Pee Dee Region is in Northeastern SC, right next to the Myrtle Beach area to the east. Pee Dee is the name of an Indigenous People that also sees their name spelled as Pedee, Peedee, Peadea, Pidees and some other variations.

These groups lived long ago in the Pee Dee section of the state and some of their descendants remain. In fact, some of them live with the official Pee Dee Indian Tribe of South Carolina, which became a Certified State Tribe or Nation of people on 01/27/2006. See www.facebook.com/PeeDeeIndianNation

Another branch, the Pee Dee Indian Nation of Upper South Carolina was state-recognized in February of 2005. A third group is named the Marlboro, Chesterfield, and Darlington County Pee Dee Indian Tribe.

Pee Dee Nation fought with Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox, on the side of the American Colonists against the British in the American Revolution, while some of the the Mohawk and the Seneca to the north fought with the British.

Later, after the Cherokee Nation was driven westward out of South Carolina on the Trail of Tears, which has been commemorated as a US National Park and Historic Trail, the State Government did not recognize Native Americans as such. The folks were counted as any of Black, mixed, or Croatan - itself an extinct or mixed blood "tribe" considered Black or mixed. Pee Dee Nation was not recognized until the 21st Century, over 200 years later.

Rumors persisted about the Croatan People, until archaeological evidence, DNA, and maps proved that they took in the settlers of the Lost Colony of Roanoke, Virginia (which has been found) adopting them as friends and kin of the Croatan.

Today, DNA testing is conducted in an ongoing program to look for additional European bloodlines within the descendants of the Croatan Nation. We think that some settlers likely married into the Croatan Nation and lived with them.

Astronaut Ronald E. McNair died in the US Space Shuttle Challenger as it exploded somewhat more than a minute after takeoff in 1986. He was born in Lake City, Florence County, South Carolina.

Mr. McNair represented many things to the Pee Dee Region, his state and his country. He was an African American that earned a PhD in Physics, gained several honorary degrees, and became a top astronaut.

He advanced the field of Laser Technology, adding to the tradition of great schools helping to develop new technologies for new jobs in their states. Mr. McNair was a karate master. He was a husband and father. He won so many awards and fellowships and positions of vital corporate boards that one can hardly list them all.

Ronald E. McNair was an astronaut for 10 years, almost to the day, and then we lost him. However, his accomplishments through his ongoing determination can motivate us to come through the crises of our own lives, including looking for a new job in the face of mass layoffs and national turmoil.

1. Pharmacists
2. Occupational Therapists
3. Materials Handlers
4. Registered Nurses (RNs)
5. Physical Therapists
6. Orthopedists
7. Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)
8. Retail Salespersons
9. Sales Managers
10. Family Practice Physicians

Listings in bold match the forecast to the left.

1. Retail Salespersons
2. Registered Nurses (RNs)
3. Team Assemblers
4. Personal & Home Health Aides (HHAs)
5. Manual Laborers/Stock Handlers
6. Truck Drivers: Semis, Tractor-Trailers
7. Customer Service Representatives
8. Maintenance and Repair
9. General/Operations Managers
10. All Food Prep/Service jobs

1. Sonoco Products Company - Darlington County
2. Honda of South Carolina Mfg - Florence County
3. Perdue Farms - Dillon County
4. Schaeffler Group USA - Chesterfield County
5. AVX Corporation - Horry County
6. Mohawk Industries - Marlboro County
7. ESAB Welding and Cutting Products - Florence County
8. Wal-Mart Grocery Distribution Center - Chesterfield County
9. Nan Ya Plastics Corporation - Florence County
10. International Paper Company - Georgetown County

1. Electrical Engineers
2. Manufacturing Engineers
3. Mechanical Engineers
4. Industrial Engineers
5. Water/waste-water Engineers
6. Quality Engineers
7. Engineering Project Managers
8. Process Engineers
9. Design Engineers
10. Test Engineers
11. Engineer Interns

1. Community Health
2. MetroSouth Medical Center
3. Carolinas Hospitals System
4. Waste Management - waste and recycling.
5. Mcleod Health
6. Pharmacy Reserves
7. Enterprise Medical Services
8. US Military.Com
9. Sears Holdings, KMart
10. Jackson Therapy
11. Others: Assurant and Ameriplan insurance companies

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• Clemson University Pee Dee Research and Education Center
• Coker College
• Coastal Carolina University - Conway SC, closer to Myrtle Beach.
• Fine Arts Academy of Florence
• Francis Marion University - Florence SC
• Northeastern Tech - Dillon
• Limestone College - Kingtree
• Logos Bible College
• Outdoor Education Trail - Clemson University - Located off I-95.
• School of Dance Arts
• Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology - Florence SC
• Williamsburg Tech - Kingtree

• Florence Red Wolves - Baseball
• Florence Post 1 - Baseball
• Pee Dee Hockey League-Adult Hockey League
• Florence Phantoms – Professional Indoor Football
• College Level Sports, several types - Francis Marion Patriots, etc.