| Florence, Texas is a small town located 30+ | | | | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The |
| miles northwest of Austin on Farm Road 195, | | | | new 1 30 Toll Road is slated to go all the |
| west of 35 in Williamson County, in the | | | | way to Seguin, Texas. The Killeen-Fort Hood |
| Austin-Round Rock metro area. The closest | | | | Regional Airport is located in Killeen, |
| cities are Georgetown (13 miles), Andice, | | | | Texas, adjacent to Fort Hood, and offers |
| Briggs, Liberty Hill, Ding Dong, Jarrell & | | | | direct, non-stop air access to Dallas / Fort |
| Salado. The military town of Killeen is | | | | Worth, Houston and Atlanta airports. |
| approx. 13 miles away in Bell County. A 340 | | | | |
| square mile installation (217,337 acres), | | | | Restaurants: The old Andice General Store on |
| Fort Hood is the only post in the United | | | | FM 970 (6500 FM 970), east of 183 and south |
| States capable of stationing and training two | | | | of Florence is a fun place for burgers, |
| Armored Divisions. Fort Hood is "The Army's | | | | baskets & sandwiches. Quaint looking with |
| Premier Installation to train and deploy | | | | its old wood plank floors it is also a gas |
| heavy forces." Many military people choose | | | | station and convenience store (254) 793-3971. |
| Florence as a town near Killeen yet on the | | | | Andice General Store has a great collection |
| way to Austin. Settled in the early 1850s, | | | | of hard to find glass bottled soft drinks- |
| it was originally known as Brooksville. It | | | | blue cream soda, Big Red, several root beers, |
| became known as Florence by 1857, when the | | | | etc. Of note too is the Andice Post Office, |
| first post office was established. Many turn | | | | which looks like a lil' old house (it is). |
| of the century old homes and downtown | | | | There is a seasonal Farmer's Market across |
| buildings survive and provide much | | | | from the Andice General Store. |
| architectural interest. The estimated | | | | |
| population, in 2003, was 1,110. Water is | | | | On 195 just east of Florence, between IH 35 & |
| provided by Chisholm Trail Special Utility | | | | Florence (12061 State Highway 195) is D |
| District located at 851 FM 970 Florence, | | | | Boone's Country Store. D Boone's offers |
| Texas 76527. The Florence Independent School | | | | great down home eating- pot roast, fried |
| District has ratings of recognized and | | | | okra, hand-breaded livers & gizzards (254) |
| acceptable. Florence ISD is sought after | | | | 793-2110. In town on 195 are Mano's Mexican |
| because it is small and therefore provides | | | | Food (103 N Patterson Ave., aka 195) (254) |
| some opportunities perhaps not seen in large | | | | 793-3870 and the newly remodeled El Charrito |
| districts. Stone quarries abound in the area | | | | Mexican Restaurant (100 E Bennet St) |
| yielding great products at great prices. The | | | | 254-793-3127. Charrito faces the Post Office |
| architectural stone specialists at | | | | on Bennet but it also is really on 195 or N. |
| Continental Cut Stone on County Road 219 in | | | | Patterson. |
| Florence cut stone from Leuders, Texas into | | | | |
| many architectural home components. | | | | The Rattlesnake Inn at 6060 Hwy 195 is |
| | | | Williamson County's oldest Honky Tonk. Its |
| Transportation: The new 1 30 Toll Road | | | | inception was the day after Prohibition was |
| begins just off 195 east of Florence. | | | | lifted in 1933. |
| Currently, 1 30 extends all the way to the | | | | |