Historic Downtown Florence at a glance
A designated district
The Florence Townsite was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 26, 1982, according to Wikipedia.
Homes and shops
The Town describes homes and storefronts along Main Street, and an annual home tour opens historic properties each February.
Care before cutting
Older buildings deserve a camera or pressure check before anyone opens a wall.
About Historic Downtown Florence
The Town of Florence says Levi Ruggles founded the Florence Townsite in 1866. McFarland State Historic Park, at 24 West Ruggles Street, holds the first Pinal County Courthouse, built in 1878. The Silver King Marketplace at 440 N Main Street began as the Silver King Hotel in 1895.
A regional magazine describes more than 100 homes and commercial properties in the district on the National Register, in styles from Sonoran to American Victorian and Mission Revival. Homes.com adds that the town core includes homes built in the 1800s.
This page is about the district around Main Street. For the rest of the Town and nearby communities, see the Florence service area.
Sources: Town of Florence walking tour page, Golden Corridor Living magazine, Homes.com neighborhood guide and Wikipedia.
What older buildings mean for plumbing
Age alone does not tell us what is behind a wall. Some buildings have been updated, and others have not. We do not assume any particular pipe material. What we do say is that a camera and pressure check take away guesswork before a repair opens a wall or a floor.
| What you notice | First step | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Slow or gurgling drains | Stop adding water and schedule a camera look | Sewer camera inspection. |
| Water stain or damp wall | Close the main valve and call | Leak detection. |
| Low pressure at several taps | Check whether it is one tap or many | Repiping. |
| Tank that is old or leaking | Shut off power and the cold supply | Water heater replacement. |
Before you call from the Townsite
A few minutes of preparation lets the call go faster.
Find the main valve
Know where water enters the building and that the valve turns.
Give the address
Include the cross street, because some lots are not obvious from the road.
Describe what you see
Say where the water is and how fast it flows.
Protect the floor
Move rugs and furniture away from the wet area.
Plumbing problem in Historic Downtown?
Call (480) 741-9332 with your address, the problem and whether water is flowing. We will talk you through the first steps.
Call (480) 741-9332What to do while you wait on a plumbing emergency
These steps limit damage in an older building.
- Close the main water valve if a pipe is leaking or burst. See burst pipe repair.
- Stop using drains if sewage is backing up. See sewer line cleaning.
- Turn off power to the water heater if the tank is leaking. See water heater repair.
- Photograph damage and note the time for your insurance claim.
Water, permits and historic rules downtown
The Town of Florence Utilities Department provides water and sewer service for the Town, and its office is at 425 E Ruggles Street, 520-868-7060. Our service area page names Florence Water as the Town system and notes that its 2025 report lists no hardness figure. Ask the Town for the latest report, and see our water softener and filtration page before buying a softener.
Permits inside town limits go through the Community Development Department at 224 W. 20th Street, 520-868-7575. Plumbing work follows the code the Town has adopted, usually based on the UPC or IPC. Historic properties may also have review rules for visible exterior work, so ask Community Development whether your address is inside the district before planning anything beyond the plumbing itself.
Sources: Town of Florence Utilities Department page and Community Development contact information.
The annual home tour and keeping a historic home sound
The Town hosts a historic home tour every February. The 39th tour opened 15 historic properties, according to the Town. If you own a historic home, a camera look, a pressure check and a water heater inspection are sensible items for your maintenance list.
Plumbing questions in Historic Downtown Florence
The Town sets the district boundary, and we did not find a published boundary on the Town pages we reviewed. Ask Community Development at 520-868-7575 about your address.
The Town of Florence Utilities Department provides water and sewer, at 520-868-7060. Check your bill for your account details.
Permit rules depend on the job and the address. Ask Community Development, and ask whether any historic review applies to visible exterior work.
Yes. A camera shows the pipe condition without opening walls first. See sewer camera inspection.
Close the main valve, move belongings away and call. Photograph the damage. See leak detection if the source is hidden.