Construction
ADX Florence was constructed in response to violent outbreaks in other prisons, specifically the guard killings in Marion, Illinois in 1983. At the time United States Penitentiary Marion was where the Federal Bureau of Prisons held the United States' most dangerous criminals. ADX Florence was opened in November of 1994 specifically as a control unit prison. Florence is the only "supermax" prison in the United States and holds the highest level of security of any other prison. in the United States prison system. The residents of the surrounding community: Fremont country, welcomed the construction of the prison since it would create up to 900 permanent jobs and 1000 temporary jobs during the construction. The allure of new jobs led residents of the county to raise $160.000 to purchase 600 acres of land to build the prison on. ADX Florence was constructed for a total of $60 million and become Fremont county's tenth prison.