Aiken is the largest city in, and the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...

of, Aiken County, in western

South Carolina )''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...

. It is one of the two largest cities of the

Central Savannah River Area The Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) is a Media market, trading and marketing region in the U.S. states of Georgia (U.S. State), Georgia and South Carolina, spanning fourteen counties in Georgia and seven in South Carolina. The term was coined ...

. Founded in 1835, Aiken was named after

William Aiken William Aiken (1779 – May 5, 1831), or William Aiken, Sr., was the founder and president of the pioneering South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company. and Born in County Antrim, Ireland, he immigrated to Charleston, South Carolina ...

, the president of the

South Carolina Railroad The South Carolina Rail Road Company was a railroad company that operated in South Carolina from 1843 to 1894, when it was succeeded by the Southern Railway (U.S.), Southern Railway. It was formed in 1844 by the merger of the South Carolina Canal a ...

. It became part of Aiken County when the county was formed in 1871 from parts of Orangeburg, Lexington, Edgefield, and Barnwell counties. Aiken is home to the

University of South Carolina Aiken The University of South Carolina Aiken (USC Aiken, USCA, or South Carolina Aiken) is a public university in Aiken, South Carolina. It is part of the University of South Carolina System and offers undergraduate degree programs as well as master's ...

. According to 2020 census, the population was 32,025. The

National Civic League The National Civic League is an American nonpartisan, non-profit organization founded in 1894 with a mission to advance civic engagement to create equitable, thriving communities. The League envisions a country where the full diversity of communi ...

gave Aiken the

All-America City Award The All-America City Award is a community recognition program in the United States given by the National Civic League. The award recognizes the work of communities in using inclusive civic engagement to address critical issues and create stronge ...

in 1997. Aiken was also named "best small town of the South" by

Southern Living ''Southern Living'' is a lifestyle magazine aimed at readers in the Southern United States featuring recipes, house plans, garden plans, and information about Southern culture and travel. It is published by Birmingham, Alabama–based Southern Prog ...

Geography and climate

Aiken is near the center of Aiken County. It is northeast of

Augusta, Georgia Augusta ( ), officially Augusta–Richmond County, is a consolidated city-county on the central eastern border of the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. The city lies across the Savannah River from South Carolina at the head of its navig ...

, along

U.S. Route 1 U.S. Route 1 or U.S. Highway 1 (US 1) is a major north–south United States Numbered Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. It runs from Key West, Florida, north to Fort Kent, Maine, at the Canadian border, making i ...

and 78.

Interstate 20 Interstate 20 (I‑20) is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. I-20 runs beginning at an interchange with Interstate 10, I-10 in Scroggins Draw, Texas, and ending at an interchange with Interstate 95, I-95 in Flo ...

passes to the north of the city, with access via

South Carolina Highway 19 South Carolina Highway 19 (SC 19) is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It connects Aiken directly with the Savannah River Site and Edgefield via U.S. Route 25 (US 25). Route description SC 1 ...

(Exit 18) and US 1 (Exit 22). According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the city has an area of , of which is land and , or 0.68%, is water. Aiken has a

humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a zone of climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between latitudes 25° and 40° ...

characterized by hot, humid summers and cool, dry winters, but experiences milder temperatures throughout the year than the rest of the state. Precipitation is distributed relatively uniformly throughout the year, with mostly rain in the milder months and occasional snow in the winter. The coldest recorded temperature was on January 21, 1985, and the hottest on August 21, 1983.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the

2020 United States census The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...

, there were 32,025 people, 12,923 households, and 8,479 families residing in the city.

2010 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...

of 2010, there were 29,524 people and 12,773 households with a population density was . There were 14,162 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 66.8%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

, 28.5% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 1.28%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 0.01%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe the original p ...

, 0.44% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 1.09% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

people of any race were 2.6% of the population. There were 10,287 households, out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.90. In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.2% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males. The median income for a household in the city was $49,100, and the median income for a family was $63,520. Males had a median income of $51,988 versus $28,009 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the city was $24,129. About 10.1% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 21.0% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Aiken is governed via a mayor-council system. A mayor is elected at large. The city council consists of six members. All six members are elected from single-member districts. *Mayor: Rick Osbon *District 1: Gail Diggs *District 2: Lessie Price *District 3: Kay Brohl *District 4: Ed Girardeau *District 5: Andrea Neira Gregory *District 6: Ed Woltz

History

The municipality of Aiken was incorporated on December 19, 1835. The community formed around the terminus of the

South Carolina Canal and Railroad Company The South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company was a railroad in South Carolina that operated independently from 1830 to 1844. One of the first railroads in North America to be chartered and constructed, it provided the first steam-powered, schedul ...

, a rail line from Charleston to the Savannah River, and was named for

, the railroad's first president. During

Sherman's March to the Sea Sherman's March to the Sea (also known as the Savannah campaign or simply Sherman's March) was a military campaign of the American Civil War conducted through Georgia from November 15 until December 21, 1864, by William Tecumseh Sherman, major ...

in the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

Sherman Sherman most commonly refers to: *Sherman (name), a surname and given name (and list of persons with the name) ** William Tecumseh Sherman (1820–1891), American Civil War General *M4 Sherman, a tank Sherman may also refer to: Places United St ...

ordered

Hugh Judson Kilpatrick Hugh Judson Kilpatrick (January 14, 1836 – December 4, 1881) was an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War, achieving the rank of brevet major general. He was later the United States Minister to Chile and an unsuccessful candi ...

and the cavalry corps he commanded to march through South Carolina. By February 5, they had reached Aiken County. While in Aiken county Kilpatrick fought

Joseph Wheeler Joseph "Fighting Joe" Wheeler (September 10, 1836 – January 25, 1906) was an American military commander and politician. He was a cavalry general in the Confederate States Army in the 1860s during the American Civil War, and then a general in ...

and his cavalry corps. This battle, called the Battle of Aiken, was a Confederate victory. Originally it was in the Edgefield District. With population increases, in 1871 Aiken County was organized, made up of parts of neighboring counties. Among its founding commissioners were three African-American legislators:

Prince Rivers Prince R. Rivers (1824–1887) was a former enslaved man from South Carolina who served as a soldier in the Union Army and as a state politician during the Reconstruction era. He escaped and joined Union lines, becoming a sergeant in the 1st South ...

;

Samuel J. Lee Samuel Jones Lee (November 27, 1844 – April 1, 1895) was an American Civil War veteran of the Confederacy, politician and lawyer from South Carolina. He served as the first African-American Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives ...

, speaker of the state House and the first black man admitted to the South Carolina Bar; and

Charles D. Hayne Charles D. Hayne (1844–1913) was an American politician, tailor, and railroad investor from South Carolina. He served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1868 to 1872 and in the South Carolina Senate from 1872 to 1876. He also ...

, a

free man of color In the context of the history of slavery in the Americas, free people of color (French: ''gens de couleur libres''; Spanish: ''gente de color libre'') were primarily people of mixed African, European, and Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Na ...

from one of Charleston's elite families.Jim Nesbitt, "County, once booming, now shadows town it used to rival"
, ''Augusta Chronicle'', 16 February 2004 Aiken was a planned town, and many of the streets in the historic district are named for other cities and counties in South Carolina, including Abbeville, Barnwell, Beaufort, Chesterfield, Colleton, Columbia, Dillon, Edgefield, Edisto, Fairfield, Florence, Greenville, Hampton, Horry, Jasper, Kershaw, Lancaster, Laurens, Marion, Marlboro, McCormick, Newberry, Orangeburg, Pendleton, Pickens, Richland, Sumter, Union, Williamsburg and York. In the late 19th century, Aiken gained fame as a wintering spot for wealthy people from the

Northeast The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—each se ...

Thomas Hitchcock, Sr. Thomas Hitchcock (23 November 1860 – 29 September 1941) was one of the leading American polo players during the latter part of the 19th century and a Hall of Fame horse trainer and owner known as the father of American steeplechase hor ...

and

William C. Whitney William Collins Whitney (July 5, 1841February 2, 1904) was an American political leader and financier and a prominent descendant of the John Whitney family. He served as Secretary of the Navy in the first administration of President Grover Clev ...

established the Aiken Winter Colony. Over the years Aiken became a winter home for many notable people, including

George H. Bostwick George Herbert "Pete" Bostwick (August 14, 1909 – January 13, 1982) was an American court tennis player, a steeplechase jockey and horse trainer, and an eight-goal polo player. Biography He was born in Bisby Lake, New York to Marie L. Stokes an ...

James B. Eustis James Biddle Eustis (August 27, 1834September 9, 1899) was a United States senator from Louisiana who served as President Grover Cleveland, Cleveland's U.S. Ambassador to France, ambassador to France. Early life Born in New Orleans, he was the ...

Madeleine Astor Madeleine Talmage Astor (''née'' Force; later Dick and Fiermonte; June 19, 1893 – March 27, 1940) was an American socialite and a survivor of the . She was the second wife and widow of businessman John Jacob Astor IV. Early life Madeleine ...

William Kissam Vanderbilt William Kissam "Willie" Vanderbilt I (December 12, 1849 – July 22, 1920) was an American heir, businessman, philanthropist and horsebreeder. Born into the Vanderbilt family, he managed his family's railroad investments. Early life William Kiss ...

Eugene Grace Eugene Gifford Grace (August 27, 1876 – July 7, 1960) was the president of Bethlehem Steel Corporation from 1916 to 1945, and chairman of the board from 1945 until his retirement in 1957. He also served as president of the American Iron and Steel ...

, president of

Bethlehem Steel The Bethlehem Steel Corporation was an American steelmaking company headquartered in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. For most of the 20th century, it was one of the world's largest steel producing and shipbuilding companies. At the height of its succe ...

Allan Pinkerton Allan J. Pinkerton (August 25, 1819 – July 1, 1884) was a Scottish cooper, abolitionist, detective, and spy, best known for creating the Pinkerton National Detective Agency in the United States and his claim to have foiled a plot in 1861 to a ...

, and

W. Averell Harriman William Averell Harriman (November 15, 1891July 26, 1986), better known as Averell Harriman, was an American Democratic politician, businessman, and diplomat. The son of railroad baron E. H. Harriman, he served as Secretary of Commerce un ...

. Between 1890 and the 1920s, many

Jewish Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...

immigrants settled in Aiken. The Jewish immigrants were from

Eastern Europe Eastern Europe is a subregion of the Europe, European continent. As a largely ambiguous term, it has a wide range of geopolitical, geographical, ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic connotations. The vast majority of the region is covered by Russ ...

, including

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...

and

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous ...

. Many were from

Knyszyn Knyszyn ( be, Кнышин, yi, קנישין, translit=Knishin, lt, Knišinas) is a town in north-eastern Poland, northwest of Białystok. It is situated in the Podlaskie Voivodeship (since 1999), and was formerly in the Białystok Voivodeship ...

, Poland. In 1905, a group of Russian-Jewish

socialists Socialism is a left-wing economic philosophy and movement encompassing a range of economic systems characterized by the dominance of social ownership of the means of production as opposed to private ownership. As a term, it describes the eco ...

from

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

founded a farming colony in Aiken County that was known as " Happyville". Adath (Adas) Yeshurun (Congregation of Israel) Synagogue was chartered in Aiken in 1921 and the cornerstone was laid in 1925. An historical marker was added to the synagogue in 2014, sponsored by the Jewish Historical Society of South Carolina. In 1903, the Jewish-American peddler Abraham Surasky was the victim of an antisemitic murder that occurred near Aiken.

Savannah River Plant

The

United States Atomic Energy Commission The United States Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) was an agency of the United States government established after World War II by U.S. Congress to foster and control the peacetime development of atomic science and technology. President H ...

's selection of a site near Aiken for a plant to produce fuel for thermonuclear weapons was announced on November 30, 1950. Residences and businesses at

Ellenton, South Carolina Ellenton is a former community that was located on the border between Barnwell and Aiken counties, South Carolina, United States. Ellenton was settled . In 1950 the town was acquired by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission as part of a site for d ...

, were bought for use for the plant site. Residents were moved to New Ellenton, which was constructed about eight miles north, or to neighboring towns. The site was named the Savannah River Plant, and renamed the

Savannah River Site The Savannah River Site (SRS) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reservation in the United States in the state of South Carolina, located on land in Aiken, Allendale, and Barnwell counties adjacent to the Savannah River, southeast of August ...

in 1989. The facility contains five production reactors, fuel fabrication facilities, a research laboratory, heavy water production facilities, two fuel reprocessing facilities, and tritium recovery facilities.

Historic places

* Aiken Golf Club * Aiken Polo Club *

Aiken Preparatory School Mead Hall Episcopal School is a private, 3K–12 coeducational college preparatory school located over two campuses in Aiken, South Carolina Aiken is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Aiken County, in western South Carolina. It is on ...

Aiken Tennis Club The Aiken Tennis Club is a private court tennis club located at 146 Newberry Street, SW in Aiken, South Carolina. It includes the Court Tennis Building. The club was incorporated in 1898 with the sponsorship of financier and founder of the promine ...

* Hopelands Gardens *

Old Aiken Post Office The Old Aiken Post Office, located in Aiken, South Carolina, is a former United States Post Office and photography studio that now serves as an office building. The first floor of the building has been occupied by Savannah River Nuclear Solutio ...

* Palmetto Golf Club *Hitchcock Woods * St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church *

Whitehall Whitehall is a road and area in the City of Westminster, Central London. The road forms the first part of the A roads in Zone 3 of the Great Britain numbering scheme, A3212 road from Trafalgar Square to Chelsea, London, Chelsea. It is the main ...

mansion * The

Aiken Colored Cemetery Aiken Colored Cemetery, a historic cemetery in Aiken, South Carolina, US, covers nearly 10 acres and is located several miles from the downtown area. It was the only burial grounds for Aiken's African-American community through the mid 20th centu ...

Aiken Mile Track Aiken Mile Track, located in Aiken, South Carolina, was built around 1936 during the heart of the Great Depression. Horses and horse racing is known as the “sport of kings.” Within that context it is significant that such a track should be bu ...

Aiken Training Track The Aiken Training Track, with its banked turns and soft straightaways, was considered one of the best tracks in the country upon its completion in 1941. Notable surrounding buildings include a stable, shed and grandstand. The track and supporti ...

Aiken Winter Colony Historic District I Aiken Winter Colony Historic District I, is located in Aiken, South Carolina, It is noteworthy in that it is viewed as the district most closely identified with the history of the Aiken Winter Colony. The area features over 30 properties, many ...

Aiken Winter Colony Historic District II Aiken Winter Colony Historic District II, located in Aiken, South Carolina. It is one of the three districts associated with the Aiken Winter Colony. This district, with over 100 properties, has approximately three times as many structures as H ...

Aiken Winter Colony Historic District III Aiken Winter Colony Historic District III, located in Aiken, South Carolina. It has 42 properties, most of which were seasonal residences. The pleasing district varies from small cottages to large estates. Architectural styles include Queen Ann ...

Chancellor James P. Carroll House The Chancellor James P. Carroll House, located in Aiken, South Carolina, was built in 1855 by James Parsons Carroll, Chancellor of South Carolina. Mr. Carroll was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1838, later served in th ...

Chinaberry ''Melia azedarach'', commonly known as the chinaberry tree, pride of India, bead-tree, Cape lilac, syringa berrytree, Persian lilac, Indian lilac, or white cedar, is a species of deciduous tree in the mahogany family, Meliaceae, that is native ...

Coker Spring Coker Spring is a fresh water spring located on Coker Spring Road in Aiken, South Carolina. This spring is formed by a "junction" where the water table intersects the ground surface and according to archaeological remains, has been used since pre ...

, Court Tennis Building, Crossways,

Dawson-Vanderhorst House The Dawson-Vanderhorst House, located in Aiken, South Carolina. The house is one of the oldest remaining homes in Aiken County. In 1785, Charles Richmond acquired the property by grant. Shortly thereafter it appears that the home was built. Ther ...

Immanuel School Immanuel School is significant for its association with the area's parochial education of African-American children in the Aiken, South Carolina, (USA), area from 1890 to 1932. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. En ...

Joye Cottage Joye Cottage is one of the oldest, and largest winter retreats in Aiken, South Carolina. Most of the sprawling property dates to 1897, when William Collins Whitney purchased the property and remodeled it extensively. It now includes a main hous ...

Legare-Morgan House The Legare-Morgan House is a one-story clapboard structure built in Aiken, South Carolina around 1835. From 1850 to 1859 it was the home of the artist, poet and inventor, James Mathews Legare. In 1870 the property was sold to Thomas C. Morgan. ...

, Phelps House,

Pickens House The Pickens House, located in Aiken, South Carolina. It is reputed to have been built around 1829 by Governor Andrew Pickens for his son. In addition, the home is also noted for its early 19th century backcountry plantation architecture. Event ...

, St. Mary Help of Christians Church,

St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church is parish of the Episcopal Church in Aiken, South Carolina. It is noted for its historic church at Pendleton and Richland Streets. Aiken is a planned community, and land for the church had been set aside in the or ...

Charles E. Simons, Jr. Federal Court House The Charles E. Simons Jr. Federal Court House is located in Aiken, South Carolina. It is significant for its association with the many federal construction programs of the Great Depression era. The building, designed by Columbia, South Carolina ar ...

, and

Willcox's Willcox's, located in Aiken, South Carolina, US, was an internationally known inn during the Aiken Winter Colony heyday. Operated from 1898 to 1957 by members of the Willcox family, the still-magnificent building reflects the influence of both S ...

are listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

Education

Schools

*Public schools: ** Aiken Elementary School ** Aiken High School ** Aiken Middle School **Aiken Scholars Academy ** Chukker Creek Elementary ** East Aiken School of the Arts ** JD Lever Elementary School ** Jackson STEM Middle School ** Kennedy Middle School ** Lloyd Kennedy Charter School ** Millbrook Elementary School ** North Aiken Elementary School ** Redcliffe Elementary School ** Schofield Middle School ** Silver Bluff High School **

South Aiken High School South Aiken High School is a four-year public high school located in Aiken, South Carolina, United States. Athletics South Aiken has won a number of South Carolina High School League state championships. The boys' golf team won the 2004 Class ...

*Private schools: ** Aiken Christian School **

Mead Hall Episcopal School Mead Hall Episcopal School is a private, 3K–12 coeducational college preparatory school located over two campuses in Aiken, South Carolina. Previously covering grades 3K–8, the school expanded to cover high school grades when they acquired Aik ...

** Palmetto Academy Day School ** St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic School ** Second Baptist Christian Preparatory School ** South Aiken Baptist Christian School ** Town Creek Christian Academy *Charter schools: ** Lloyd Kennedy Charter School ** Tall Pines Stem Academy ** Horse Creek Academy

Colleges and universities

Aiken Technical College Aiken Technical College is a public community college in Graniteville, South Carolina. It is part of the South Carolina Technical College System The South Carolina Technical College System is a statewide network of 16 technical colleges in Sout ...

* University of South Carolina at Aiken

Library

Aiken has a

public library A public library is a library that is accessible by the general public and is usually funded from public sources, such as taxes. It is operated by librarians and library paraprofessionals, who are also Civil service, civil servants. There are ...

, a branch of the ABBE Regional Library System.

Steeplechase racing

The Aiken Steeplechase Association, founded in 1930, hosts the Imperial Cup each March and the Holiday Cup in October, both races sanctioned by the

National Steeplechase Association The National Steeplechase Association is the official sanctioning body of American steeplechase horse racing. The National Steeplechase Association was founded on February 15, 1895 by August Belmont Jr., the first president of The Jockey Club an ...

. This event draws more than 30,000 spectators. The

Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum The Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum was established in 1977 as a tribute to the famous flat racing and steeplechase Thoroughbred horses that trained in Aiken, South Carolina. The museum was a project of the local Jaycees, ai ...

was established in 1977 as a tribute to the famous

flat racing Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic p ...

and steeplechase

thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are c ...

horses trained at the Aiken Training Track.

Other events

Aiken hosts many

polo Polo is a ball game played on horseback, a traditional field sport and one of the world's oldest known team sports. The game is played by two opposing teams with the objective of scoring using a long-handled wooden mallet to hit a small hard ...

matches at its numerous polo fields. Other local events include: * Aiken Triple Crown * Aiken's Makin' * Battle of Aiken Reenactment * Bluegrass Festival * Fall Steeplechase * Hops & Hogs * The Lobster Races * Western Carolina State Fair * The Whiskey Road Race * Aiken City Limits (ACL)

Attractions

* Aiken Center for Arts - Hosts educational classes, a fine arts gallery, and exhibition opportunities. * Aiken County Farmers Market - The oldest food market in South Carolina. * Aiken County Historical Museum - A living museum, also known as "Banksia" after the

banksia ''Banksia'' is a genus of around 170 species in the plant family Proteaceae. These Australian wildflowers and popular garden plants are easily recognised by their characteristic flower spikes, and fruiting "cones" and heads. ''Banksias'' range i ...

rose, displays special exhibits of items from residents. *

Aiken State Park Aiken State Park is a state park located near the town of Windsor in Aiken County, South Carolina. History Aiken State Park was one of the 16 original parks in South Carolina, built by an African American detachment of the Civilian Conservation ...

* Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum - Displays the area's rich thoroughbred history with memorabilia, photography, and trophies. * Aiken Visitors Center and Train Museum - The railroad depot has nine dioramas depicting railroad history on the second floor. * Center for African American History, Art, and Culture - Hosts special events on African American history. * DuPont Planetarium and RPSEC Observatory - Provides live presentations of stars, constellations, and visible planets. *Hitchcock Woods - One of the largest urban forests in the United States, at 2100 acres. Provides hiking, walking, and equestrian trails. * Juilliard in Aiken - Live artistic performances, classes, lectures, and workshops. * Redcliffe Plantation State Historic - slaves' and owners' lives depicted. * Rose Hill Estate - Historic housing for overnight stays, weddings, reunions, meetings, and dinner parties.

Notable people

In the late 19th century and the first part of the 20th century, Aiken served as a winter playground for many of the country's wealthiest families, such as the

Vanderbilts The Vanderbilt family is an American family who gained prominence during the Gilded Age. Their success began with the shipping and railroad empires of Cornelius Vanderbilt, and the family expanded into various other areas of industry and philanthr ...

, Bostwicks, and the Whitneys. *

Lee Atwater Harvey LeRoy "Lee" Atwater (February 27, 1951 – March 29, 1991) was an American political consultant and strategist for the Republican Party. He was an adviser to US presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush and chairman of the Republ ...

(1951–1991), Republican strategist, advisor to

Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and union leader who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He also served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 ...

and

George H. W. Bush George Herbert Walker BushSince around 2000, he has been usually called George H. W. Bush, Bush Senior, Bush 41 or Bush the Elder to distinguish him from his eldest son, George W. Bush, who served as the 43rd president from 2001 to 2009; pr ...

; raised in Aiken *

Charles E. Bohlen Charles "Chip" Eustis Bohlen (August 30, 1904 – January 1, 1974) was an American diplomat, ambassador, and expert on the Soviet Union. He helped shape US foreign policy during World War II and the Cold War and helped develop the Marshall Plan ...

(1904-1974), U.S. diplomat; raised in Aiken *

(1909–1982),

court tennis Real tennis – one of several games sometimes called "the sport of kings" – is the original racquet sport from which the modern game of tennis (also called "lawn tennis") is derived. It is also known as court tennis in the United Sta ...

player,

steeplechase Steeplechase may refer to: * Steeplechase (horse racing), a type of horse race in which participants are required to jump over obstacles * Steeplechase (athletics), an event in athletics that derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing ...

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...

and

horse trainer A horse trainer is a person who tends to horses and teaches them different disciplines. Some of the responsibilities trainers have are caring for the animals' physical needs, as well as teaching them submissive behaviors and/or coaching them for e ...

, eight-goal

player; "Pete" was grandson of

Jabez A. Bostwick Jabez Abel Bostwick (September 23, 1830 – August 16, 1892) was an American businessman who was a founding partner of Standard Oil. Early life Bostwick was born in Delhi (town), New York, Delhi, New York on September 23, 1830. He was a son of A ...

, wealthy

Standard Oil Standard Oil Company, Inc., was an American oil production, transportation, refining, and marketing company that operated from 1870 to 1911. At its height, Standard Oil was the largest petroleum company in the world, and its success made its co-f ...

partner *

Anna Camp Anna Ragsdale Camp (born September 27, 1982) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her roles as the villainous Sarah Newlin in the HBO vampire drama ''True Blood'' (2009, 2013–2014) and Aubrey Posen in the musical comedy '' ...

, actress, played Sarah Newlin in the HBO series ''

True Blood ''True Blood'' is an American fantasy horror drama television series produced and created by Alan Ball. It is based on ''The Southern Vampire Mysteries'', a series of novels by Charlaine Harris. A reboot is currently in development. The serie ...

'' and Aubrey in the film ''

Pitch Perfect ''Pitch Perfect'' is a 2012 American musical comedy film directed by Jason Moore and written by Kay Cannon. It features an ensemble cast, including Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Skylar Astin, Anna Camp, Brittany Snow, Hana Mae Lee, Alexis Knap ...

'' *

Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (born October 1, 1924) is an American politician who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he previously served as th ...

, boxer, member of the

International Boxing Hall of Fame The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF), located in Canastota, New York, honors boxers, trainers and other contributors to the sport worldwide. Inductees are selected by members of the Boxing Writers Association of America. The I ...

Barney Chavous Barney Lewis Chavous ( ; born March 22, 1951) is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted in the second round (36th overall) of the 1973 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos after playing college ...

, NFL player for the

Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football franchise based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The team is headquart ...

Corey Chavous Corey Lamonte Chavous (; born January 5, 1976) is a former American football defensive back who played 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Chavous played for three teams, at both safety and cornerback. Chavous was known as one of th ...

, NFL player * F. Ambrose Clark, equestrian, heir to the

Singer Sewing Machine Company Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...

fortune * Robert C. De Large (1842–1874), born in Aiken,

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...

from South Carolina *

Pam Durban Rosa Pam Durban (born March 4, 1947 in Aiken, South Carolina) is an American novelist and short story writer. Life Durban graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG or UN ...

, American novelist and short-story writer *

Matilda Evans Matilda Evans, M.D., also known as Matilda Arabella Evans (May 13, 1866 – November 17, 1935) was the first African-American woman licensed to practice medicine in South Carolina and an advocate for improved health care for African Americans, par ...

, the first African-American woman licensed to practice medicine in South Carolina * Helen Lee Franklin, teacher and social justice advocate *

Thomas Hitchcock Thomas Hitchcock (23 November 1860 – 29 September 1941) was one of the leading American polo players during the latter part of the 19th century and a Hall of Fame horse trainer and owner known as the father of American steeplechase hor ...

and wife Louise owned a estate near Aiken where in 1892 he founded the Palmetto Golf Club; in 1916, Louise founded

. They built a

training center and in 1939 founded Hitchcock Woods with 1,191 acres of their estate. * Tommy Hitchcock, Jr. (1900–1944), son of Thomas and Louise Hitchcock, born in Aiken;

player; veteran of the

Lafayette Escadrille The La Fayette Escadrille (french: Escadrille de La Fayette) was the name of the French Air Force unit escadrille N 124 during the First World War (1914–1918). This escadrille of the ''Aéronautique Militaire'' was composed largely of Ameri ...

in World War I, killed in World War II *

Priscilla A. Wooten Priscilla A. Wooten (March 31, 1936 – February 15, 2017) was an American politician who served in the New York City Council from 1983 to 2001. In 1997, Wooten was the first African-American to endorse Mayor Rudy Giuliani's ultimately successfu ...

(1936-2017), American politician who served in the New York City Council from 1983 to 2001 *

Hope Goddard Iselin Edith Hope Goddard Iselin (January 17, 1868 – April 5, 1970) was an American heiress and sportswoman who was the first American woman to compete as a crew member in the America's Cup yacht race. She also owned thoroughbred racehorses. Early ...

, wife of Charles Oliver Iselin and original owner of Hopeland Gardens in Aiken *

Kevin Kisner Kevin James Kisner (born February 15, 1984) is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. Early life Kisner was born in Aiken, South Carolina and attended South Aiken High School. He played college golf at the University of Geor ...

PGA Tour The PGA Tour (stylized in all capital letters as PGA TOUR by its officials) is the organizer of professional golf tours in the United States and North America. It organizes most of the events on the flagship annual series of tournaments also k ...

Golfer *

DeMarcus Lawrence DeMarcus Lawrence (born April 28, 1992) is an American football defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played college football at Bu ...

American football American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team with ...

linebacker Linebacker (LB) is a playing position in gridiron football. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage and the defensive linemen. They are the "middle ground" of defenders, p ...

for the

Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East divisi ...

Fred L. Lowery Fred may refer to: People * Fred (name), including a list of people and characters with the name Mononym * Fred (cartoonist) (1931–2013), pen name of Fred Othon Aristidès, French * Fred (footballer, born 1949) (1949–2022), Frederico R ...

Southern Baptist The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is a Christian denomination based in the United States. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination, and the largest Protestant and second-largest Christian denomination in the United States. The word ...

clergy Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...

man, began pastorate at Bethel Baptist Church in Aiken in 1960 *

Devereux Milburn Devereux Milburn (September 19, 1881 – August 15, 1942) was an American champion polo player in the early to mid twentieth century. He was one of a group of Americans known as the Big Four in international polo, winning the Westchester Cup six ...

, grandson of Charles Steele, a senior partner at J.P. Morgan & Company, a 10-goal polo player, and one of what was known as the

Big Four Big Four or Big 4 may refer to: Groups of companies * Big Four accounting firms: Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG, PwC * Big Four (airlines) in the U.S. in the 20th century: American, Eastern, TWA, United * Big Four (banking), several groupings ...

in international polo * Janie L. Mines, First African-American woman to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy (1980) *

Eugene Odum Eugene Pleasants Odum (September 17, 1913 – August 10, 2002) was an American biologist at the University of Georgia known for his pioneering work on ecosystem ecology. He and his brother Howard T. Odum wrote the popular ecology textbook, ''Funda ...

, author of ''Fundamentals of Ecology'', founded Savannah River Ecology Laboratory south of Aiken to study the ecological impacts of the nuclear facility *

Michael Dean Perry Michael Dean Perry (born August 27, 1965) is a former American football defensive lineman and the younger brother of William Perry. His parents are Inez S. Perry and Hollie Perry, Sr. of Aiken, South Carolina. He learned to play football from hi ...

, former NFL defensive lineman, six-time Pro Bowl selection (1989–91, 93–94, 96), NCAA first-team All-American (1987) * William Refrigerator Perry, former NFL defensive lineman with

Super Bowl XX Super Bowl XX was an American football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Chicago Bears and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion New England Patriots to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for ...

champion

Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) North division. The Bears have won nine NF ...

and 3-time NCAA All-American (1982–1984) *

Frederick H. Prince Frederick Henry Prince (November 30, 1860 – February 2, 1953) was an American stockbroker, investment banking, investment banker and financier. Early life Prince was born in Winchester, Massachusetts on November 30, 1860, the son of Frede ...

, financier who purchased

's cottage

Marble House Marble House, a Gilded Age mansion located at 596 Bellevue Avenue in Newport, Rhode Island, was built from 1888 to 1892 as a summer cottage for Alva and William Kissam Vanderbilt and was designed by Richard Morris Hunt in the Beaux Arts style ...

Newport, Rhode Island Newport is an American seaside city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island. It is located in Narragansett Bay, approximately southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, Providence, south of Fall River, Massachusetts, south of Boston, ...

Pat Sawilowsky Patricia Audrey "Pat" Sawilowsky (née Ram) (December 29, 1930 – September 29, 2014) was a past president of the National Ladies Auxiliary of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America, and held offices in many other service and chari ...

(b. 1930), past president of the National Ladies Auxiliary of

Jewish War Veterans The Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America (also referred to as the Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A., the Jewish War Veterans, or JWV) is an American Jewish veterans' organization created in 1896 by American Civil War veterans to rais ...

; her father, Herbert B. Ram, owned and named Patricia Theater in downtown Aiken after her, and the companion Rosemary Theater was named for her sister.http://www.worldcat.org/title/memories-of-growing-up-and-living-in-aiken-south-carolina/oclc/767519324''Riddick, A. (2011). Memories of Growing Up and Living in Aiken, South Carolina, Rocket Publishing: Aiken, SC, p. 305-307'' *

Charlie Simpkins Charles "Charlie" Simpkins (born October 19, 1963) was an American athlete who competed mainly in the triple jump. He was born in Aiken, South Carolina. He competed for the United States in the 1992 Summer Olympics held in Barcelona, Spain in t ...

, silver medalist, triple jump,

1992 Summer Olympics The 1992 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1992, ca, Jocs Olímpics d'estiu de 1992), officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad ( es, Juegos de la XXV Olimpiada, ca, Jocs de la XXV Olimpíada) and commonly known as ...

Marion Hartzog Smoak Marion Hartzog Smoak (July 8, 1916May 4, 2020) was an American attorney and politician who served as Chief of Protocol of the United States under President Richard Nixon from 1972 to 1974. Smoak previously served as a member of the South Carolina ...

(1916-2020), lawyer, United States diplomat, and South Carolina state senator * Grace Taylor, gymnast *

Dekoda Watson Dekoda Watson (born March 3, 1988) is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State. Early years Watson attended South ...

, athlete, linebacker with

San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's National ...

and

Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South divisio ...

, helped establish "Winter Colony," a 69-room winter residence *

Paul Wight Paul Donald Wight II (born February 8, 1972) is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) as an in-ring performer, and as a commentator for its web television show, '' AEW Dark: Elevation,'' under ...

(

Big Show Paul Donald Wight II (born February 8, 1972) is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) as an in-ring performer, and as a commentator for its web television show, '' AEW Dark: Elevation,'' under ...

) (b. 1972), professional wrestler and actor, seven-time world champion in

wrestling Wrestling is a series of combat sports involving grappling-type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. Wrestling techniques have been incorporated into martial arts, combat ...

Troy Williamson '' Troy Williamson (born April 30, 1983) is a former American football wide receiver who played in the National Football League for five seasons. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings seventh overall in the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college fo ...

(b. 1983), professional football player *

Gamel Woolsey Gamel Woolsey (born Elizabeth Gammell Woolsey; May 28, 1897 – January 18, 1968) was an American poet, novelist and translator. Early life and education Woolsey was born on the Breeze Hill plantation in Aiken, South Carolina as Elizabeth Ga ...

(1895–1968), writer, coined the phrase "pornography of violence" in her

Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War ( es, Guerra Civil Española)) or The Revolution ( es, La Revolución, link=no) among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War ( es, Cuarta Guerra Carlista, link=no) among Carlists, and The Rebellion ( es, La Rebelión, lin ...

memoir ''Death's Other Kingdom'' (also published as ''Malaga Burning''), born in Aiken *

Marly Youmans Marly Youmans (born Susan Marlene Youmans; November 22, 1953 in Aiken, South Carolina) is an American poet, novelist and short story writer. Her work reflects certain recurring themes such as nature, magic, faith and redemption, and often referen ...

, novelist and poet, born in Aiken *

Leon Lott Leon Lott (born 1953) is the commander of the South Carolina State Guard and the sheriff of Richland County, South Carolina. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Early life Lott was born in Aiken, South Carolina and attended Aiken High Sch ...

, commander of the

South Carolina State Guard The South Carolina State Guard (SCSG) is the designated state defense force for the state of South Carolina. The State Guard maintains its headquarters in Columbia. Battalions are located in the cities of Columbia (1st Midlands Battalion), Char ...

and Sheriff of

Richland County, South Carolina Richland County is located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 416,147, making it the second-most populous county in South Carolina, behind only Greenville County. The county seat and largest city is ...

Notes

References

External links

*
Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce

City of Aiken Historical Marker
{{Authority control Cities in South Carolina Cities in Aiken County, South Carolina County seats in South Carolina Augusta metropolitan area 1835 establishments in South Carolina Populated places established in 1835