Aiken, South Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aiken
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Aiken County Courthouse
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| Nickname(s):
The City of Trees
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 Aiken
Location in South Carolina
Aiken
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | South Carolina | ||
| County | Aiken | ||
| Incorporated | 1835 | ||
| Named for | William Aiken | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Council–manager | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 21.58 sq mi (55.90 km2) | ||
| • Land | 21.45 sq mi (55.56 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.13 sq mi (0.34 km2) 0.60% | ||
| Elevation | 515 ft (157 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 32,025 | ||
| • Estimate
(2023)
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32,947 | ||
| • Density | 1,492.94/sq mi (576.42/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP Codes |
29801-29805, 29808
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| Area codes | 803, 839 | ||
| FIPS code | 45-00550 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1244853 | ||
Aiken is a city in Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in the county and its county seat, which means it's where the county government is located. In 2020, about 32,025 people lived there, making it one of the bigger cities in South Carolina.
The city was started in 1835 and got its name from William Aiken. He was the president of the South Carolina Railroad at the time. Aiken became part of Aiken County when the county was created in 1871. In the late 1800s, Aiken became a popular place for wealthy people from the Northeast to spend their winters. They would come to enjoy the milder weather.
Today, Aiken is also home to the University of South Carolina Aiken.
Contents
Exploring Aiken's Past: A Look at Its History
Aiken officially became a city on December 19, 1835. The community grew around the end of a railroad line that connected Charleston to the Savannah River. This railroad was very important for moving goods and people.
During the American Civil War, in February 1865, a battle took place near Aiken. Joseph Wheeler and his Confederate cavalry fought against Hugh Judson Kilpatrick and his Union cavalry. The Confederates won this battle, known as the Battle of Aiken.
Aiken County was formed in 1871 from parts of nearby counties. This happened because the population was growing. Some of the important people who helped create the county were African-American legislators like Prince Rivers and Samuel J. Lee.
Aiken was a planned town, meaning it was designed before it was built. Many of its streets are named after other cities and counties in South Carolina. This includes names like Columbia, Florence, and Greenville.
Between 1890 and the 1920s, many Jewish immigrants moved to Aiken, especially from Eastern Europe. Some even started a farming community called "Happyville" in 1905. The Adath Yeshurun Synagogue, a Jewish house of worship, was built in Aiken in 1925.
The Savannah River Site: A Local Landmark
On November 30, 1950, the United States government chose a spot near Aiken for a special plant. This plant was built to produce materials for nuclear weapons. Because of this, a whole town called Ellenton had to move. Its residents moved to a new town called New Ellenton or other nearby places.
This site was first called the Savannah River Plant. In 1989, it was renamed the Savannah River Site. It has been an important place for national defense and scientific research.
Aiken's Location and Weather
Aiken is located in the middle of Aiken County. It is about 20 miles northeast of Augusta, Georgia. Major roads like U.S. Route 1 and U.S. Route 78 pass through or near the city. Interstate 20 is just 6 miles north of Aiken, making it easy to travel to and from the city.
The city covers an area of about 21.58 square miles. Most of this is land, with a small part being water.
Aiken has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and cool, dry winters. However, its temperatures are generally milder than in other parts of South Carolina. Rain falls fairly evenly throughout the year, and sometimes there's a little snow in winter. The coldest temperature ever recorded was -4°F (-20°C) in 1985, and the hottest was 109°F (43°C) in 1983.
| Climate data for Aiken 5 SE, South Carolina (1981–2010 normals, extremes 1893–present ) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 82 (28) |
88 (31) |
93 (34) |
99 (37) |
106 (41) |
108 (42) |
108 (42) |
109 (43) |
106 (41) |
99 (37) |
88 (31) |
85 (29) |
109 (43) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 57.6 (14.2) |
62.0 (16.7) |
68.4 (20.2) |
77.3 (25.2) |
85.5 (29.7) |
90.2 (32.3) |
93.4 (34.1) |
91.6 (33.1) |
86.4 (30.2) |
77.7 (25.4) |
66.8 (19.3) |
59.8 (15.4) |
76.4 (24.7) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 44.8 (7.1) |
49.0 (9.4) |
54.7 (12.6) |
62.9 (17.2) |
72.0 (22.2) |
78.6 (25.9) |
81.9 (27.7) |
80.4 (26.9) |
75.3 (24.1) |
64.9 (18.3) |
54.2 (12.3) |
48.1 (8.9) |
63.9 (17.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 32.0 (0.0) |
35.9 (2.2) |
41.0 (5.0) |
48.5 (9.2) |
58.5 (14.7) |
67.0 (19.4) |
70.4 (21.3) |
69.1 (20.6) |
64.2 (17.9) |
52.1 (11.2) |
41.5 (5.3) |
36.4 (2.4) |
51.4 (10.8) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −4 (−20) |
6 (−14) |
13 (−11) |
21 (−6) |
34 (1) |
42 (6) |
51 (11) |
52 (11) |
37 (3) |
25 (−4) |
11 (−12) |
4 (−16) |
−4 (−20) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.74 (120) |
4.20 (107) |
4.86 (123) |
3.11 (79) |
3.83 (97) |
5.46 (139) |
5.10 (130) |
5.25 (133) |
3.80 (97) |
3.38 (86) |
3.64 (92) |
3.78 (96) |
51.15 (1,299) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.5 (1.3) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0.5 (1.3) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 9.2 | 8.1 | 7.9 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 10.1 | 10.5 | 10.5 | 7.2 | 6.2 | 6.9 | 8.6 | 98.8 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
A Look at Aiken's Population
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 1,817 | — | |
| 1890 | 2,362 | 30.0% | |
| 1900 | 3,414 | 44.5% | |
| 1910 | 3,911 | 14.6% | |
| 1920 | 4,103 | 4.9% | |
| 1930 | 6,033 | 47.0% | |
| 1940 | 6,168 | 2.2% | |
| 1950 | 7,083 | 14.8% | |
| 1960 | 11,243 | 58.7% | |
| 1970 | 13,436 | 19.5% | |
| 1980 | 14,978 | 11.5% | |
| 1990 | 19,872 | 32.7% | |
| 2000 | 25,337 | 27.5% | |
| 2010 | 29,566 | 16.7% | |
| 2020 | 32,025 | 8.3% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 32,947 | 11.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 |
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How Many People Live in Aiken?
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 19,757 | 61.69% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 9,076 | 28.34% |
| Native American | 51 | 0.16% |
| Asian | 640 | 2.0% |
| Pacific Islander | 13 | 0.04% |
| Other/mixed | 1,271 | 3.97% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,217 | 3.8% |
In 2020, the census showed that 32,025 people lived in Aiken. There were 12,923 households and 8,479 families.
In 2010, the population was 29,524 people. About 28.1% of households had children under 18. The city's population was spread out across different age groups. The median age was 40 years old.
Historic Places to Discover in Aiken
Aiken has many places that are important to its history. Some of these include:
- Aiken Golf Club
- Aiken Polo Club
- Aiken Preparatory School
- Aiken Tennis Club
- Hitchcock Woods
- Hopelands Gardens
- Old Aiken Post Office
- Palmetto Golf Club
- St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church
- Whitehall mansion
Many other places in Aiken are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are recognized for their historical importance.
Learning in Aiken: Schools and Colleges
Aiken is part of the Aiken County Public School District.
Schools for All Ages
- Public schools:
- Aiken Elementary School
- Aiken High School
- Aiken Intermediate 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
- Private schools:
- Aiken Christian School
- Mead Hall Episcopal School
- 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 for Higher Education
- Aiken Technical College
- University of South Carolina at Aiken
Aiken's Public Library
Aiken has a public library that is part of the ABBE Regional Library System. It's a great place to find books and learn new things.
Steeplechase Racing: A Thrilling Tradition
The Aiken Steeplechase Association, started in 1930, holds two big horse races each year. These are the Imperial Cup in March and the Holiday Cup in October. Both races are part of the National Steeplechase Association. More than 30,000 people come to watch these exciting events!
The Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum was created in 1977. It celebrates the famous thoroughbred horses that were trained at the Aiken Training Track.
Fun Events and Attractions in Aiken
Aiken hosts many exciting events throughout the year. It also has several interesting places to visit.
Popular Events in Aiken
Aiken is known for its many polo matches held on its various polo fields. Other local events include:
- Aiken Triple Crown (a series of horse events)
- Aiken's Makin' (a craft and food festival)
- Battle of Aiken Reenactment (a historical reenactment)
- Bluegrass Festival (music festival)
- Fall Steeplechase (horse race)
- Hops & Hogs (food and drink event)
- The Lobster Races (a unique and fun race)
- Western Carolina State Fair
- The Whiskey Road Race (a running event)
- Aiken City Limits (ACL) (a music event)
Top Attractions to Visit
- Aiken Center for Arts: Offers art classes, a gallery, and exhibitions.
- Aiken County Farmers Market: The oldest food market in South Carolina.
- Aiken County Historical Museum: Also known as "Banksia," it shows special items from residents.
- Aiken State Park: A great place for outdoor activities.
- Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum: Learn about the area's horse racing history.
- Aiken Visitors Center and Train Museum: Features nine dioramas showing railroad history.
- Center for African American History, Art, and Culture: Hosts events about African American history.
- DuPont Planetarium and RPSEC Observatory: Enjoy live shows about stars and planets.
- Hitchcock Woods: One of the largest urban forests in the United States, covering 2,100 acres.
- Juilliard in Aiken: Features live artistic performances, classes, and workshops.
- Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site: Shows what life was like for both enslaved people and owners.
- Rose Hill Estate: A historic housing estate.
Famous People from Aiken
Many notable people have connections to Aiken, especially in the late 1800s and early 1900s when it was a winter home for wealthy families.
- Lee Atwater: A political strategist who grew up in Aiken.
- Anna Camp: An actress known for her roles in True Blood and Pitch Perfect.
- Jimmy Carter: A boxer who is in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
- Thomas Hitchcock and his wife Louise: They founded the Palmetto Golf Club and Aiken Preparatory School. They also helped create Hitchcock Woods.
- Tommy Hitchcock, Jr.: A famous polo player and World War I veteran, born in Aiken.
- Kevin Kisner: A professional golfer on the PGA Tour.
- DeMarcus Lawrence: An American football linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys.
- Janie L. Mines: The first African-American woman to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy.
- Michael Dean Perry: A former NFL defensive lineman.
- William "Refrigerator" Perry: A famous former NFL defensive lineman who played for the Chicago Bears.
- Charlie Simpkins: A silver medalist in the triple jump at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
- Paul Wight (Big Show): A professional wrestler and actor.
See also
In Spanish: Aiken para niños
