Wagener, South Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wagener
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| Nickname(s):
Gaigeville
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Location of Wagener, South Carolina
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| Country |  United States of America |
| State |  South Carolina |
| County |  Aiken |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.35 sq mi (3.49 km2) |
| • Land | 1.34 sq mi (3.47 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 466 ft (142 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 631 |
| • Density | 470.90/sq mi (181.80/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
29164
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| Area code(s) | 803, 839 |
| FIPS code | 45-74050 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1251308 |
Wagener is a small town located in Aiken County, South Carolina, in the United States. In 2020, about 631 people lived there. It is the biggest town in the northern part of Aiken County, near the South Fork Edisto River. Wagener is also part of the larger Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area.
Contents
Exploring Wagener's Location
Wagener is found in the eastern part of Aiken County. Its exact location is 33°39′10″N 81°21′51″W / 33.65278°N 81.36417°W.
Land and Water Area
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town covers a total area of about 3.1 square kilometers (1.2 square miles). Most of this area is land. Only a tiny part, about 0.02 square kilometers (0.01 square miles), is water.
Understanding Wagener's Population
The number of people living in Wagener has changed over the years. Here is a quick look at the population from different census counts:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 192 | — | |
| 1910 | 362 | 88.5% | |
| 1920 | 597 | 64.9% | |
| 1930 | 546 | −8.5% | |
| 1940 | 588 | 7.7% | |
| 1950 | 584 | −0.7% | |
| 1960 | 614 | 5.1% | |
| 1970 | 723 | 17.8% | |
| 1980 | 903 | 24.9% | |
| 1990 | 731 | −19.0% | |
| 2000 | 863 | 18.1% | |
| 2010 | 797 | −7.6% | |
| 2020 | 631 | −20.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Wagener's Population in 2020
The 2020 United States census showed that 631 people lived in Wagener. These people lived in 320 households, and 261 of these were families.
The census also looked at the different backgrounds of the people living in Wagener:
- About 35.82% of the people were White (not Hispanic).
- About 58.32% were Black or African American (not Hispanic).
- A small number of people were Native American, Asian, or Pacific Islander.
- About 3.96% of the people were of other backgrounds or mixed races.
- About 1.11% of the people were Hispanic or Latino.
A Glimpse into Wagener's Past
The town of Wagener has a long and interesting history, going back to 1887.
Early Names of the Settlement
When it was first settled, Wagener was known by different names. It was called Pinder Town for a while. Later, it became known as Guntersville or Gunter's Crossroad. This name came from the many settlers named Gunter who moved there from North Carolina. These Gunter men were part of Company I of the 20th SC Infantry during the Civil War. The town itself was built on land that used to belong to Elridge Gunter. He gave this land to help the schools and the First Baptist Church in Wagener.
The Arrival of the Southern Railroad
The town really started to grow when the Southern Railroad built a train line through it, connecting to Batesburg. Many towns along this new railroad wanted to be named after George Wagener. He was a big supporter of the railroad and owned a large business in Charleston. Thanks to J. A. Gunter, a successful local farmer, Wagener was chosen to have this important name.
Farming and Trade in Wagener's History
In the 1920s and 1930s, Wagener was famous for growing asparagus. This vegetable was sent all over America from here. During the same time, cotton also became a very successful crop. Huge bales of cotton would fill the streets, waiting to be loaded onto trains. Children in Wagener would even play games like hide-and-seek among these cotton bales. Today, a central town park is located where the old railroad tracks used to be.
Learning in Wagener
Wagener is part of the Aiken County Public School District. This means the schools in Wagener are managed by the county.
Local Schools
The schools that students in Wagener attend are:
- Cyril B. Busbee Elementary School
- A. L. Corbett Middle School
- Wagener-Salley High School
All three of these schools are located right within the town limits of Wagener.
Community Library
Wagener also has a public library. It is a branch of the ABBE Regional Library System, which means it's connected to other libraries in the area.
See also
In Spanish: Wagener para niños
