Aiken County, South Carolina
Encyclopedia
Aiken County is a county located in the U.S. state
of South Carolina
. In 2000, its population was 142,552; in 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that its population had reached 160,099. Its county seat
is Aiken
.
Aiken County is part of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area.
(1779–1831) who was the first president of the South Carolina Railroad Company. In 1871, Aiken County was formed from pieces of Barnwell
, Edgefield, Lexington, and Orangeburg counties.
After the Civil War
, the county became a hot spot as a winter home for affluent Northerners. The county still remains popular with horse trainers and riders.
In the 1950s, Aiken County along with the nearby counties of Allendale
and Barnwell
was chosen as the location for storage of nuclear materials and various fissile materials, now known as the Savannah River Site
. Developed during Cold War
tension the facility is now scheduled for various parts of the site to be decommissioned.
, the county has a total area of 1080 square miles (2,797.2 km²), of which 1073 square miles (2,779.1 km²) is land and 8 square miles (20.7 km²) (0.72%) is water.
of 2000, there were 142,552 people, 55,587 households, and 39,411 families residing in the county. The population density
was 133 people per square mile (51/km²). There were 61,987 housing units at an average density of 58 per square mile (22/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 71.37% White
, 25.56% Black
or African American
, 0.40% Native American
, 0.63% Asian
, 0.03% Pacific IRace (United States Census)
, and 1.18% from two or more races. 2.12% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. 22.0% were of American
, 9.7% English
, 8.4% German
and 7.9% Irish
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 55,587 households out of which 33.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.30% were married couples
living together, 13.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.10% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the county, the population was spread out with 26.20% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,889, and the median income for a family was $45,769. Males had a median income of $36,743 versus $23,810 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $18,772. About 10.60% of families and 13.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.90% of those under age 18 and 12.50% of those age 65 or over.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. In 2000, its population was 142,552; in 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that its population had reached 160,099. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Aiken
Aiken, South Carolina
Aiken is a city in and the county seat of Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. With Augusta, Georgia, it is one of the two largest cities of the Central Savannah River Area. It is part of the Augusta-Richmond County Metropolitan Statistical Area. Aiken is home to the University of South...
.
Aiken County is part of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area.
History
Both Aiken County and its county seat of Aiken are named after William AikenWilliam Aiken
William Aiken, Jr. was the 61st Governor of South Carolina. He served from 1844 to 1846.He was the son of William Aiken, the first president of the pioneering South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company. Unfortunately, William Sr. was killed in a Charleston carriage accident and never saw his...
(1779–1831) who was the first president of the South Carolina Railroad Company. In 1871, Aiken County was formed from pieces of Barnwell
Barnwell County, South Carolina
-History:The Barnwell District was created in 1798 from the southwestern portion of the Orangeburg District, along the Savannah River...
, Edgefield, Lexington, and Orangeburg counties.
After the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the county became a hot spot as a winter home for affluent Northerners. The county still remains popular with horse trainers and riders.
In the 1950s, Aiken County along with the nearby counties of Allendale
Allendale County, South Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 11,211 people, 3,915 households and 2,615 families residing in the county. The population density was 28 people per square mile . There were 4,568 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile...
and Barnwell
Barnwell County, South Carolina
-History:The Barnwell District was created in 1798 from the southwestern portion of the Orangeburg District, along the Savannah River...
was chosen as the location for storage of nuclear materials and various fissile materials, now known as the Savannah River Site
Savannah River Site
The Savannah River Site is a nuclear 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 Augusta, Georgia. The site was built during the 1950s to refine nuclear materials for...
. Developed during Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
tension the facility is now scheduled for various parts of the site to be decommissioned.
Law/Government
Mr. Ronnie Young is the chairman of the Aiken County Council. The other members and their districts are as follows:- Kathy Rawls- District 1
- Scott Singer- District 2
- LaWana McKenzie- District 3
- Chuck Smith- District 4
- Sandy Haskell- District 5
- Charles Barton- District 6
- Gary Bunker- District 7
- Willar H. Hightower Jr.- District 8
- Mike Hunt- Aiken County Sheriff
Geography
The county seat of Aiken County is Aiken, SC. According to the U.S. Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the county has a total area of 1080 square miles (2,797.2 km²), of which 1073 square miles (2,779.1 km²) is land and 8 square miles (20.7 km²) (0.72%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Saluda County, South Carolina - north
- Lexington County, South Carolina - northeast
- Orangeburg County, South Carolina - east
- Barnwell County, South CarolinaBarnwell County, South Carolina-History:The Barnwell District was created in 1798 from the southwestern portion of the Orangeburg District, along the Savannah River...
- south - Burke County, GeorgiaBurke County, GeorgiaBurke County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 22,243. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 22,754...
- southwest - Edgefield County, South Carolina - west
- Richmond County, GeorgiaRichmond County, GeorgiaRichmond County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is one of the original counties of Georgia, created February 5, 1777. As of 2010, the population was 200,549. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 199,486....
- west
Major highways
|
.svg.png)
.svg.png)
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 142,552 people, 55,587 households, and 39,411 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 133 people per square mile (51/km²). There were 61,987 housing units at an average density of 58 per square mile (22/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 71.37% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 25.56% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.40% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.63% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.03% Pacific IRace (United States Census)
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.18% from two or more races. 2.12% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 22.0% were of American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 9.7% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, 8.4% German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
and 7.9% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 55,587 households out of which 33.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.30% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.10% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the county, the population was spread out with 26.20% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,889, and the median income for a family was $45,769. Males had a median income of $36,743 versus $23,810 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $18,772. About 10.60% of families and 13.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.90% of those under age 18 and 12.50% of those age 65 or over.
Cities, towns, unincorporated areas, and CDPs
- AikenAiken, South CarolinaAiken is a city in and the county seat of Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. With Augusta, Georgia, it is one of the two largest cities of the Central Savannah River Area. It is part of the Augusta-Richmond County Metropolitan Statistical Area. Aiken is home to the University of South...
- BathBath, South CarolinaBath is an unincorporated community in Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. The community is located in the Horsecreek Valley, and its zip code is 29816. It is part of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area. Bath is located in historic Horse Creek Valley....
- Beech IslandBeech Island, South CarolinaBeech Island is an unincorporated community of Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. It appears to take its name from Beech Island, a nearby former island that is politically part of Georgia but geographically separated from the rest of Georgia by a river which changed its bed...
- BelvedereBelvedere, South CarolinaBelvedere is a census-designated place and suburb of North Augusta in Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. It is part of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area...
- BurnettownBurnettown, South CarolinaBurnettown is a town in Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,720 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area...
- ClearwaterClearwater, South CarolinaClearwater is a census-designated place in Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. It lies near North Augusta, South Carolina, and is part of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area. Clearwater is located in historic Horse Creek Valley...
- GlovervilleGloverville, South CarolinaGloverville is a census-designated place in Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,805 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area...
- GranitevilleGraniteville, South CarolinaGraniteville is an unincorporated community in Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. It lies along U.S. 1, five miles west of Aiken. The town lies in Horse Creek Valley which originates in the nearby town of Vaucluse....
- JacksonJackson, South CarolinaJackson is a town in Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 1,625 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area.-Geography:Jackson is located at ....
- LangleyLangley, South CarolinaLangley is an unincorporated community in the Midland Valley area of Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. It is bordered by Gloverville, South Carolina, and Lynwood, South Carolina, and more recently, Burnettown which approved an annexation of some unincorporated land five years ago, but...
- MonettaMonetta, South CarolinaMonetta is a town in Aiken and Saluda counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 220 at the 2000 census.The Saluda County portion of Monetta is part of the Columbia, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Aiken County portion is part of the Augusta, Georgia...
- New EllentonNew Ellenton, South CarolinaNew Ellenton is a city in Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,250 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area.-History:...
- North AugustaNorth Augusta, South CarolinaNorth Augusta is a city in Aiken County, South Carolina, United States, on the north bank of the Savannah River. The population was 21,348 at the 2010 census. The city is included in the Central Savannah River Area and is also part of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area.- History :North...
- PerryPerry, South CarolinaPerry is a town in Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 237 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area.-Geography:Perry is located at ....
- SalleySalley, South CarolinaSalley is a town in Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 410 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area...
- VaucluseVaucluse, South CarolinaVaucluse is an unincorporated community in Aiken County in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It is located at . Vaucluse is part of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area....
- WagenerWagener, South CarolinaWagener is a town in Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 863 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area.-Geography:Wagener is located at ....
- WarrenvilleWarrenville, South CarolinaWarrenville is an unincorporated community in Aiken County, South Carolina, United States, near Graniteville. It is part of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area...
- WindsorWindsor, South CarolinaWindsor is a town in Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 127 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area.-Geography:Windsor is located at ....
Historic places
- Aiken Tennis ClubAiken Tennis ClubThe 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 prominent Whitney family, William C. Whitney...
- Hamburg
- WhitehallWhitehall, Aiken County, South CarolinaWhitehall was constructed circa 1928 for Robert R. McCormick, one of the owners of the Chicago Tribune. The house was designed by Willis Irvin of Augusta, who won a Gold Medal for Domestic Work at the 1929 Southern Architectural Exhibition with its design...
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Aiken County, South CarolinaNational Register of Historic Places listings in Aiken County, South CarolinaThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Aiken County, South Carolina.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Aiken County, South Carolina, United States...
- Savannah RiverSavannah RiverThe Savannah River is a major river in the southeastern United States, forming most of the border between the states of South Carolina and Georgia. Two tributaries of the Savannah, the Tugaloo River and the Chattooga River, form the northernmost part of the border...
- University of South Carolina AikenUniversity of South Carolina AikenThe University of South Carolina Aiken is a four-year, public coeducational university in Aiken, South Carolina. The school offers undergraduate degree programs as well as master's degrees in elementary education, educational technology and applied clinical psychology...