EZ Home Search Guide to Living in Aiken County, SC

Once the winter resort town of the rich and famous, modern Aiken County has plenty to offer for an active, thriving lifestyle. Here you’ll mix a healthy dose of southern hospitality with low-key living. Situated close to Augusta, GA, this county in the Sandhills region of South Carolina is popular for equestrian activities, golfing, and outdoor recreation.

Explore Aiken County and discover why it’s a great place to live in South Carolina.

About Aiken County

Located in the southwestern area of South Carolina, Aiken is in the Sandhills region. These regions are known for their highly sandy soil, rolling hills, and the dominance of pine trees. It is believed ancient oceans formed these as they rose and receded at several points throughout history. Today, Aiken’s highest point is 200 feet above sea level. Other parts of the county include the South Carolina coastal plain and the Piedmont Region.

Aiken is situated between Lexington County and Georgia. Edgefield and Saluda County lie to the north, while Barnwell and Orangeburg County make up the southern border.

Inside the southwestern part of the county is the US Department of Energy Savannah River Site, home to the Savannah River National Laboratory. Once used in the production of nuclear weapons, the site housed five nuclear reactors. Naturally, access is restricted.

Aiken County History

Aiken County was originally home to a Native American culture that developed some of the earliest known pottery in North America. Hernando de Soto passed through here during his travels through the Americas. European settlers explored the area shortly after the founding of Charles Town in 1670, with a garrison founded at nearby Fort Moore.

Aiken County and the town of Aiken, the county seat, were named after William Aiken, Sr, president of the South Carolina Canal and Railroad Company. It was the first commercial Railroad in South Carolina. It was a rural area until the railroad connected Charleston to Hamburg on the Savannah River. Aiken was established as a train depot.

For most of its history, Aiken remained a rural and sparsely populated area. Its sandy soil is best adapted to hardy plants, but it does have a variety of land usable for agriculture. Its main crops were cotton, corn, melons, sugar cane, and fruits. The lands were also used in livestock production, with chickens and hogs shipped out frequently.

With the railroad depot, northerners and Charleston residents began to use Aiken as a winter resort. Even today, it remains a popular destination for horse trainers and riders.

During the Civil War, the Battle of Aiken routed raiders sent to destroy the Graniteville cotton mill, the only one to run uninterrupted. Wheeler’s Cavalry stopped the raiders during the battle.

Aiken County was formed in 1871 by taking parts of Orangeburg, Lexington, Edgefield, and Barnwell counties.

Throughout the late 1800s, travelers continued to come to Aiken to enjoy the temperate climate, ride horses, and play golf on some of the South’s earliest courses.

In the 1950s, Aiken County was chosen for a nuclear materials processing plant, the Savannah River Site. The change brought a difference and a new wave of development to the Aiken County area.

Aiken County Cities and Area

The largest city in the county is the town of Aiken, which serves as the county seat. It is home to the University of South Carolina-Aiken campus. The National Civic League awarded the city the “All-America City Award” in 1997, and it has also been named a “Best Small Town of the South” by Southern Living.

Aiken was made famous as a wintering spot for wealthy people during the late eighteen hundreds. It included notable people from the Astor and Vanderbilt families. They came for the cool, dry winters, and to enjoy outdoor recreation and socializing.

New Ellenton was formed from the original residents of Ellenton, a town chartered in 1880 along the Charleston and Western Carolina Railway near the Aiken County line. Nearly 6,000 people had to move from the original Ellenton due to the Savannah River Site. These residents created New Ellenton.

North Augusta is a city on the edge of Aiken and Edgefield Counties on the north bank of the Savannah River. It also has its roots as a resort town for the rich and famous.

Graniteville was the site of the first large-scale cotton mill built in the South. It is a historic town and the site of a Civil War battle.

Otherwise, much of Aiken County remains dotted by small southern towns and rural country roads.

Aiken County Job Market

Aiken County’s top employing industries are administrative and support positions, health care, manufacturing, and retail trade. The top employers include Hubbell Power Systems, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, Savannah River Remediation, the University of South Carolina, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operation, and Kimberly-Clark Corporation.

In 2020, an Aiken County Community Profile reported an unemployment rate of 5%, below South Carolina’s average of 6.2% and the United States average of 8.1%. The June 2021 unemployment rate was 3.8%, which was again below the month’s South Carolina and United States averages.

The positions with the most job openings at that time were in registered nursing, retail sales, customer service, and general maintenance and repair work.

The profile predicted the industries with the most growth from 2016 to 2026 would be transportation and warehousing, health care and social assistance, administrative and support positions, and accommodation and food services. The total job market growth for the area was estimated to be 7% over the decade.

Aiken County Real Estate Market

The Aiken Association of Realtors provides data for Aiken County. The information from June 2021 shows that the number of new listings has been increasing since a low period reported before 2020 began.

Over the last year, Aiken County has experienced high buyer demand that has driven the median sales price has consistently up, starting from May 2019. The median sales price and May 2021 was $275,618, a 26.6% year-over-year increase. Meanwhile, the days on the market declined to 98 days, a 26.3% drop. The monthly supply of inventory was 2.1 months, indicating a seller’s market.

South Carolina remains a top place to buy a home. Contact EZ Home Search for more current data on the Aiken County real estate market.

Aiken County Population Growth

The average age of an Aiken County resident was 41 years in 2019. The US Census Bureau estimated the county population in July 2019 as 170,872 residents. This represents a 6.27% growth in the number of new residents from April 2010. The age bracket with the highest number of residents was the 50-to-54-year-old age range.

Around 70% of county residents identified as white, while 25% identified as black or African-American. Approximately 3.4% identified as two or more races, and another 3% identified themselves as something other.

About 25% of the population had a bachelor’s degree or higher for education. Another 53% had some college or higher. Aiken County has a highly educated population, which is bolstered by a strong public school system.

Aiken County Education

The Aiken County Public School System offers public education for students in grades K to 12.

It manages 42 schools to serve over 24,000 students. The school district has 20 elementary schools, 11 middle schools, 7 high schools, three charter schools, and one Career & Technology Center. Around 90% of its students graduate in four years and 91% of its students are accepted to a 2- or 4-year college.

Aiken Technical College offers academic programs and university transfer programs with associates in arts or science degrees. It also offers educational programs in health, public service, industrial technology, engineering technology, nuclear technology, and computer technology.

The University of South Carolina-Aiken has 45 undergraduate majors and several master’s programs. This campus has been ranked by US News & World Report as the top university for Southern Public Regional universities in 13 of the last 20 years. It’s also been named a college of distinction.

Aiken County Health Care

The Aiken Regional Medical Center has a 245-bed hospital right in the center of Aiken. The Regional Medical Center has services for behavioral health, gastroenterology, orthopedics, pediatrics, neurology, and emergency services. It also offers services from cancer care to diabetes management.

Residents of the region are also a short drive to other medical centers across the border in Georgia, like the University Healthcare System, the Augusta University Health System, and the Doctors Hospital of Augusta.

Aiken County Things To Do

Aiken County still has many of the recreational opportunities of a winter resort town. People come here to take advantage of the temperate winter climate and enjoy outdoor recreation opportunities. For example, you can access the waterways by canoe or kayak through Aiken State Park, Langley Pond, or on the nearby Savannah River.

In Aiken County, you are close to some of the South’s best golfing destinations. Augusta and the renowned Masters Tournament are just a short drive away. Inside the borders is the Aiken Golf Club, which has two large practice greens and a driving range.

Horseback riding remains a popular pastime in the community. The Aiken Polo Club has a reputation as a place to play, train, and breed Polo ponies. Players come for the spring and fall seasons on their way between the north and the south. The general area still has venues for fox hunting, horse training, and eventing.

Kids will enjoy the splash parks and public playgrounds found in Aiken and North Augusta. They’re a great way to cool off in the humid summer heat.

The nearby USC-Aiken campus has the Etheridge Center, which offers cultural activities throughout the year.

Aiken County Local Attractions

The Riverside Village in North Augusta is home to the Augusta Green Jackets Minor League Baseball Team, a Low-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves.

Aiken State Park is notable for its 1,067 acres of natural beauty. It was built during the Great Depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It has a 1.7-mile canoe or kayak trail down the south fork of Edisto River.

At the Living History Park, you can see what eighteenth-century life was like in the area. There are recreated pioneer-era buildings and workhouses, plus regular demonstrations of early colonial life. The park also hosts festivals and concerts throughout the years.

The Greenway is a seven-mile paved recreational trail running through North Augusta.

Hitchcock Woods is at the center of Aiken. It is the largest privately-owned urban forest in the country. Explore the 70 miles of sandy walking, running, and horse trails.

The Redcliffe Plantation, also known simply as Redcliffe, is a Greek Revival plantation house listed on the National Register Of Historic Places. Take a tour of what life was like during the antebellum period.

The Aiken County Historical Museum is housed in a 1930s winter Colony Mansion called “Banksia.” The grounds are also home to an 1890s one-room schoolhouse in a log cabin built in 1808.

Aiken Train Museum depicts the towns that grew up along the original South Carolina Canal and Railroad Company right-of-way. The railroad was crucial to the area’s growth as a resort destination.

Aiken County Dining

Aiken’s dining scene offers ample opportunities to enjoy classic Southern cooking and to find some globally inspired dishes. Here’s a preview of what you can find when you want to eat out:

• The Willcox Restaurant – The menu is American, although executive chef Ed DeFelice draws inspiration from his international travels.
• Whisky Alley – Small, warm eatery offering small plates, salads, and burgers alongside whiskey drinks and local beers.
• Malia’s – Straightforward seasonal American cuisine served in a polished, white-tablecloth environment.
• Betsy’s Round the Corner – Old-fashioned American corner eatery serving burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches & blue-plate specials.
• What’s Cooking Downtown – Long-running daytime eatery serving salads, sandwiches & burgers, plus brunch & breakfast.

Aiken County Shopping

If you like antiquing, you have options in the Aiken County area, especially near downtown Aiken. For example, Aiken Antiques & Uniques offers vintage and modern furniture and decor. It even has vendors that make their creations.

Aiken has many artists in the area who sell their wares either at local festivals or at boutique shops. One such boutique shop is the Art & Soul of Aiken, where the artist-owners display their work. They also share their space with other artists.

The Aiken County Farmers Market has been operating in the same location in South Carolina for over 50 years. Its vendors offer fresh produce, baked goods, meats, local honey, and dairy products.

Aiken County Local Favorites

If you’re ready to act and dine like a local, then you need to check out these favorite places for Aiken County residents.

• Aiken Brewing Co. A homey brewpub serving a weekly changing lineup of handcrafted beers & a pub-style menu.
• Apizza Di Napoli – The first AVPN Neapolitan Pizzeria certified through Naples Italy in SC is at 740 Silver Bluff Rd.
• Dupont Planetarium – Operated by USC-Aiken, the DuPont Planetarium exists to inspire others to explore the majesty of the heavens.
• Savannah River Site Museum – A museum dedicated to the Savannah River Site’s scientific & technological role in the Cold War.

Living In Aiken County

Aiken County may not be first in mind as a place to live in South Carolina, but as you can see, residents enjoy a robust lifestyle. This is a haven for people who appreciate horses, golfing, and outdoor recreation opportunities. Residents have access to top-quality health care and education opportunities. Essentially, living in Aiken County places you close enough to a major urban center while being away from the crowds and the higher cost of living.