Aiken South Carolina

Aiken South Carolina

It is often said that “you can’t have it all,” but whoever first uttered those words obviously had never been to Aiken, South Carolina. We are home to smiling faces and beautiful places. Come and see an area where you CAN have it all. . . and perhaps more than you expected. You will find a diverse selection of cultural events, concerts and productions taking place in Aiken County during the year. Productions and concerts are presented at USC Aiken’s Etheridge Center on the campus of the university. The Aiken Community Playhouse located in their new facility in downtown Aiken has several productions during the year. Every summer there are concerts and events at Hopeland Gardens during their Summer Concert Series.

With Aiken SC rich heritage, quaint towns and pristine beauty balanced by numerous exciting activities and a cosmopolitan flair, Aiken offers something for everyone in a friendly, accommodating and attractive setting.

With equestrian sports, year-round recreational sports, history, the arts, shopping, hiking, fishing and a host of other ventures available, there is something that will appeal to all age groups. The old and new blend perfectly to provide an atmosphere that suits almost any taste – from families to young adults and retirees.

Aiken County History

The Cofachiqui Meet DeSoto
Hernando DeSoto crossed the Savannah River in 1539 at Point Comfort, just West of the Savannah River Site. The Cofachiqui welcomed DeSoto and his men, but tension spread when the newcomers found no silver. They took their frustrations out on the natives, robbing them and their burial grounds. As one particular grave was unearthed, DeSoto found the remains of his brother, Ayllon. The furious Spaniard kidnapped Queen Cacique and fled with 14 bushels of freshwater pearls.

Colonists Arrive in Savanna Town
Savanna Town prospered in 1685 with the arrival of English Colonists. Savanno/Savanna Town (present day Beech Island) was the most important Indian trade center in South Carolina. Furs were exchanged for European goods that were shipped up the Westobou River (Savannah River) from Charleston. Indian nations in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and North Carolina carved trails leading to this post. In 1716, Fort Moore was erected providing protection for the western entrance of South Carolina and the Indian Trade business.

Hamburg To Charleston
In 1832, the world’s longest steam engine railway was completed. It spanned 136 miles, from Hamburg (North Augusta) to Charleston, following the same trading paths as the Creek/Chickasaw Indians. It became the “Best Friend” because of its usefulness in the exploration of cotton, flour, and tobacco.

Battle of Aiken, Civil War
The Confederate Army claimed one of its last victories at the battle of Aiken on February 11, 1865. The victory spared the South’s first cotton mill and the historic cities of Aiken and North Augusta. After the end of war, on March 10, 1871, sections of Orangeburg, Lexington, Edgefield, and Barnwell Counties were consolidated to form Aiken County.

Winter Colony is a Great Escape
At the turn of the century, people of great wealth in the Northern United States and Canada flocked to Aiken County to escape bitter winters. The area quickly became known as the “Winter Colony”. Polo, fox hunting, and horse racing became a vital part of Aiken County history and still reigns today.

Department of Energy
In the 1950’s, the entire towns of Ellenton and Dunbarton were literally moved to make way for the Savannah River Site, a plutonium producing nuclear weapons facility. A permanent exhibit at the Aiken County Historical Museums features the event.

Aiken
Aiken earned its reputation during the first hundred years as “a place for a splendid time to be had”. Those words reign true today. Once a summer retreat for Charlestonians escaping the threat of malaria, it became home to a Winter Colony as word spread North during the late 1800’s. The grand health resort had the perfect climate and a healing combination of warm dry air scented with pine and spring water. Wealthy horse enthusiasts brought their animals for pleasure. Grandiose cottages and stables were built and survive today with no signs of wear. Polo is played on Sunday afternoons just the same as it has been since 1882. Aiken is a place existing with the exact ambiance it had two hundred years ago. Unique shopping and dining establishments complete an old-fashioned theme. Amidst the downtown is a great example of land preservation: Hitchcock Woods, America’s largest urban forest with over 2100 acres.

Beech Island, Silver Bluff, and Jackson
In 1685 settlement of Savanna Towns, name came from a Shawnee tribe, the Savanna Indians. This was an important trade center and “jumping-off” point to the Western wilderness. European goods, arriving in Charleston, were sent to Savanna town via the Westobou River (Savannah River). Fort Moore was built in 1716 for mercantile protection and to guard the Western entrance of the colony. In 1760, Irishman George Galphin built a trading post upon the Cofachiqui Indian site. It was used as Fort Gaphlin during the Revolutionary War. In 1856, the Beech Island agricultural Club was organized and is one of the oldest surviving societies in the state today. The area was originally named Beech Highland for the Beech trees on the high terrain.

Graniteville
In 1845, William Gregg founded a village and a manufacturing company, the South’s first cotton mill. Built of local blue granite, the Graniteville Manufacturing Co. operates today as Avondale Mill. Mr. J. W. Reardon, a former employee known as “The Grand Ole Man” holds the world record for the longest continuous employment in one company, 87 years! Gregg had 40 “Blue Row” homes built, some still standing, were built for employees. Vaucluse, named by French Huguenots was originally a camp and hunting grounds for the Westos Indians. Vaucluse Mill, cornerstone dating 1832, is where William Gregg began his mill industries. The Vaucluse Historic District is listed in the National Register and is wonderfully preserved mill village.

North Augusta
Two towns preceded North Augusta: Campbell Town (1770) and Hamburg (1827). In 1890, James U. Jackson purchased more than 5,000 acres for $100K. Jackson, born and raised in Augusta, GA., dreamed of a town on the opposite side of the Savannah River. In 1902, he built a flamboyant resort, the Hampton Terrace Hotel. The motion picture industry was attracted to the area and the hotel was convenient and upscale. The locals did not want to ruin their resort by allowing a Hollywood studio there. The hotel burned in 1917 and was not rebuilt. North Augusta is filled with beautiful antebellum homes of that era and boasts one of the state’s most challenging golf courses along the banks of the Savannah River.

Couchton
Couchton was the site of Civil War Prison Camp Butler. The name came from Mr. Walter Couch, a housing developer of the early 1950’s. The community os located on Hwy. 302.

Monetta
Monetta is located at the junction of and ancient Southern Cherokee Path and the Occaneechi Trail. Legend tells of a Chief’s daughter, Monetta, as being buried in the center of town, where the old railroad depot stood. Monetta is divided between Saluda and Aiken Counties. During the 1920’s and 30’s, it was the asparagus center of the world. Today, peach fields surround the quaint town.

Eureka
Eureka was first known as Seigler’s Crossing. A school teacher came up with the new name, Eureka. Another teacher, in 1910, Marie Samuella Cromer, began the Girls Tomato Club because females were not allowed in the Boy’s Corn Club. Starting with 46 members, the Girl’s Tomato Club grew to 25,000 members nationwide in less than two years. Today, the club is known as the 4-H Club.

Montmorenci
Cyril Pascalis, a civil engineer, built his home at Johnson’s Turnout in 1832, which was used for the Union headquarters during the Battle of Aiken. A winery has replaced the fields where asparagus once grew abundantly. Many locals and visitors know the tale of the ghost of a little girl at Annie’s Inn, a local Bed and Breakfast. This home served as a hideout for Confederate soldiers in the Civil War.

New Ellenton
New Ellenton has a unique and sentimental history. The people of Ellenton learned in the early 1950’s that their town would be displaced by a massive nuclear weapons complex. The United States Government bought 200,000 acres of land in Aiken and Barnwell Counties for $19 million and built facilities to generate nuclear components for the hydrogen bomb. It was common to see homes, churches or stores traveling down the road on the back of a truck. The Atomic City Festival began in 1972 in remembrance of the 6,000 people whose town was displaced in order to provide national security.

Perry
Perry was established on land was owned by John Martin Salley. Salley met John A. Wagener and Benjamin F. Perry while stationed in Charleston during the Civil War. Perry had been a strong Unionist and established on of the last Union newspapers in Greenville. When South Carolina succeeded for the Union, Perry remained loyal to his home state, placing his faith in the Confederate States. He served as Provisional Governor for six months. He and Wagener were both instrumental in bringing the railroad through Perry. The town was originally known as Wagener. When present-day Wagener was officially given its name in 1888, the original Wagener changed its name to Perry. The Perry Depot is one of the original depots of the railroad built in 1888.

Salley
Henry Salley, John Corbitt Sr. and Jr. were responsible for getting a charter in 1735 to provide a buffer between Charles Towne and inland Cherokee Indians. In 1887, Capt. D. H. Salley fought for the renaming of the town from John Town to Salley after the Civil War. Over 200 men and boys served in the Civil War from the area. There are over 70 Confederate graves there and at least on common grave with 17 Tories (the exact location is unknown.) Just 12 miles from town are 128 more Confederate graves. Salley suffered through Sherman’s March, but through determined family ties, their proud heritage will not be forgotten. Salley has less than 500 residents and 260 years of history. Surviving homes date to 1827. It is also known worldwide as the Home of the Chitlin’ Strut, held each Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Wagener
Wagener was known as Pinder Town and later as Gunter’s Cross Roads (Guntersville), after a large number of North Carolinian settlers named “Gunter”. These men helped make up Company I of the 20th SC Infantry, which was part of Kershaw’s Brigade during the Civil War. The town was renamed after George Wagener, a cotton merchant who was active in bringing the railroad to town. In the 1920’s and 30’s, asparagus and cotton were very successful products of the area. Railroad beds have been replaced by a town park.

White Pond and Windsor
New Windsor consisted of 11 townships set up on South Carolina by Royal Governor Johnson in the 1730’s. It incorporated all of the present day Aiken County. Named after Windsor Castle, a home of the British Monarchy, the town of Windsor was established in the 1700’s. Windsor flourished until the financial bank collapsed in 1929, during the depression. Later in the 40’s when the Savannah River site came into play, residents didn’t want to sell their property so developers moved on to other locations to build home sites for employees of the nuclear facility.

Source: Aiken County Parks, Recreation, & Tourism

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