Egftnjytyk

Aiken County, South Carolina
Aiken County Courthouse
Seal
Location in the U.S. state of South Carolina
South Carolina's location in the U.S.
Founded	1871
Named for	William Aiken
Seat	Aiken
Largest city	Aiken
Area
• Total	1,081 sq mi (2,800 km2)
• Land	1,071 sq mi (2,774 km2)
• Water	9.6 sq mi (25 km2), 0.9%
Population (est.)
• (2013)	164,176
• Density	149/sq mi (58/km2)
Congressional district	2nd
Time zone	Eastern: UTC−5/−4
Website	www.aikencountysc.gov

Aiken County /ˈeɪkən/ is a county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, its population was 160,099.^[1] Its county seat and largest city is Aiken.^[2]

Aiken County is a part of the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is in the Piedmont region.

History

Both Aiken County and its county seat of Aiken are named after William Aiken (1779–1831), the first president of the South Carolina Railroad Company. Aiken County was organized during the Reconstruction era in 1871 from portions of Barnwell, Edgefield, Lexington, and Orangeburg counties.^[3]

Prince Rivers, a freedman and state legislator from Edgefield County, had been a leader in the United States Colored Troops. He was named to head the commission that drew the new county's boundary lines. He was dubbed "The Black Prince" by local newspapers, including the Edgefield Advertiser. He also led the commission that selected the site of Aiken County's present-day courthouse. Other freedmen who were part of the founding of the county were Samuel J. Lee, speaker of the state House and the first black man admitted to the South Carolina Bar; and Charles D. Hayne, a free man of color from one of Charleston's elite families.^[4]

Political tensions kept rising in South Carolina during the 1870s, especially around elections. In the months prior to the 1876 elections, Aiken County was one of the areas to suffer white paramilitary Red Shirts attacks and violence directed against black Republicans to suppress the black vote. Between the Hamburg Massacre in July and several days of rioting in September in Ellenton, more than 100 black men were killed by white paramilitary groups in this county. Two white men died in the violence.^[4]

In the late 19th century, the county became a popular winter refuge for affluent Northerners, who built luxury housing. The county remains popular with horse trainers and professional riders because mild winters allow lengthy training seasons.

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. Ellenton, South Carolina was acquired and its buildings demolished for its development for this plant. Its residents and businesses were all moved north about eight miles to New Ellenton. Developed during Cold War tensions, the facility is now scheduled for decommissioning of various parts of the site.^[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,081 square miles (2,800 km²), of which 1,071 square miles (2,770 km²) is land and 9.6 square miles (25 km²) (0.9%) is water.^[5] It is the fourth-largest county in South Carolina by land area.

Adjacent counties

• 
  Saluda County - north


• 
  Lexington County - northeast


• 
  Orangeburg County - east


• 
  Barnwell County - south


• 
  Burke County, Georgia - southwest


• 
  Edgefield County - west


• 
  Richmond County, Georgia - west

Major highways

• 
  I-20
  


• 
  I-520
  


• 
  U.S. 1
  


• 
  US 25
  


• 
  US 78
  


• 
  US 278
  

Demographics

2000 census

As of the census^[11] of 2000, there were 142,552 people, 55,587 households, and 39,411 families residing in the county. The population density was 133 inhabitants 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 Islander, 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.^[12]

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 160,099 people, 64,253 households, and 43,931 families residing in the county.^[13] The population density was 149.5 inhabitants per square mile (57.7/km²). There were 72,249 housing units at an average density of 67.5 per square mile (26.1/km²).^[14] The racial makeup of the county was 69.6% white, 24.6% black or African American, 0.8% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 2.6% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.9% of the population.^[13] In terms of ancestry, 20.6% were American, 10.0% were English, 9.9% were German, and 8.6% were Irish.^[15]

Of the 64,253 households, 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.6% were non-families, and 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.96. The median age was 40.0 years.^[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $44,468 and the median income for a family was $57,064. Males had a median income of $44,436 versus $33,207 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,172. About 13.4% of families and 16.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.7% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over.^[16]

The following is from the 2010 Census Total Population : 160,099 (100.00%)

Population by Race
American Indian and Alaska native alone 682 (0.43%)
Asian alone 1,329 (0.83%)
Black or African American alone 39,354 (24.58%)
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific native alone 61 (0.04%)
Some other race alone 4,126 (2.58%)
Two or more races 3,090 (1.93%)
White alone 111,457 (69.62%)

Population by Hispanic or Latino Origin (of any race)
Persons Not of Hispanic or Latino Origin 152,275 (95.11%)
Persons of Hispanic or Latino Origin 7,824 (4.89%)

Population by Gender
Female 82,549 (51.56%)
Male 77,550 (48.44%)

Population by Age
Persons 0 to 4 years 10,046 (6.27%)
Persons 5 to 17 years 26,782 (16.73%)
Persons 18 to 64 years (98,652) 61.62%
Persons 65 years and over 24,619 (15.38%)^[17]

Government

Gary Bunker is the chairman of the Aiken County Council. The other members and their districts are as follows^[18]:

• Kathy Rawls- District 1


• Camille Furgiuele - District 2


• Danny Feagin - District 3


• Chuck Smith- District 4


• Sandy Haskell- District 5


• Phil Napier - District 6


• Andrew Siders - District 7


• Willar H. Hightower Jr.- District 8^[19]
  


• Mike Hunt- Aiken County Sheriff^[20]
  

Politics

Education

Aiken County Public School District

Communities

Cities

• 
  Aiken (county seat)


• New Ellenton


• 
  North Augusta (partly in Edgefield County)

Towns

• Burnettown


• Jackson


• Perry


• Salley


• 
  Monetta (partly in Saluda County)


• Wagener


• Windsor

Census-designated places

• Belvedere


• Clearwater


• Gloverville


• Graniteville


• Langley


• Warrenville

Unincorporated communities

• Bath


• Beech Island


• Eureka


• Vaucluse

Historic places

Aiken County Courthouse

• Aiken Tennis Club


• Hamburg


• Whitehall


• Palmetto Golf Club


• Whitney Field, Polo, Oldest in United States


• Hitchcock Woods

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Aiken County, South Carolina


• Savannah River


• University of South Carolina Aiken

References

External links

• 
  Geographic data related to Aiken County, South Carolina at OpenStreetMap
  


• Aiken County Government Homepage


• Quickfacts.census.gov


• Aiken County Historical Society


• University of South Carolina at Aiken


• University of South Carolina Aiken Open Source Project


• McGrath Computer Learning Center at USCA


• Aiken County Historical Marker


• Aiken County history and images

Coordinates: 33°33′N 81°38′W / 33.55°N 81.64°W / 33.55; -81.64