In the colonial era the area that is now Aiken County was part of Edgefield and Orangeburgh Districts. The majority of the population were immigrant farmers.
Most of whom were from the rural parts of Lincolnshire, England; however, very few were from the town of Lincoln. Virtually all of the farmers from Lincolnshire came to the colony as indentured servants in the 1730s and 1740s. However, by the 1750s, almost all of the Lincolnshire settlers in what is now Aiken County were living on their own private land, almost exclusively engaging in subsistence agriculture on smallholding farms. Many immigrants also came from the rural eastern half of the English county of Nottinghamshire. Specifically, many indentured servants came from the towns of Newark-on-Trent, Winthorpe, Coddington, Balderton, Kelham and Farndon. A third group of English farmers settled in the colony, mostly arriving not as individual indentured servants but as entire family units, coming from the Derbyshire Dales region of the English county of Derbyshire; these settlers primarily originated in the three towns of Ashbourne, Bakewell and Matlock as well as the farm country surrounding these towns. These settlers also settled on lands in between the Savannah River in the west and the towns of Berlin and Jones Crossroads in the east, all arriving in what has since become Aiken County in the 1740s. A numerically smaller but influential migration came to what has since become Aiken County in the form of Presbyterian immigrants of Scottish ancestry who came from County Antrim and the northern portion of County Down in Ireland, as well as small numbers from the town of Kesh in County Fermanagh, Ireland. This population referred to themselves as "Ulstermen" and "Irish Presbyterians" but were known in the colonies as "Scots-Irish" settlers, though this was not a term they self-applied. They too arrived in the 1740s.[3][4][5][6] The area that has since become Aiken County had a significantly high number of first generation British immigrants who fought for the Patriot cause in the revolutionary war.[7]
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.[10]
Political tensions kept rising in South Carolina during the 1870s, especially around elections. In the months before 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.[10]
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 and production 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 of this plant. Its residents and businesses were moved north about eight miles to New Ellenton, and about 5 miles south to the town of Jackson just outside the entrance to the Savannah River Site, Developed during Cold War tensions, the facility is scheduled for decommissioning of various parts of the site.[9]
Geography
Interactive map of Aiken County
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,080.17 square miles (2,797.6 km2), of which 1,070.69 square miles (2,773.1 km2) is land and 9.48 square miles (24.6 km2) (0.88%) is water.[11] It is the fourth-largest county in South Carolina by land area.
As of the 2020 census, there were 168,808 people, 67,889 households, and 43,932 families residing in the county.
2010 census
At the 2010 census, there were 160,099 people, 64,253 households, and 43,931 families living in the county.[20][18] 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).[21] 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.[20] In terms of ancestry, 20.6% were American, 10.0% were English, 9.9% were German, and 8.6% were Irish.[22]
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.[20]
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.[23]
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%)[24]
2000 census
At the 2000 census,[25] there were 142,552 people, 55,587 households, and 39,411 families living 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 $18,772. About 10.60% of families and 13.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.90% of those under age 18 and 12.50% of those age 65 or over.[26]
Law and government
Gary Bunker is the Chairman of the Aiken County Council. The other members and their districts are as follows:[27]
Aiken County was one of the first counties in South Carolina to break away from a "Solid South" voting pattern. It has gone Republican in every presidential election since 1956. It even rejected southern Democrats such as Lyndon Johnson of Texas, Jimmy Carter of Georgia, Bill Clinton of Arkansas or Al Gore of Tennessee. Carter is the last Democrat to manage even 40 percent of the county's vote. However, it has trended more liberal in recent years, giving Bob Dole in 1996 a greater proportion of the vote than Donald Trump in 2016, despite Dole losing decisively to Bill Clinton nationally, and Donald Trump winning the Electoral College 304-227.
The Republican trend runs through the local level as well. While conservative Democrats held most state and local offices well into the 1990s, today there are almost no elected Democrats left above the county level.
United States presidential election results for Aiken County, South Carolina[30]
Employment and Wage Statistics by Industry in Aiken County, South Carolina[34]
Industry
Employment Counts
Employment Percentage (%)
Average Annual Wage ($)
Accommodation and Food Services
6,332
9.9
19,136
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
9,749
15.2
87,516
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
246
0.4
53,404
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
1,115
1.7
21,424
Construction
5,781
9.0
82,316
Educational Services
4,313
6.7
52,572
Finance and Insurance
1,011
1.6
67,808
Health Care and Social Assistance
7,217
11.2
49,972
Information
458
0.7
62,400
Management of Companies and Enterprises
114
0.2
92,612
Manufacturing
8,739
13.6
71,448
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction
138
0.2
73,684
Other Services (except Public Administration)
1,693
2.6
46,436
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
3,388
5.3
102,908
Public Administration
2,564
4.0
63,024
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
462
0.7
48,984
Retail Trade
7,320
11.4
31,824
Transportation and Warehousing
2,417
3.8
52,260
Utilities
374
0.6
86,372
Wholesale Trade
825
1.3
60,060
Total
64,256
100.0%
60,220
Education
The only school district covering sections of the county is Aiken County School District, which covers the majority of the county. A portion of the county is not in any school district,[35] and the 2010 U.S. Census stated that this portion was in "School District Not Defined".[36] That undefined portion corresponds with the Savannah River Site.[37]
^ ab"Aiken County"(PDF). Community Profiles (04000003). Columbia, SC: S.C. Department of Employment & Workforce - Business Intelligence Department. April 19, 2024.
