Aiken County, South Carolina
Aiken County | |
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UTC−4 (EDT) | |
Congressional district | 2nd |
Website | www |
Aiken County (
History
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
Both Aiken County and its county seat of
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
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
According to the
State and local protected areas/sites
- Aiken Gopher Tortoise Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area[12]
- Aiken State Park
- Audubon's Silver Bluff Center and Sanctuary[13]
- Britton Mims Place
- Battle of Aiken
- Bear Branch Heritage Preserve[12]
- Crackerneck Wildlife Management Area and Ecological Reserve[12]
- Ditch Pond Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area[12]
- Gopher Branch Heritage Preserve[12]
- Graniteville Historic District
- Henderson Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area[12]
- Janet Harrison High Pond Heritage Preserve[12]
- Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site
- Vaucluse Mill Village Historic District
Major water bodies
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
Major infrastructure
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1880 | 28,112 | — | |
1890 | 31,822 | 13.2% | |
1900 | 39,032 | 22.7% | |
1910 | 41,849 | 7.2% | |
1920 | 45,574 | 8.9% | |
1930 | 47,403 | 4.0% | |
1940 | 49,916 | 5.3% | |
1950 | 53,137 | 6.5% | |
1960 | 81,038 | 52.5% | |
1970 | 91,023 | 12.3% | |
1980 | 105,625 | 16.0% | |
1990 | 120,940 | 14.5% | |
2000 | 142,552 | 17.9% | |
2010 | 160,099 | 12.3% | |
2020 | 168,808 | 5.4% | |
2023 (est.) | 177,130 | [1] | 4.9% |
U.S. Decennial Census[14] 1790–1960[15] 1900–1990[16] 1990–2000[17] 2010[18] 2020[1] |
2020 census
Race | Num. | Perc. |
---|---|---|
White (non-Hispanic)
|
107,918 | 63.93% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)
|
39,465 | 23.38% |
Native American
|
530 | 0.31% |
Asian
|
1,773 | 1.05% |
Pacific Islander
|
96 | 0.06% |
Other/Mixed
|
7,500 | 4.44% |
Latino
|
11,526 | 6.83% |
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
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
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
Law and government
Gary Bunker is the Chairman of the Aiken County Council. The other members and their districts are as follows:[27]
- 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[28]
- Mike Hunt- Aiken County Sheriff[29]
Politics
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
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.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 51,589 | 60.56% | 32,275 | 37.89% | 1,321 | 1.55% |
2016 | 46,025 | 61.49% | 25,455 | 34.01% | 3,371 | 4.50% |
2012 | 44,042 | 62.59% | 25,322 | 35.99% | 999 | 1.42% |
2008 | 42,849 | 61.41% | 26,101 | 37.41% | 820 | 1.18% |
2004 | 39,077 | 65.68% | 19,799 | 33.28% | 616 | 1.04% |
2000 | 33,203 | 65.38% | 16,409 | 32.31% | 1,170 | 2.30% |
1996 | 26,539 | 61.61% | 14,314 | 33.23% | 2,221 | 5.16% |
1992 | 25,731 | 55.01% | 14,802 | 31.64% | 6,245 | 13.35% |
1988 | 27,665 | 71.84% | 10,598 | 27.52% | 244 | 0.63% |
1984 | 25,872 | 71.60% | 9,892 | 27.38% | 369 | 1.02% |
1980 | 18,570 | 57.37% | 13,014 | 40.21% | 785 | 2.43% |
1976 | 16,011 | 51.36% | 14,927 | 47.88% | 235 | 0.75% |
1972 | 21,117 | 77.05% | 5,745 | 20.96% | 545 | 1.99% |
1968 | 12,264 | 44.76% | 6,319 | 23.06% | 8,815 | 32.17% |
1964 | 17,467 | 69.62% | 7,622 | 30.38% | 0 | 0.00% |
1960 | 10,715 | 61.62% | 6,674 | 38.38% | 0 | 0.00% |
1956 | 6,195 | 50.38% | 4,280 | 34.81% | 1,821 | 14.81% |
1952 | 4,282 | 49.63% | 4,346 | 50.37% | 0 | 0.00% |
1948 | 115 | 2.17% | 572 | 10.79% | 4,612 | 87.04% |
1944 | 60 | 2.28% | 2,403 | 91.26% | 170 | 6.46% |
1940 | 89 | 3.11% | 2,772 | 96.89% | 0 | 0.00% |
1936 | 35 | 1.05% | 3,298 | 98.95% | 0 | 0.00% |
1932 | 47 | 1.39% | 3,346 | 98.61% | 0 | 0.00% |
1928 | 242 | 15.58% | 1,308 | 84.22% | 3 | 0.19% |
1924 | 16 | 1.06% | 1,488 | 98.61% | 5 | 0.33% |
1920 | 64 | 3.74% | 1,649 | 96.26% | 0 | 0.00% |
1916 | 26 | 1.45% | 1,750 | 97.93% | 11 | 0.62% |
1912 | 2 | 0.14% | 1,452 | 99.59% | 4 | 0.27% |
1908 | 48 | 2.36% | 1,990 | 97.64% | 0 | 0.00% |
1904 | 35 | 2.05% | 1,672 | 97.95% | 0 | 0.00% |
1900 | 53 | 3.48% | 1,470 | 96.52% | 0 | 0.00% |
1896 | 137 | 6.96% | 1,819 | 92.48% | 11 | 0.56% |
1892 | 396 | 17.46% | 1,802 | 79.45% | 70 | 3.09% |
Education
Aiken County Public School District, Aiken Technical College, University of South Carolina Aiken are located in Aiken County.
Communities
Cities
- Aiken (county seat and largest community)
- New Ellenton
- North Augusta (partly in Edgefield County)
Towns
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities
Historic places
- Aiken Tennis Club
- Hamburg
- Whitehall
- Palmetto Golf Club
- Whitney Field, Polo, Oldest in United States
- Hitchcock Woods
See also
- List of counties in South Carolina
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Aiken County, South Carolina
- Horse Creek Valley
- Beaver Creek Indian Tribe, state-recognized tribe that resides in the county
References
- ^ a b c "QuickFacts: Aiken County, South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ Thomas Bell, Ulster Scot, to South Carolina and Allied Families by Dorothy Edmonson and Louis Carr Henry
- ^ Scotch Irish Pioneers in Ulster and America by Charles Knowles Bolton
- ^ Lost Aiken County by Alexia Jones Helsley pg. 35
- ^ Migrants, Immigrants, and Slaves: Racial and Ethnic Groups in America by George Henderson, Thompson Dele Olasiji pg. 54
- ^ South Carolina Loyalists in the American Revolution by Robert Stansbury Lambert
- ^ Federal Writers' Project (1941). Palmetto Place Names. Sloane printing co. p. 11.
- ^ a b Mary Morgan (March 19, 2007). "History". Archived from the original on February 20, 2008. Retrieved March 29, 2008.
- ^ a b Jim Nesbitt, "County, once booming, now shadows town it used to rival" Archived 2008-11-20 at the Wayback Machine, Augusta Chronicle, 16 February 2004
- ^ "2020 County Gazetteer Files – South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g "SCDNR Public Lands". www2.dnr.sc.gov. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
- ^ "Audubon's Silver Bluff Sanctuary". Audubon South Carolina. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
- ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
- ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
- ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
- ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
- ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
- ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
- ^ "2010 Census Population of Aiken County, South Carolina". CensusViewer. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ^ "US Census Bureau Demographics Data". Factfinder.census.gov. Archived from the original on February 11, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
- ^ "Aiken County Government". Aikencountysc.gov. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
- ^ "Aiken County Government". Archived from the original on March 6, 2008. Retrieved March 29, 2008.
- ^ "Welcome to the Aiken County Sheriff". Aikencountysheriff.org. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
External links
- Geographic data related to Aiken County, South Carolina at OpenStreetMap
- Official website
- Aiken County history and images