Aiken, South Carolina

Aiken
City
Aiken County Courthouse
Aiken County Courthouse
Official seal of Aiken
Seal
Official logo of Aiken
Logo
Nickname: 
The City of Trees
Aiken is located in South Carolina
Aiken
Aiken
Aiken is located in the United States
Aiken
Aiken
Coordinates: 33°32′58″N 81°43′14″W / 33.54944°N 81.72056°W / 33.54944; -81.72056
CountryUnited States
StateSouth Carolina
CountyAiken
Incorporated1835
Named forWilliam Aiken
Government
[3][4]
 • TypeCouncil–manager
 • MayorTeddy Milner[1]
 • City ManagerStuart Bedenbaugh[2]
Area
[5]
 • Total21.58 sq mi (55.90 km2)
 • Land21.45 sq mi (55.56 km2)
 • Water0.13 sq mi (0.34 km2)  0.60%
Elevation
[6]
515 ft (157 m)
Population
 (2020)[7]
 • Total32,025
 • Estimate 
(2023)
32,947
 • Density1,492.94/sq mi (576.42/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
29801-29805, 29808
Area codes803, 839
FIPS code45-00550[8]
GNIS feature ID1244853[6]
Websitewww.cityofaikensc.gov

Aiken is the most populous city in, and the county seat of, Aiken County, South Carolina, United States.[9][10] According to 2020 census, the population was 32,025,[11] making it the 15th-most populous city in South Carolina, and one of the two largest cities of the Central Savannah River Area.

Founded in 1835, Aiken was named after William Aiken, the president of the South Carolina Railroad. It became part of Aiken County when the county was formed in 1871. In the late 19th century, Aiken gained fame as a wintering spot for wealthy people from the Northeast. Thomas Hitchcock, Sr. and William C. Whitney established the Aiken Winter Colony. Over the years Aiken became a winter home for many notable people, including George H. Bostwick, James B. Eustis, Madeleine Astor, William Kissam Vanderbilt, Eugene Grace, president of Bethlehem Steel, Allan Pinkerton, and W. Averell Harriman.

Aiken is home to the University of South Carolina Aiken.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference AikenMayor was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "City Manager's Office". www.cityofaikensc.gov. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  3. ^ "Home - City of Aiken Government, South Carolina". Archived from the original on June 7, 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  4. ^ "Welcome to the City of Aiken, SC".
  5. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  6. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Aiken, South Carolina
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  9. ^ "South Carolina State Library - Aiken County". Archived from the original on July 1, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  10. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference 2020CensusQuickFacts was invoked but never defined (see the help page).