This page is meant to provide quick facts about Aiken County with a few details; it is not meant to be an exhaustive index of everything in Aiken County. Together Aiken County strives to provide the most up-to-date information available. If you find an error on or something missing from this page, please contact us through our Feedback Form. More information about resources in Aiken County can be found on our Links page.

Aiken County is one of 14 counties comprising the S.C. Heritage Corridor. Aiken County is a member of the South Carolina Association of Counties.

• Unique County name:
  Aiken County is the only county in the United States named "Aiken."

• County formation and name:
  Formed in 1871 by combining portions of Edgefield, Lexington, Orangeburg, and Barnwell counties, Aiken County was named for William Aiken, who was the first president of the South Carolina Railroad and Canal Company. Mr. Aiken reportedly never visited the County. A history of Aiken County Government has been prepared by the County's Public Information Office.

• Population:
  

  • The 2000 Census counted 142,552 persons living in the County, an increase of about 22,000 from 1990.
  • The 2003 population estimate is 146,736 persons living in Aiken County.

• Land Area
  Aiken is the fourth largest South Carolina county by land area, and its size of 1,073 square miles is 28 square miles larger than the state of Rhode Island.

• Location:
  Aiken County is located midway between the mountains and the coast and is bordered by the Savannah River on the west, Edgefield and Saluda Counties on the north, Barnwell and Orangeburg Counties on the southeast and by Lexington County on the east. Aiken County consists of 704,000 acres, of which 73,000 acres are part of the U. S. Department of Energy's Savannah River Site.

• County Seat:
  The city of Aiken is the county seat.

• Major crops:
  Aiken County's major crops are cotton, corn, bermudagrass, hay, soybeans, timber, and peaches. Other crops include peanuts, small grains, and watermelons. Beef cattle, hogs, chickens, and horses are the most common farm animals.

• Major events:
  Aiken is a major racehorse training area and is famous for its Triple Crown, which consists of the Aiken Trials, the Steeplechase, and the High Goal Polo Game. Other events held around the county include Salley Chitlin Strut, Beech Island Heritage Day, Battle of Aiken, Rowing Regattas at Langley Pond, Sassafras Festival (Burnettown), Atomic City Festival (New Ellenton) and the Western Carolina State Fair.

• Climate:
  Aiken County enjoys a mild climate with an average winter temperature of 48°F. and an average summer temperature of 79°F. The average daily maximum temperature is 90°F. The annual precipitation averages 48 inches with the majority falling between April and September. Average seasonal snowfall is 2 inches and average relative humidity is 50%.

• Industry:
  Several industrial parks, owned by Aiken County, the City of Aiken, or the City of North Augusta, are available for new and expanding companies. The Aiken-Edgefield Economic Development Partnership coordinates industrial recruitment efforts in Aiken County.

• Commerce:

  • Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce
  • Greater North Augusta Chamber of Commerce
  • Midland Valley Chamber of Commerce

• Education:
  • Elementary and secondary education in Aiken County is available through:
    • Public schools: Aiken County School District
    • Private schools
    • Charter schools and
    • Home schools.
  • Post-secondary education can be obtained in Aiken County at
    • University of South Carolina at Aiken
    • Aiken Technical College.

  • Libraries: The ABBE Regional Library System serves Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell and Edgefield Counties.

• Transportation:
  • Ground transportation is dominant in Aiken County.
    • Aiken County's Best Friend Express provides local bus travel in and between Aiken and North Augusta, with connections to the Augusta Public Transit bus system.
    • Greyhound Bus Lines provides out-of-County bus travel from its station in Aiken.
    • Interstate 20 runs across Aiken County to connect Columbia and points east with Augusta and points west. The extension of I-520 to US 1 in North Augusta has been completed and is open.
    • Other major highways include US 1, SC 19, US 25, US 78, and US 278. The SC Department of Transportation is responsible for maintenance on all State roads.
    • SCDOT's website includes status of current road conditions in Aiken County.
    • Road maintenance on other roads and streets is the responsibility of either Aiken County's Public Works & Engineering Department, or the Public Works Departments of City of Aiken or City of North Augusta, depending on the road.
  • Air transportation:
    • Scheduled air service is available through:
      • Augusta Regional Airport (AGS) and
      • Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE).

    • Chartered and other airport services are available at the City of Aiken Municipal Airport.

• Government:

  • City Government: There are 10 cities in Aiken County. Please see the list of Aiken County Leaders for lists of city leaders.
  • County Government
    • Aiken County
    • Lower Savannah Council of Governments
  • State Government

• Help:

  • Aiken 211 Helpline
  • United Way
  • Clemson Extension

• Retirement:
  Aiken's Mayor Fred Cavanaugh wrote a letter citing numerous honors received by the city of Aiken and a living community as a preferred retirement location.

• U.S. Census: American Fact Finder: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000: Aiken County
• U.S. Census: USA Quick Facts: South Carolina Quick Facts: Aiken County, South Carolina
• Aiken County, SC, Government: About Aiken County
• SCIway.net: Aiken County