Aiken County Visitors Guide Adam Coglianese www.discoveraikencounty.com WELCOME! Aiken County is your home away Where is Aiken County? from home. Our cultural traditions Aiken County is simple to find! and communities blend effortlessly We’re nestled along the scenic into a small town feeling you just Savannah River along the western don’t come across often. Local folk border of South Carolina. welcome visitors and new residents graciously from across the globe. Our unique communities range You’ll feel great about being here from the waterfront, to lush green right from the start. farmland, city living and active equestrian acreage. Exciting outdoor activities are the norm: golfing, hiking, birding, Aiken County is part of the Aiken- equestrian disciplines, tennis, Augusta Metropolitan Statistical swimming, boating, camping, Area (MSA) with a population of biking, fishing, rowing, racing and so more than 500,000 and a workforce much more. Arts and entertainment of more than 245,000. take center stage year round through theater, musicals, and Aiken County covers more than 1000 visual arts. The nightlife and local square miles. It is one of the largest cuisine are equally enticing. You’ll be geographical counties in South hard pressed in selecting a favorite Carolina and has a population of restaurant since all are so good! more than 160,000. Our incredible history, heritage and The Savannah River Site (two the rumored southern hospitality counties, 310 square miles), the is as real as sweet tea. We’re down area’s largest employer, has been to earth. We cherish our pastoral responsible for bringing thousands farmlands, magnificent trees and of highly skilled and educated comfortable weather. The sheer employees and their families to the beauty of charming towns will area. More than 17 multinational convince you to make Aiken County companies operate in the two your favorite get-a-way. counties, bringing a cosmopolitan feel to the community. 2 www.discoveraikencounty.com INFORMATION AikenCountyVC Aikencountyvisitorcenter aikencountytourist aikencounty Aiken County Visitors Center 133 Laurens Street, NW, Aiken, SC 29801 Monday-Friday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm Saturday: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm (803) 642-7557 • www.discoveraikencounty.com Our specialists will help you plan your visit according to your interests and time. Include historical sites, museums, theater, art galleries, trails, gardens, state parks, lakes, historic homes, rivers, farmers markets, antique stores, equestrian activities, and recreational facilities in your travels. ADDITIONAL VISITOR AND INFORMATION SERVICES Aiken Downtown Development Aiken Chamber of Commerce Association 121 Richland Ave., E, Aiken, SC 29801 208-A The Alley, Aiken, SC 29801 (803) 641-1111 (803) 649-2221, aikendda.us www.aikenchamber.net South Carolina Welcome Center N. Augusta Chamber Of Commerce I-20 SC/GA Border 406 West Ave. North Augusta, SC 29841 North Augusta, SC 29841 (803) 279-6756 (803) 279-2323 www.discoversouthcarolina.com www.northaugustachamber.org Thoroughbred Country Midland Valley PO Box 850, Aiken, SC 29802 Chamber of Commerce (888) 834-1654 PO Box 310, Langley, SC 29834 www.tbredcountry.org (803) 593-3030 Tour the Aiken Visitors Center and Train Museum 406 Park Ave., SE Tuesday – Friday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. www.visitaikensc.com | 1-888-AikenSC or 803.293.7846 (803) 642-7557 3 INFORMATION MEDICAL INFORMATION Ask A Nurse TABLE OF CONTENTS (706) 737-8423 Visitor Information …………… 3-5 Doctors Care History ………………………… 6-12 1029 York St. NE, Aiken, SC 29081 County Map ……………… 10-11 (803) 648-4119, doctorscare.com Arts & Entertainment ……… 13 Check website for other locations. Accommodations ……………… 14 Aiken Regional Medical Center Tours …………………………… 15 302 University Pkwy., Aiken, SC 29801 Outdoor …………………… 16-17 (803) 641-5000, aikenregional.com Recreation ………………… 18-25 Aiken County Emergency Services Spaces to Rent ………………… 26 621 York St., Aiken, SC 29801 Annual Events ……………… 27-28 (803) 642-1624, aikencountysc.gov Equestrian ………………… 29-31 Poison Control 1-800-222-1222, aapcc.org Aiken County Sheriff’s Department LIBRARIES 420 Hampton Ave. NE, Aiken, SC 29801 (803) 642-1761, aikencountysheriff.org www.abbe-lib.org Aiken County TRANSPORTATION 314 Chesterfield St., Aiken, SC 29801 Aiken Limousine & Transportation (803) 642-2020 153 Pendleton St., NW Aiken, SC 29801 Greg Humphries (803) 648-9977 Rare Book Library Park St., Wagener, SC 29164 Aiken Taxi Transport (803) 564-5902 1696 Richland Ave., E. Open by Appointment Only Aiken, SC 29801 (803) 642-9910 Jackson aikentaxitransport.com/ 106 Main St., Jackson, SC 29831 Best Friend Express (803) 471-3811 159 Morgan St., NW, Aiken, SC 29803 Midland Valley (803) 648-6493 9 Hillside Rd., Bath, SC 29816 www.bestfriendexpress.com (803) 593-7379 Carolina Transportation Nancy Carson (803) 648-4545 135 Edgefield Rd., North Augusta 29841 Enterprise Rent-A-Car (803) 279-5767 3915 Richland Ave., W New Ellenton Aiken, SC 29801 407 Main St., New Ellenton 29809 (803) 641-0135 (803) 652-5407 www.enterprise.com/en/home.html Magnolia Chauffer & Livery Nancy Bonnette 137 Sweet Gum Ln., Aiken, SC 29803 204 Park St., Wagener, SC 29164 (803) 220-4600 (803) 563-5396 http://www.magnolialivery.com/ FLYING Aiken Airport 129 Aviation Dr., Aiken, SC 29805 (803) 648-7803, aikenaviation.com US POSTAL OFFICE 307 Laurens St. NW, Aiken, SC 29801 Augusta Regional Airport 1501 Aviation Way (803) 649-9211 Augusta, GA 30906 www.usps.com (706) 798-3236 Check website for other locations. Delta (800) 221-1212 US Airways (800) 428-4322 www.flyags.com 4 www.discoveraikencounty.com INFORMATION POPULATION EDUCATION Aiken ……………… 29,524 Education is a key element in Burnettown ………… 2,673 Aiken County. Aiken County is Jackson …………… 1,700 the 5th largest school district in New Ellenton ……… 2,052 South Carolina. Approximately North Augusta …… 21,348 25,000 students are taught in 20 Perry ……………… 233 elementary schools, 10 middle Salley ……………… 398 schools, 7 high schools, 3 charter Wagener …………… 797 schools and 1 career and technology Windsor …………… 121 center, and through adult education programs. The Aiken County Career DRIVING: and Technology Center has attracted Atlanta, GA 170 miles millions of dollars in local industry Charlotte, NC 145 miles scholarships. Charleston, SC 130 miles Columbia, SC 50 miles Aiken Technical College Greenville, SC 115 miles 2276 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Savannah, GA 125 miles Graniteville. (803) 593-9231 www.atc.edu PER CAPITA PERSONAL INCOME University of South Carolina Aiken $29,930 471 University Pkwy., Aiken. (803) 648-6851 www.usca.edu MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME $44,534 ROUNDABOUTS Roundabouts have been installed to transition the one-way traffic across the broad boulevards. Aikenites are used to this tricky maneuvering, but visitors, while they appreciate the beauty of the parkways, often are confused. Just remember, you can go through the round roundabouts after stopping to yield. Do not go through if the roundabout is a square. (803) 642-7557 5 HISTORY Pete Peters The Aiken Love Story stationary engine pulled trains up Captain William W. Williams, a cotton and down the slope on a cable over merchant from Charleston, built the a windlass so they could make their first frame house of its kind in this way safely between stops. Coming part of the country in 1820. On the within 100 yds. of the Captain’s corner of Ray Lane and York Street, home. The 136-mile journey from Chinaberry is the only surviving Charleston to Hamburg was the first landmark preceding the town. Capt. successful scheduled railroad service Williams, Mr. W. Aiken and several in America and the world’s longest others created the South Carolina railroad. It was completed in 1833. Railway and Canal Company. Dexter married his love in 1834. Dexter and Pascalis began creating The railroad began in Hamburg a geometric street map and plotted (North Augusta) on the banks of the new town with expansive, 150 the Savannah River. Cotton was ft. wide boulevards. This would loaded into boxcars there, and allow wagons pulled by as many then transported to the Charleston as six horses to turn around easily. seaport for shipping to Europe. They envisioned parkways planted Capt. Williams wanted the railroad with seasonal flowers and shrubs to come to his cotton fields, instead at the centers of the boulevards. of dealing with transporting it to Aiken was chartered in 1835 and Hamburg. named in honor of the president of Alfred Dexter, a young, Harvard- the railroad, William Aiken, who had educated surveyor, had already been killed in an accident before the concluded that the rail should be project was completed. laid 15 miles south of the Captain’s fields. Dexter recalculated the rail The Best Friend toward the captain’s fields, but, Many refer to the ‘Best Friend’ as it was impossible for the train to the locomotive that rolled into this negotiate the 500 ft. grade between area from Charleston, SC. In fact, his field and Warrenville. To add to tragedy struck the “Best Friend” the frustration, Dexter met and fell when a careless fireman caused in love with the captain’s daughter, an explosion that killed himself Miss Sara. He begged the captain and destroyed the locomotive. The for his daughter’s hand in marriage, “Phoenix” was built from parts of the to which Capt. Williams replied, “No “Best Friend” and joined five other railroad for me, young man, no wife locomotives based in Charleston. for you!” Dexter went back to the The locomotives followed the path drawing board with the help of his of the Creek/Chickasaw Indians assistant, C.O. Pascalis. Together, from Hamburg (North Augusta) to they designed a stationary engine Charleston. Merchants continued with a winch situated on the crest of referencing the railway as the “Best the hill where Park Ave. curves into Friend” because it enabled them to Hayne Ave.