If you’re looking for a place that offers all the amenities you’ll ever need, a place that offers a perfect balance between the charm and grace of yesterday and the promise of tomorrow, you will find it in Aiken. With its rich heritage, impeccable beauty, cosmopolitan flair, and unparalleled quality of life, Aiken is the ideal place to come and spend a day, a week, or a lifetime.
Aiken offers a uniqueness often unheard of in today’s world, where affordable housing, award-winning schools, diverse recreational opportunities, and a progressive approach to business go hand-in-hand to offer something for almost every lifestyle.
One of Aiken’s greatest assets is its people – individuals from diverse backgrounds who are dedicated to the economic and overall wellbeing of the community. This strong commitment from business people, public officials, community leaders, retirees, young professionals, parents and students is the foundation upon which Aiken draws its strength.
By working together, public and private entities have successfully implemented numerous programs that have improved infrastructure, attracted business, saved money, supported health care and education, and ultimately, created a thriving, vibrant community.
LOCATION
Aiken is ideally located and accessible to major interstate highways and airports. The beach and the mountains are within driving distance, and in three hours, one can be in Charlotte, Atlanta, Charleston, or Savannah.
Aiken’s residents have the best of both worlds – they can enjoy big city life without having to live in a large metropolitan area. For those who enjoy history and culture, Aiken sits right in the center of the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor—one of 27 corridors in the United States. The corridor was designed to encourage people to get off the interstates and onto the back roads of South Carolina, where they can learn about the state’s traditions and culture and experience various festivals and foods.
The climate is another plus; Aiken’s residents can enjoy the change of seasons without prolonged severe weather.
EDUCATION
Education is extremely important to the citizens of Aiken and is a top priority in economic development initiatives throughout the area.
Students in kindergarten through 12th grade regularly receive recognition for academic achievement. The county has a variety of schools – public, charter, and private – that place a high priority on all aspects of learning and that continually report strong test scores and graduate successes.
For the eleventh year in a row, U.S. News & World Report ranked the University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA) one of the top three public baccalaureate colleges in the South.
USCA ranked second for 2008 and first for 2009. For retirees looking to continue their education, USCA offers the Academy for Lifelong Learning. Associated with the
University’s Continuing Education program, the Lifelong Learning program offers classes and events to those over 55.
Aiken Technical College offers a variety of programs for students, such as business, computer technology, engineering technology and nursing. It also contributes significantly to the community’s work force. The college plays a major role in training employees for new industry and adapts quickly to meet the needs of existing and expanding industry.
HEALTH CARE
With more than 120 doctors and 230 beds, Aiken Regional Medical Centers offers outstanding services to its patients in a variety of specialties, including the Cancer Care Institute, the Cardiovascular Institute, and the Joint Pain Center. Several hospitals located in Augusta, Georgia, and throughout the region, including University Health Care System and the Medical College of Georgia, also offer a wide range of medical services and specialties.
In addition to hospital and physician care, a comprehensive range of health care services can be found in Aiken County, including home health, physical therapy, occupational therapy, sports medicine, behavioral health, and exercise programs to name a few.
ART & CULTURE
Aiken is passionate about art – all kinds of art – and residents and visitors alike support the arts with an enthusiasm that could rival most any large city. Visual and performing arts thrive year round and touch many cultures and lifestyles, while showcasing local, national and international talent.
The performing arts provide exciting entertainment and often give local citizens an opportunity to perform. The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, a state-of-the art theatre located in historic downtown Aiken, is home to the Aiken Community Playhouse, which offers a variety of shows to meet everyone’s tastes, from drama to comedy and musicals. In addition to the playhouse, the Aiken Performing Arts Group brings in nationally and internationally renowned singers, musicians and actors each year.
The Etherredge Center, located on the campus of the University of South Carolina Aiken, features a 687-seat theater known for its acoustical quality. The Center holds many cultural events open to the community, including an annual cultural series featuring traveling theater companies and performers.
The University’s newly built 100,000-squarefoot Convocation Center, one of the region’s premier entertainment facilities, features everything from Ringling Bros.-Barnum & Bailey circus performances to internationally known music stars, comedians, musicals, and even professional bull riding.
The University also brings in renowned writers each year during its Distinguished Writers Series. Sponsored by the Department of English, the event features free public readings by novelists, short story writers and poets.
Outdoor musical entertainment is also popular in the area. The Hopelands Gardens
Summer Concert Series often attracts a large, enthusiastic crowd and features various musical entertainment from bands to ballet, bluegrass and clogging.
The Aiken Center for the Arts and numerous galleries feature works of local, as well as international and national, artists. Artist shows and receptions flourish throughout the year and offer a unique mix of art media.
Participation in the arts is highly encouraged in the area through art education and enrichment classes. Both visual and performing arts classes are available and give all citizens the opportunity to learn a new skill or enhance an existing one.
History and culture play an important role in the community, and various historical sites and museums offer memorable educational experiences.
Banksia, currently home to the Aiken County Historical Museum, once served as the original campus of the University of South Carolina Aiken and as the community’s library.
The museum offers an exciting historical view of Aiken and features ongoing displays and shows that bring history to life. The grounds have been developed into an arboretum and nature trail.
The Immanuel Institute Building, one of Aiken County’s, most historic landmarks, is the site for the Center for African American History, Art & Culture (CAAHAC). The goal of the center is to preserve and present the cultural legacy of the African-American Diaspora and chronicle the many contributions of African-Americans to Aiken and neighboring regions.
Ground has been broken and plans are underway for a replica of Aiken’s historic railroad depot, the proposed centerpiece of a site memorializing the relationship between the founding of Aiken and the history of the railroad – from the popular legend of a bride whose “hand was given in marriage” in exchange for a railroad stop, to the establishment of the “Winter Colony,” when wealthy northerners traveled by way of personal railway cars to spend their winters in Aiken.
Science enthusiasts will enjoy learning about Aiken’s science and engineering history. The SRS Heritage Foundation, Inc. preserves the history of the Savannah River Site and interprets to the public SRS’s role in winning the Cold War.
The Foundation focuses on SRS’s technical and scientific achievements, sociological impacts, and ecological accomplishments.
When it comes to outdoor fun and entertainment, Aiken boasts a variety of festivals, such as the annual Chocolate Festival, Aiken Bluegrass Festival and the Chamber’s Aiken’s Makin’ Arts & Crafts Festival, which attracts 35,000 people annually to Aiken’s historic downtown.
RECREATION
Boredom is not a word in Aiken’s dictionary. In fact, with so much to do and see, there is simply no time to even look up the word.
Outdoor activities abound year round in Aiken and surrounding towns. One of the biggest draws for many is the numerous equestrian activities and events. The area boasts of international polo matches, foxhunting, horse shows, and carriage and pleasure riding. Busy horse farms and stables dot the area, and equestrian activities are so popular that the City of Aiken maintains unpaved streets made of hard clay to protect the horses’ hooves.
Long known as a premier horse-training center that has produced such winners as Sea Hero, Kelso, Summer Squall and Good Time, Aiken is home to the Aiken Training Track and the Steeplechase Track. It is here that horse enthusiasts celebrate Aiken’s rite of spring every March with the Triple Crown. The popular three-weekend equestrian event, which includes flat races, the national-circuit Steeplechase and polo, draws families, friends and businesses together for fun, food and festivities.
Another popular activity that thrives in Aiken is golf, which is a major draw for many who move to the area. Simply stated, the area is a golfer’s paradise! With several private and public courses available, golf enthusiasts take to the links year round. Tournaments flourish throughout the year and cater to experienced golfers as well as to the novice. Thriving golf communities testify to the sports popularity, and the area bustles with activity every year during the Masters Golf Tournament in nearby Augusta, Georgia.
For those who prefer a larger sports ball, tennis, softball, baseball, volleyball and soccer play a close rival to golf for many. Municipal and county recreation departments offer numerous competitive sports opportunities for people of all ages. Citizens Field in Aiken plays host to local, regional and national sporting events that attract thousands of people to the area each year.
For those who enjoy nature and walking, the area offers numerous public parks, walking trails and tranquil gardens. Hopelands Gardens, a 14-acre public treasure, features garden paths that wind among 100-year-old magnolia and oak trees. For the more adventurous, Hitchcock Woods, a 2,000-acre woodland preserve nestled in the heart of downtown Aiken, has numerous trails and paths that provide hours of hiking, horseback riding and bird watching.
For the real outdoor enthusiast, camping, boating and water sports abound at nearby lakes and state parks. And every season the Aiken area comes alive with numerous exciting festivals and events for all to enjoy.
With so much happening in Aiken and surrounding towns, you will never be bored!
AIKEN – AN EQUESTRIAN PARADISE
The word is out, and it’s good news for horse enthusiasts! Aiken leads the State of South
Carolina in the equine industry and is on the fast track to becoming one of the top equine locations on the East Coast. In fact, the Aiken area is hot on the trail of other popular equine communities, attracting horse enthusiasts from as far north as Canada and as far south as Florida.
What many people may not know is that Aiken and horses have been synonymous for more than 135 years. It was never a secret… just one of those little known facts.
Aiken’s road to equestrian notoriety began in the 1870s when wealthy Northerners came to winter in Aiken. Intrigued by the many opportunities for equestrian sports, they brought with them horses, money and a strong desire to make their “playground” the best it could be.
Polo was introduced in Aiken in 1882 and quickly dominated the Aiken sports scene, and
Aiken soon became known as the Polo Center of the South. Today, polo is still played on
Whitney Field which has been used continually since 1882.
Among the Winter Colony residents, as the era became known, were Mr. And Mrs. Thomas Hitchcock, horse enthusiasts who enticed their New York friends to join them. The Hitchcock’s became well-known in the equestrian world and left a legacy in Aiken that includes Hitchcock Woods, a 2,000-acre urban forest in downtown Aiken that horse lovers still enjoy today.
And so, the equine character of Aiken was established more than 135 years ago, creating a strong foundation – rich in history and with a promise for equestrian appeal that continues to grow year after year.
Today, the range of horse related activities taking place in Aiken is extensive. If a horse is involved, it can be found here! From horse back riding and carriage driving in Hitchcock Woods to polo played on meticulously manicured fields to horse training, dressage and show jumping, Aiken offers many choices for the equine enthusiast.
In the spring, the Aiken Triple Crown draws thousands of visitors for three weekends of equestrian events – flat races, the Steeplechase, and polo. Aiken has also been the site of the US Polo Association’s Gold Cup, bringing in crowds of polo enthusiasts to the city.
Aiken’s long love affair with horses shows – on its street signs adorned with horse graphics; in its well preserved “horse district,” which boasts well maintained, unpaved city streets; and in its people who carry on the equine traditions established so long ago in Aiken.
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