Aiken is a city in Aiken County, South Carolina and is part of the CSRA. The
population was 25,337 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Aiken County6, and is the site of the University of South Carolina at Aiken. Aiken was recognized with the All-America City Award in 1997 by the National Civic
League.
Geography
Aiken is located at 33°32′58″N, 81°43′14″W (33.549397,
-81.720689)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area
of 41.9 km² (16.2 mi²). 41.9 km² (16.2 mi²) of it
is land and 0.06% is water.
Demographics
Population in 1890, 2,362; in 1900, 3,414; in 1910, 3,911; in 1940, 6,168. As of the census2 of 2000, there were 25,337 people, 10,287
households, and 6,758 families residing in the city. The population density was
604.6/km² (1,566.3/mi²). There were 11,373 housing units at an average density of 271.4/km² (703.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the
city was 66.63% White, 30.30% African American, 0.25% Native American, 1.28% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.49% of the population.
There were 10,287 households out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were
non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or
older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from
45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 87.2 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $49,100, and the median income for a family was $63,520. Males had a median
income of $51,988 versus $28,009 for females. The per capita income for the city was
$24,129. About 10.1% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty
line, including 21.0% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.
Historical events in Aiken
In the spring of 1931, the nation's attention was riveted on Aiken when Nicholas
Longworth, Republican Speaker of the House, came down unexpectedly with pneumonia and died there on April 9, 1931. He had been visiting family friends -- all long-time Republicans
and fellow poker players -- who had a winter home in town. Longworth was married to US President Theodore Roosevelt's daughter, Alice Roosevelt
Longworth, who rushed to his side from Cincinnati, Ohio, arriving prior to his
death.
It is also highly rumored that Aiken was the actual death site of FDR, President Roosevelt was visiting his longtime
mistress/companion when he fell ill while staying at the Willcox Inn. Upon his death he was rushed by private train to his
'Southern White House' in Georgia.
[ADD ADDITIONAL INFO ABOUT: early days of trains, Savannah River Plant construction, horse industry, polo activities, ...]
Historic places
Education
Colleges and Universities
Steeplechase racing
The Aiken Steeplechase Association, founded in 1930, [1] hosts the Imperial Cup each March and the Holiday Cup in October, both of which are steeplechase races sanctioned by the National
Steeplechase Association.
The Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and
Museum was established in 1977 as a tribute to the famous flat racing and
steeplechase Thoroughbred horses that trained at the The Aiken Training Track.
Notable residents
In the late 1800s and the first part of the 1900s, Aiken served as a winter playground for many of the country's wealthiest
families such the Vanderbilts, Bostwicks, and
the Whitneys.
- George H. Bostwick (1909-1982) court tennis
player, a steeplechase jockey and horse trainer, and an eight-goal polo player.
- Dwight Filley Davis, 1879 - 1945, an American tennis player and politician
who is best remembered as the founder of the Davis Cup international tennis competition, had a
summer home in Aiken.
- Robert C. De Large, (1842-1874), born in Aiken, United States Congressman from South Carolina in a contested election [1]
- Thomas Hitchcock and his wife Louise spent a great deal of time at their 3,000 acre
estate near Aiken where in 1892 he founded the Palmetto Golf Club. [2]. In 1916, Louise Hitchcock founded the Aiken Preparatory School. The Hitchcocks built a steeplechase training center on their property and trained weanlings imported from England. In 1930, Thomas Hitchcock was one of the founders of the Aiken Steeplechase Association. [3] Fond of fox hunting, they also established the Aiken Hounds and in 1916 received
official recognition from the Masters of Foxhounds Association of North America. [4].
- Tommy Hitchcock, Jr. (1900-1944), son of Thomas and Louise Hitchcock, was born
in Aiken. He is considered one of the greatest polo players of all-time. A veteran of the
Lafayette Escadrille in World War I, he was
killed in the service of his country in World War II.
- Strom Thurmond, (1902-2003), former US Senator who owned several residences in
Aiken.
- William Refrigerator Perry, former NFL defensive lineman and 3-time
NCAA All-American (1982-1984).
- Michael Dean Perry, former NFL defensive lineman, 6-time pro bowler (89-91,
93-94, 96), NCAA first-team All-American (1987).
- Birthplace of Marly Youmans, novelist and poet.
- Paul Williams, current WBO
Welterweight Champion.
- Paul Wight, best known as his ringname Big Show, formely employed by WWE.
References
- ^ (1963) Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's
Who.
See also
External links
Coordinates:
33.549397° N 81.720689°
W
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