Aiken is located near the mid-point of South Carolina's border
with Georgia, about 15 miles east of Augusta, GA . US Highways 1 and
78 pass through the heart of the city, and Interstate 20 skirts its
northern border. Aiken is the county seat of Aiken county.
In the late 1800s, wealthy families
from the north chose Aiken as a winter setting for their horses,
because of both mild temperatures and clay-sand topsoil, suitable
footing for the animals. Decades later some of the founding
families’ names like Hitchcock, Whitney, and Bostwick remain, as do
classic horse traditions.
A
mong Aiken’s parks is the Hitchcock
Woods, a 2,000+ acre foundation, which is situated within walking
distance to Aiken's downtown area. Hitchcock Woods
is among the
largest urban forests in the country. A wide variety of equestrian
activities are available in the Hitchcock Woods, as well as in and
around Aiken. There are several local fox hunts in the area,
hunter/jumper horse shows, exciting Grand Prix events, and
recognized horse trials that attract Olympic athletes. Let’s not
forget the polo matches held at Whitney Field, the site of
the
longest consistent period of play on one field in the United States.
In Aiken, golf rivals riding as the favorite sport. The Palmetto
Golf Course, founded in 1893, is almost as old as golf in America.
The Aiken Golf Club (formally known as Highland Park) was designed
and opened around 1903. Other courses in the area include Woodside
Plantation, The Reserve Club at Woodside Plantation, Houndslake
Country Club, Cedar Creek, and Midland Valley Country Club near
Graniteville.
Whether you wish to live in Aiken’s historic horse district in a
winter colony home, a cozy historic cottage downtown, on a horse
farm in Aiken’s horse country, or alongside a grassy green fairway,
Aiken is an ideal place to establish a new home. Especially alluring
is Aiken's cost of living, which is well below the national average.
Residents enjoy a moderate climate throughout the year, and are just
a short distance from beaches, mountains and lakes.
Aiken is a place where natural charm, character, and Southern
hospitality are not just words but a real way of life. With a low
crime rate, a superior health care system and plenty of amenities,
Aiken is a community with a quality of life, second to none.
Companies from around the world are attracted to Aiken's business
environment, and the city continues to grow as employees of new
industries and visitors appreciate our way of life and choose to
make Aiken their home. Aiken’s convenient location provides easy
access to customers and supplies. Aiken is a city that cherishes the
richness of yesterday, but looks forward to the challenges and
opportunities of tomorrow.
