City of Aiken

City of Aiken Municipal Water Report Info
Welcome to historic Aiken for those seeking more than just a casual visit. Enjoy our charming town with its beautiful parkways, shaded streets, double avenues, and historic mansions while discovering our fascinating local heritage. Three key events shaped Aiken's development: the railroad, the Winter Colony influence, and the Savannah River Site's commercial impact.

The Beginning
The South Carolina Canal and Railroad Company was established in 1828. William Aiken, the Railroad Company's president and a prominent South Carolina cotton merchant, hired distinguished engineer Horatio Allen (who later constructed the Brooklyn Bridge) to build a railroad connecting Charleston to Hamburg, South Carolina along the Savannah River. Construction began in 1830, and on October 2, 1833, the first train arrived in the newly established town of Aiken, named to honor the railroad's first president. In 1834, engineers Alfred Dexter and C. O. Pascalis designed the town with its distinctive wide streets and parkways, and Aiken received its charter in 1835.

The Winter Colony
Aiken recovered swiftly from the Civil War and by 1870 began attracting wealthy Northerners drawn by equestrian sporting opportunities, establishing Aiken's celebrated "Winter Colony." Among these seasonal residents was Thomas Hitchcock, who with the Whitney family designated the land tract known as Hitchcock Woods for public use.

Savannah River Plant
The site's historical significance is best understood in context of the 1949 post-war urgency when the Soviet Union detonated a nuclear weapon. The nation was shocked, and President Harry Truman decided to respond to what was perceived as aggressive action.

The Savannah River Plant (now SRS) represented America's primary response. Truman requested the Atomic Energy Commission and Du Pont Company to design, construct, and operate a facility for producing nuclear materials (primarily tritium and plutonium) for hydrogen bombs. The site's public announcement came in November 1950, with groundbreaking in February 1951. The first production reactor became operational in December 1953. This remarkable construction project employed up to 38,582 workers who built over 200 structures across the 300-square-mile site.

These three influential events have defined and shaped Aiken's character. We hope you'll explore more about our fascinating history and experience present-day Aiken during your visit.