AIKEN COUNTY
County Offices
1930 University Parkway
Aiken 803-642-1500
https://www.aikencountysc.gov
Chamber of Commerce
121 Richland Avenue East
Aiken 803-641-1111
https://www.aikenchamber.net
Long recognized for its premier equestrian attractions, championship golf courses, and resort destinations for the affluent, panoramic Aiken County stands in a class of its own for quality of life.
Services
Newcomers can look forward to immediate access to a caliber of advanced healthcare that is usually associated with major urban areas. Aiken Regional Medical Centers is a full-service, comprehensive network of facilities and services that are continually undergoing expansion and upgrades. Some of the latest innovations include additions that bring the hospital closer to its all-private-room goal as well as the opening of the $7 million Cancer Care Institute of Carolina. Other specialized care centers include the Cardiovascular Institute of Carolina, the Women’s LifeCare Center, Aurora Pavilion Behavorial Health Services, Diabetes Teaching Center, the Joint Pain Center, and the Wound Care Center.
Education has always been a high priority in Aiken County, where quality public and private schools nurture, teach, and guide the personal and intellectual development of nearly 30,000 students. Students of all ages can find support and opportunities for growth at the Aiken County Career Center, an organization that has attracted millions of dollars in local industry scholarships and generous technology donations. The center provides a strong work-to-school program as well as vocational training and work experience programs. Distance learning expands the educational opportunities in Aiken County, although Aiken Technical College provides a wide variety of two-year degree and certification programs as well as college-track associate’s degrees.
The University of South Carolina Aiken crowns the area with a four-year liberal arts institution that has been consistently recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top public colleges in the South. Included in its comprehensive programs of study are nationally accredited professional programs in business, education, and nursing. The Academy for Lifelong Learning at USC Aiken enriches the community with learning experiences that benefit students of all ages — including more than 1,000 senior citizens.
Lifestyle
Aiken County attracts newcomers to an unrivaled quality of life that combines the friendliness and convenience of small-town living with outstanding amenities and services. Exceptional healthcare and educational advantages combine with first-rate recreational opportunities that include golf and tennis, equestrian sports, paths for jogging and walking, biking trails, and one of the largest urban forests in the nation. Sparkling lakes invite fishing, boating, and water sports.
Commercial development includes the department stores and specialty shops at Aiken Mall or the quaint atmosphere and one-of-a-kind merchandise tucked away in the county’s more secluded districts like historic downtown Aiken. Aiken County is ideally located less than a three-hour drive from Atlantic Ocean beaches or alpine splendor, served by major highway systems that facilitate travel to larger cities and weekend getaways. Four distinct seasons are enhanced by mild winters, where “Indian Summer” often seems to last through the spring.
Cultural advantages in Aiken County revolve around the city of Aiken, home to the new Aiken Community Playhouse, and the annual arts series at the University of South Carolina. Aiken’s charming hometown atmosphere, low cost of living, wonderful restaurants, sophisticated performing arts, and fine art galleries have earned the city Money Magazine’s ranking as a “top-ten retirement city” and All-America City.
Housing options in Aiken County are diverse and attractive, covering a wide spectrum of architectural styles, price ranges, settings, and periods. Tree-shaded neighborhoods in the heart of the city, historic mansions, horse properties, generous acreage, or family-oriented developments are just a few of the many choices. Horses have played a vital role in this area for generations, and Aiken-trained racehorses have won several Kentucky Derbies and hundreds of major competitions. From the intellectual stimulation of its “college town” atmosphere to farmers markets, colorful festivals, and old-fashioned Southern hospitality, Aiken County offers a comfortable and endearing home.
Aiken City
Municipal Offices
803-642-7654
https://www.cityofaikensc.gov
Chamber of Commerce
803-641-1111
https://www.aikenchamber.net
The lovely city of Aiken is a postcard-perfect image of yesterday’s opulence and equestrian delights, enhanced by urban sophistication and modern convenience. Leisure has traditionally played a major role in Aiken, serving as a seasonal retreat for the wealthy for more than a century and the home of the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame Golfing is another highlight of this area, boasting one of the nation’s oldest and finest courses along with several other premier golfing facilities. Near the historic downtown district are magnificent mansions, gracing the cityscape with architectural elegance. Fine gardens, the America-Hitchcock Woods, and an entire city designated as an arboretum create a wonderland of natural beauty. Major healthcare facilities, a technical college, a state university, cultural attractions, and first-rate commercial development add to the quality of life.
Belvedere, Clearwater
County Offices
803-642-1500
https://www.aikencountysc.gov
Chamber of Commerce
803-641-1111
https://www.aikenchamber.net
The unincorporated communities of Belvedere and Clearwater serve as suburbs of North Augusta and both are included in the Greater Augusta metropolitan area. Belvedere and Clearwater share a convenient location with North Augusta near Interstate 20 and US Highway 25 for easy access to nearby cities like Aiken and Augusta as well as regional destinations. Aiken Mall, America-Hitchcock Woods, the performing arts series at the University of South Carolina Aiken, district shopping, and North August’s premier recreational facilities are a few of the amenities close to home. The urban advantages of Augusta expand the appeal of living in the close-knit hometown environment of these two communities.
North Augusta
Municipal Offices
803-441-4202
https://www.northaugusta.net
Chamber of Commerce
803-279-2323
https://www.northaugustachamber.org
Proud of its designation as “South Carolina’s Riverfront,” the city of North Augusta preserves a rich history that harmonizes with a progressive outlook and modern conveniences. The result is a unique community melded by a strong spirit of independence and self-reliance, evidenced by the recent waterfront development project. Like Aiken, North Augusta traditionally served as a retreat for the wealthy. Modern recreational activities revolve around the 94,000-square-foot Riverview Park Activities Center with first-rate facilities and amenities that include four gymnasiums and an indoor track overlooking Riverview Park and the Savannah River. With its premier facilities, the center proudly hosts a number of important competitions and events throughout the year. North Augusta is conveniently located near Interstate 20 and US Highway 25.
Windsor
County Offices
803-642-1500
https://www.aikencountysc.gov
Chamber of Commerce
803-641-1111
https://www.aikenchamber.net
Those who prefer living in a community where neighbors associate as friends and greet each other by name will want to explore the opportunities in Windsor. This unincorporated Aiken County town is home to less than 200 people, offering the friendly and warm small-town atmosphere associated with rural America. At the same time, residents are only a few minutes away from Aiken County’s outstanding services and amenities that include a regional healthcare system and state-of-the-art hospital, a technical college, a state university, cultural treasures, the performing arts, art galleries, district and mall shopping, premier golf courses, lakefront water sports, and North Augusta’s riverfront attractions.
