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Aiken County, South Carolina saw one of the first railroad towns spring up in
the mid 1830's when the world's longest railroad was built connecting Charleston
and Hamburg on the Savannah River. This town, Aiken, and later the county, were
named for the president of that 136 mile long railroad, William Aiken. Once
accessible by train, the higher elevation and sandy soil of the area lured
refugees from the Charleston summers. They gave the town of Aiken its first
identity.
By the late 1800's annual pilgrimages to the area's temperate winter climate
brought the northern leisure class to ride horses and play golf on one of the
earliest courses in the south. This was the beginning of Aiken's famous Winter
Colony. Wealthy northerners found the town not only a pretty place to live, but
also a perfect training ground for horses. Aiken quickly became a fashionable
winter resort and equine sports center.
Today, Aiken is a magnolia-scented small town with a proud legacy dating back
almost 200 years. It is a place of charm, sophistication and great natural
beauty. And it is perfect horse country. No surprise then, that Aiken is still
considered one of the best places in the United States to live.
Aiken has a thriving equestrian culture, boosted by becoming an important part
of the international polo scene. Great restaurants, shopping, sidewalk cafes,
music, art and theatre are all part of Aiken's cosmopolitan flair.
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