South Carolina

Aiken

168,808
2020 population
1880
first census record
15
census records

About Aiken

Aiken, South Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1880, when it recorded a population of 28,112. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 168,808.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 16 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Westo War – English-Creek Alliance vs. Westo 1680, Yuchi Uprising (Yamasee War context, 1715), Battle of Palachicola Fort 1716, and 46 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020168,808
2010160,099
2000142,552
1990120,940
1980105,625
197091,023
196081,038
195053,137
194049,916
193047,403
192045,574
191041,849
190039,032
189031,822
188028,112
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Aiken

Military engagements that took place in Aiken, South Carolina.

Westo War – English-Creek Alliance vs. Westo 1680
1680
Yuchi Uprising (Yamasee War context, 1715)
1715
Battle of Palachicola Fort 1716
1716
Fort Grierson Augusta May 1781
1781
Battle of Fort Galphin
1781
Battle of Aiken South Carolina
1865
Skirmish at White Pond SC
1865
Skirmish at Augusta Road — Aiken Approaches
1865
Destruction of South Carolina Railroad at Midway — 1865
1865
Engagement at Aiken SC
1865
Battle of Aiken
1865
Battle of Aiken — February 11 1865
1865
Destruction of Graniteville Mills SC — 1865
1865
Confederate Defense of Aiken County — Wheeler's Cavalry February 1865
1865
Hamburg Massacre, South Carolina 1876
1876
Hamburg Massacre (South Carolina 1876)
1876

Historic places in Aiken

National Register of Historic Places listings in Aiken, South Carolina.

St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church
Aiken
Mims, Britton, Place
North Augusta
Immanuel School
Aiken
Aiken Training Track
Aiken
Aiken Mile Track
Aiken
St. Mary Help of Christians Church
Aiken
Redcliffe
Beech Island
Aiken Winter Colony Historic District II
Aiken
Fort Moore-Savano Town Site
Beech Island
Dawson-Vanderhorst House
Aiken
Phelps House
Aiken
Oakland Plantation
Beech Island
Wall, B. C., House
North Augusta
Carroll, Chancellor James P., House
Aiken
Willcox's
Aiken
Zubly Cemetery
Beech Island
Warren Mill
Warrenville
Warrenville Elementary School
Warrenville
Graniteville Historic District
Graniteville
US Court House-Aiken, South Carolina
Aiken
Aiken Colored Cemetery
Aiken
Salley Historic District
Salley
Hickman Mill Historic District
Graniteville
Pickens House
Aiken
Browse all South Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in South Carolina

Explore census history and historic records for more South Carolina counties.

NewberryOconeeOrangeburgPendletonPickensRichlandSaludaSpartanburgSumterUnionWilliamsburgYorkAbbevilleAllendaleAndersonBambergBarnwellBeaufortBerkeleyCalhoun
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Aiken County, South Carolina

This page charts the census history of Aiken County, South Carolina. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Aiken County, South Carolina report
Or see a real report first

Explore South Carolina records

South Carolinahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from South Carolina›

Frequently asked about Aiken

When does Aiken first appear in the US census?
Aiken, South Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1880, with a recorded population of 28,112.
What is the population of Aiken?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Aiken had a recorded population of 168,808.
Were any battles fought in Aiken?
16 documented military engagements took place in Aiken, including Westo War – English-Creek Alliance vs. Westo 1680, Yuchi Uprising (Yamasee War context, 1715), Battle of Palachicola Fort 1716.
How many historic places are in Aiken?
46 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Aiken, South Carolina.
Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report