Aiken County

Front: As early as the 1820s, residents in this part of S.C. sought to create a new county due to the need for a local courthouse. Efforts were unsuccessful until the 1870-71 legislative session, when Rep. Charles D. Hayne of Barnwell District introduced a bill to create a county with the city of Aiken as its seat. Names considered for the county included Randolph, Woodbury, and, finally, Aiken. On March 10, 1871, Governor Robert K. Scott signed the act creating “Aiken County.” Reverse: Founded during the Reconstruction era (1865-1877), Aiken County was cut from portions of Barnwell, Edgefield, Lexington, and Orangeburg counties. Two committees established to set the county’s borders and provide for its government building sincluded formerly enslaved and free-born African American men as well as white men. The first courthouse was the Gregg Mansion on Colleton Avenue. In 1872, residents elected the county’s first officers and state legislators.