by Dennis Quick
It’s easy to see why. From horseback riding to golf, from cozy country estates to a thriving downtown, from top-notch health care services to exciting business opportunities, from award-winning schools to a respected university and a progressive college, Aiken County offers a vast range of lifestyles and amenities.
You can relax and enjoy life here, where the past and the present live comfortably side-by-side and the future is promising.
“Aiken, South Carolina, is an exceptional place to live,” says David Jameson, president and CEO of the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce. “The city offers a perfect balance between the charm and grace of yesterday and the promise of tomorrow. With its rich heritage, moderate climate, beautiful parks, and unparalleled quality of life, Aiken is the
ideal place to call ‘home.’”
Aiken is immersed in Southern charm and history while also being cosmopolitan and innovative. Housing is affordable here. (Aiken County is one of the fastest-growing housing markets in South Carolina.) And the scenery is breathtaking: lush greenery blended with a touch of antebellum elegance. Not only that, but beautiful beaches and idyllic mountains are only three hours away by car. Cities such as Atlanta, Charleston, Charlotte and Savannah are nearby.
There’s a pastoral quality that makes Aiken ideal for horse lovers. In fact, the training of thoroughbreds is a multi-million-dollar business here. Every March, thousands of equestrian fans come to Aiken for three weekends of horseracing and events – the Aiken Trials, Steeplechase and polo matches – during the annual Triple Crown.
And those crazy about golf have a links heaven in Aiken, which has nearly a dozen courses and features one of the oldest golf clubs in the United States.
If you like listening to soft breezes rustling through the leaves while horses gallop in a pasture, Aiken’s for you. If you like the sound of pavement under your feet as you stroll on a downtown shopping spree, Aiken provides that, too.
With its mix of small town, rural and metropolitan flavors, Aiken offers a rich variety of lifestyles. That’s why Aiken appeals to all age groups. Retirees and young singles alike call Aiken home. Young couples come here to settle down and start a family.
“Aiken is an extraordinary community – small but cosmopolitan, picturesque, quaint,
a sophisticated blend of people, vibrant, dynamic – incredible,” says K. D. Justyn, CEO of Aiken Regional Medical Centers. “It’s not the same community it was a century ago, a decade ago or even five years ago. We continue to evolve and get better and better and better. I have heard our Chamber president say many times that Aiken is the high-end suburb of a major metropolitan area – without the major metropolitan area.”
Spiritual well-being has a prominent place here. Aiken embraces religious diversity, which strengthens the community’s moral and ethical fabric. All major denominations of worship are represented in the county; many have community outreach programs.
There are plenty of diversions and delights here. Equestrian enthusiasts, history buffs, art lovers, shoppers, rod-and-reel devotees and other lovers of the great outdoors – plus anyone else who likes to keep busy with extracurricular activities – find lots to do in Aiken.
So why wait? Come here and see for yourself what makes Aiken such a special place. Whether you seek to enjoy the golden years of retirement, raise children or start a career, you will find what people here already know – Aiken is where you want to live.
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