Aiken in Aiken County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Aiken and the Inclined Plane

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 16, 2026

1. Aiken and the Inclined Plane Marker

Inscription.

Aiken and the Inclined Plane. . , Aiken was one of America's first planned towns and it was a railroad town! , The SCC&RR Company hired engineers Andrew Alfred Dexter and Cyril Ouvier Pascalis to build the western leg of the Charleston to Hamburg railroad. The company also instructed them to lay out a new town on railroad land donated by local landowners. The two men laid out a street grid in 1834. The original town had 27 blocks bounded by Edgefield Ave, Williams Street (now Williamsburg), Railroad Ave (now Park Ave), and Newberry Street. That grid still exists today and is the reason Aiken has wide boulevards that continue to be a feature of the city's charm and character., Incorporated , The Town of Aiken was incorporated on December 19, 1835, and named for William Aiken Sr., the deceased first president of the SCC&RR Company. Newspaper articles were already appearing that promoted Aiken as a great place to visit thanks to:,

"…its lack of disease (being on a high hill), fine water (drawn from Coker Spring) and hotels that serve the best (fresh fish) from both the Augusta and Charleston markets. , - Augusta Chronicle, May 15, 1835

, The First Plan of Aiken , This early survey plan of Aiken was created by Andrew Alfred Dexter and C.O. Pascalis in 1834. It is possible they were inspired by Thomas Jefferson who believed diseases such as yellow fever could be prevented by "by building our cities on a more open plan.", The roads in both directions were 100 feet wide. This created space to keep many of the existing pine trees growing along the routes. In the 1880s and 90s, the City of Aiken began to plant rare shrubs and flowers along the roads to create today's median Parkways., Did You Know? , Mr. William Robertson Jr. was elected to replace Horatio Allen as Superintendent of Transportation in 1836. William lived in the Legare-Morgan house, built by his son., A Real Estate Opportunity , Visitors to Aiken soon realized the town was not only an attractive place to visit, it was a great place to live. The desire of people to buy land here became an important source of income for the ralroad:,

"Agreeably with the notice by the newspapers of a public sale of Town Lots at Aiken; the same took place on the appointed day, when 67 Lots were sold, of which no returns have yet been made. It gives us pleasure to add, that a rapidly increasing trade, the establishment of new houses of entertainment, and the healthfulness of the location, promise soon to make this a place of considerable importance.", John Ravenel, SCC&RR President, October 31, 1834

Aiken was one of America's first planned towns and it was a railroad town!
The SCC&RR Company hired engineers Andrew Alfred Dexter and Cyril Ouvier Pascalis to build the western leg of the Charleston to Hamburg railroad. The company also instructed them to lay out a new town on railroad land donated by local landowners. The two men laid out a street grid in 1834. The original town had 27 blocks bounded by Edgefield Ave, Williams Street (now Williamsburg), Railroad Ave (now Park Ave), and Newberry Street. That grid still exists today and is the reason Aiken has wide boulevards that continue to be a feature of the city's charm and character.

Incorporated
The Town of Aiken was incorporated on December 19, 1835, and named for William Aiken Sr., the deceased first president of the SCC&RR Company. Newspaper articles were already appearing that promoted Aiken as a great place to visit thanks to:

"…its lack of disease (being on a high hill), fine water (drawn from Coker Spring) and hotels that serve the best (fresh fish) from both the Augusta and Charleston markets.
- Augusta Chronicle, May 15, 1835

The First Plan of Aiken
This

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

early survey plan of Aiken was created by Andrew Alfred Dexter and C.O. Pascalis in 1834. It is possible they were inspired by Thomas Jefferson who believed diseases such as yellow fever could be prevented by "by building our cities on a more open plan."

The roads in both directions were 100 feet wide. This created space to keep many of the existing pine trees growing along the routes. In the 1880s and 90s, the City of Aiken began to plant rare shrubs and flowers along the roads to create today's median Parkways.

Did You Know?
Mr. William Robertson Jr. was elected to replace Horatio Allen as Superintendent of Transportation in 1836. William lived in the Legare-Morgan house, built by his son.

A Real Estate Opportunity
Visitors to Aiken soon realized the town was not only an attractive place to visit, it was a great place to live. The desire of people to buy land here became an important source of income for the ralroad:

"Agreeably with the notice by the newspapers of a public sale of Town Lots at Aiken; the same took place on the appointed day, when 67 Lots were sold, of which no returns have yet been made. It gives us
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 16, 2026

2. Aiken and the Inclined Plane Marker
pleasure to add, that a rapidly increasing trade, the establishment of new houses of entertainment, and the healthfulness of the location, promise soon to make this a place of considerable importance."

John Ravenel, SCC&RR President, October 31, 1834

Erected 2022 by the City of Aiken and the Hitchcock Woods Foundation with additional support from the Aiken Land Conservancy and Aiken Streetscapes.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is May 15, 1835.

Location. 33° 33.367′ N, 81° 43.653′ W. Marker is in Aiken, South Carolina, in Aiken County. It is on South Boundary Avenue Southwest west of Laurens Street Southwest, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 375 S Boundary Ave SW, Aiken SC 29801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Augusta

and in the Midlands.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in North America,

Paid Advertisement

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Unearthing the Inclined Plane (here, next to this marker); The Trouble with Aiken's Inclined Plane (here, next to this marker); A View to Hamburg (here, next to this marker); Powering the Inclined Plane (here, next to this marker); Operating the Inclined Plane (here, next to this marker); How Did it all Happen? (a few steps from this marker); A View toward Aiken (a few steps from this marker); A Railroad in the Woods (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Aiken.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 21, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 50 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 21, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.