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

Our Urban Forsest

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

1. Our Urban Forsest Marker

Inscription.

Our Urban Forsest. . , Welcome! , Hitchcock Woods is one of the largest urban forests in the country with nearly 2,100 acres of land, seven entrances, and over 70 miles of trails. The Hitchcock Woods Foundation is dedicated to protecting and preserving the Woods. We hope you will enjoy, protect, and preserve this magical place as well., Our Story , Hitchcock Woods was part of a large property owned by "winter colony" residents Thomas Hitchcock and William Whitney in the 1890s. Each winter wealthy northerners brought their families, staff, and horses to Aiken along with a passion for fox hunting, polo, and steeplechasing. The Hitchcock Woods Foundation was established in 1939 through the gift of 1,190 acres from the Hitchcock family. Hitchcock Woods is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a SC Heritage Trust Preserve., Today Hitchcock Woods contains a stunning variety of habitats that support over 500 plant and animal species. Here are just some of the amazing plants and animals you might see., What Can you See?. Birds , The Hitchcock Woods Foundation took the extraordinary step of reintroducing red-cockaded woodpeckers to the Woods in 2016. Since this species gets reestablished in secluded areas away from trails, they might be hard to spot. However, there are lots of other wonderful birds. You might see: , Eastern Bluebird, Trees , Hitchcock Woods is home to six species of pine trees, longleaf, loblolly, slash, Virginia, short leaf, and pond pines. You can distinguish them by their needles and pinecones. The longleaf pine produces the largest pinecones in eastern North America. You might also see: , red maple . magnolia . redbud, Mammals , Hitchcock Woods is home to a variety of mammals. Most of them are active at night. Don't be surprised if you see a white-tailed deer. They are our most common and largest residents. , cottontail rabbit . white-tailed deer . red fox, Reptiles and Amphibians , There are lots of reptiles and amphibians here in Hitchcock Woods. What's the difference between the two? Reptiles have scaly skin and breathe through their lungs. Amphibians breathe through their moist and permeable skin. , 5-lined skink . leopard frog . box turtle . tree frog, Did You Know? , Hitchcock Woods is 2 ½ times larger than Central Park in New York City.

Welcome!
Hitchcock Woods is one of the largest urban forests in the country with nearly 2,100 acres of land, seven entrances, and over 70 miles of trails. The Hitchcock Woods Foundation is dedicated to protecting and preserving the Woods. We hope you will enjoy, protect, and preserve this magical place as well.

Our Story
Hitchcock Woods was part of a large property owned by "winter colony" residents Thomas Hitchcock and William Whitney in the 1890s. Each winter wealthy northerners brought their families, staff, and horses to Aiken along with a passion for fox hunting, polo, and steeplechasing. The Hitchcock Woods Foundation was established in 1939 through the gift of 1,190 acres from the Hitchcock family. Hitchcock Woods is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a SC Heritage Trust Preserve.

Today Hitchcock Woods contains a stunning variety of habitats that support over 500 plant and animal species. Here are just some of the amazing plants and animals you might see.

What Can you See? Birds
The Hitchcock Woods Foundation took the extraordinary step of reintroducing red-cockaded woodpeckers

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to the Woods in 2016. Since this species gets reestablished in secluded areas away from trails, they might be hard to spot. However, there are lots of other wonderful birds. You might see:
Eastern Bluebird

Trees
Hitchcock Woods is home to six species of pine trees, longleaf, loblolly, slash, Virginia, short leaf, and pond pines. You can distinguish them by their needles and pinecones. The longleaf pine produces the largest pinecones in eastern North America. You might also see:
red maple • magnolia • redbud

Mammals
Hitchcock Woods is home to a variety of mammals. Most of them are active at night. Don't be surprised if you see a white-tailed deer. They are our most common and largest residents.
cottontail rabbit • white-tailed deer • red fox

Reptiles and Amphibians
There are lots of reptiles and amphibians here in Hitchcock Woods. What's the difference between the two? Reptiles have scaly skin and breathe through their lungs. Amphibians breathe through their moist and permeable skin.
5-lined skink • leopard frog • box turtle • tree frog

Did You Know?
Hitchcock Woods is 2 ½ times larger than Central Park in New York

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

2. Our Urban Forsest Marker

City.

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: Animals • Horticulture & Forestry • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1939.

Location. 33° 33.372′ N, 81° 43.565′ 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: 333 Laurens St 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,

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

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least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Explore Hitchcock Woods (here, next to this marker); A Feathered Friend Returns (within shouting distance of this marker); Lovely as a Tree (within shouting distance of this marker); The Tree that Built the South (within shouting distance of this marker); Plant a Pollinator Buffet (within shouting distance of this marker); The Power of Water (within shouting distance of this marker); Archaeology in the Woods (within shouting distance of this marker); A Railroad in the Woods (within shouting distance of this marker). 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 22, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 31 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 22, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.