Rivers, Rails, and Crossroads Region (Region 3)
Aiken, Barnwell, Bamberg and Orangeburg counties were strongly influenced by the South Carolina Railroad, the nation's first rail line, extending 136 miles from Charleston to Hamburg (North Augusta). Small towns, such as Branchville, Bamberg, Denmark, and Blackville, sprang up along the track, taking advantage of access to the surrounding plantations and farms. The Horse Creek Valley, between Aiken and the Savannah River, was the site of a series of planned mill villages, including Graniteville and Vaucluse, where northern industrial practices were adapted to the culture of the South. The Savannah River Site became a center for nuclear weapons production during the 1950s. Today, its 400 square miles of woodlands and swamps contribute to the rural feel of the area. Only miles away -- but a world apart in feel -- the Aiken Winter Colony became popular a century ago, attracting wealthy seasonal residents and a thoroughbred industry that remains strong to this day.
