Aiken 1980s Business Boom and Growth Sweep Through Southside
The 1980s transformed Aiken County with DuPont ending SRP contract in 1987 and Westinghouse winning a for profit deal in 1988, a $4 billion reactor project creating about 4,000 jobs, and the Savannah River Site renaming in 1989. The southside expanded with malls, centers, and new golf courses while downtown merchants formed an association to revitalize the core.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Aiken
Barnwell
Edgefield
Savannah River
Sears
Belk of Aiken
Kalmia Plaza
Whiskey Road
Heritage Square
Hitchcock Square
Centre South
Whiskey
J.B. White
Woodside
Southside
Merchants Association
Merchants Group
A Decade of News A Chronology of 1984 to 1989 in Aiken
The 1980s in Aiken County saw plant closings and openings. Clearwater Finishing Plant closed on March 2, 1989 costing 458 jobs, then reopened March 27 under new ownership. Riegel Textile sold to Georgia Pacific in 1985, then to Pope and Talbot in 1988, which announced closure on April 6, 1989 with about 60 jobs lost. New plants opened, including Rieter’s drawframe facility and $1 million expansion in 1988, FMC’s outdoor power equipment plant, Airco Industrial Gases’ production site on SC 78, Environmental Monitoring & Testing in New Ellenton in 1986, and a 10 million Beech Island mine by W R Bonsal in 1989.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Aiken County
Clearwater
United Merchants and Manufacturers
South Carolina
Clearwater Finishing
Riegel Textile Corp
Aiken
Georgia Pacific
Pope and Talbot
Rieter Corporation
Turning the old into something new in 1984 Aiken County
The year 1984 saw landmarks lost to age and fire then reborn as new spaces such as the Aiken Elementary School becoming the county library and the Willcox Hotel transforming into the Willcox Inn. The Grace United Methodist Church rebuilt after a 1983 fire while the North Augusta Grace church site shifted to renovation. The Aiken County Court House addition began and USC Aiken expanded with an Etherredge Center arts facility. The Willcox and Grace structures led a broad renewal alongside new hires and political shifts, and a range of losses and recoveries marked a year of rebuilding.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Aiken County
Aiken
Banksia
Aiken County Court House
Aiken County Judicial Center
USC Aiken
Etherredge Center
Willcox Hotel
Willcox Inn
Grace United Methodist Church
North Augusta
Claudia Phelps
Average Wages and Investment Returns in the 1980s
Wages rose for workers and executives in the decade. Investments showed varied ten year compound annual returns with some gains and other losses, notably silver, amid a roller coaster market.
1984 In Aiken: School Moves And Leadership Changes
Aiken sets 1984 agenda with a new school replacing the old Aiken Elementary in January and Willcox Hotel conversion toward the Willcox Inn. Ashley Little retires as president of Aiken Technical College. Dr Paul Blowers named successor. Bud Coward becomes president of the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce. Sheriff and auditor races produce turnover. marijuana fields seized. museum relocates to Banksia. community mourns long‑time Winter Colony leaders. bus crash injuries to students near Langley‑Bath‑Clearwater Middle School and Midland Valley High School.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Aiken
Rose
University Hospital
Langley-Bath-Clearwater Middle School
Midland Valley High School
Aiken County Sheriff’s Department
John Henry Williams
Aiken Technical College
Ashley Little
Paul Blowers
M. Eugene Mullikin
St. John’s United
Willcox
Willcox Inn
Bud Coward
Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce
Aiken County
Mid Heath
Ralph Gunnels
Jean Newsome
George Williams
Aiken County Historical Museum
Banksia
Claudia Phelps
Langley-Bath-Clearwater
Thurmond wins regain landmark seat in local returns
Sen Strom Thurmond, the area's most recognizable landmark, returns to office. Democratic U.S. Rep Butler Derrick retains his Third District seat from South Carolina, and Sen Ryan Shealy with a Republican gain defeats Irene Rudnick to win District 24 Senate race.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sen
Strom Thurmond
U.S
Butler Derrick
South Carolina
Ryan Shealy
Lexington County
Irene Rudnick
Also Mentioned on This Page
Wein DuPont
DuPont
Department of Energy
Westinghouse
SRP
FMC Corporation
United States Army
Bradley
Airco
Environmental Monitoring & Testing Corporation
New Ellenton
W.R. Bonsal Company
Beech Island
At&t
Calif
McDonald
Embass
Vals
Connio
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!