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Wagener
WagenerSouthCrolina.jpg
Nickname(s): 
Gaigeville
Location of Wagener, South Carolina
Location of Wagener, South Carolina
Country  United States of America
State  South Carolina
County Aiken
Area
 • Total 1.35 sq mi (3.49 km2)
 • Land 1.34 sq mi (3.47 km2)
 • Water 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation
466 ft (142 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 631
 • Density 470.90/sq mi (181.80/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
29164
Area code(s) 803, 839
FIPS code 45-74050
GNIS feature ID 1251308

Wagener is a town in Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 797 at the 2010 census, making it the largest settlement in the county north of the South Fork Edisto River. It is part of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area.

Geography

Wagener is located in eastern Aiken County at 33°39′10″N 81°21′51″W / 33.65278°N 81.36417°W / 33.65278; -81.36417 (33.652701, -81.364187).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2), of which 0.008 square miles (0.02 km2), or 0.60%, is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1900 192
1910 362 88.5%
1920 597 64.9%
1930 546 −8.5%
1940 588 7.7%
1950 584 −0.7%
1960 614 5.1%
1970 723 17.8%
1980 903 24.9%
1990 731 −19.0%
2000 863 18.1%
2010 797 −7.6%
2020 631 −20.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

Wagener racial composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 226 35.82%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 368 58.32%
Native American 3 0.48%
Asian 1 0.16%
Pacific Islander 1 0.16%
Other/Mixed 25 3.96%
Hispanic or Latino 7 1.11%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 631 people, 320 households, and 261 families residing in the town.

2012

As of the census of 2012, there were 809 people, 368 (45.5%) males, and 441 (54.5%) females. Median resident age was 38.4

History

Gunter's Crossroad The history of Wagener dates back to 1887. The early settlement was known as Pinder Town and later as Guntersville or Gunter's Crossroad, after the large number of North Carolinian settlers named Gunter. These men helped make up Company I of the 20th SC Infantry, which was part of Kershaw's Brigade during the Civil War. The town is situated on what was once farm land belonging to Elridge Gunter. He donated this property to benefit the schools of Wagener and the First Baptist Church.

The Southern Railroad The little town grew when the Southern Railroad ran a line through to Batesburg. Nearly all of the towns that sprang up along the railroad wanted to use the last name of George Wagener, who was a strong supporter of the railroad and the owner of a wholesale house in Charleston. It was through the influence of J. A. Gunter, a prosperous local farmer, that the town received the honor of using this distinguished name.

In the 1920s and 1930s, asparagus was grown here and exported across America. During the same period, cotton became a successful product and huge bales lined the streets awaiting departure via train. The children of Wagener frolicked among the hay bales during their games of hide-n-seek. A central town park is located where the railroad beds were.

Education

Wagener has a public library, a branch of the ABBE Regional Library System.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Wagener para niños

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