Aiken Winter Colony Historic District I, Historic district in Aiken, South Carolina, United States

Aiken Winter Colony Historic District I lies in Aiken, South Carolina, and holds more than 30 properties, most built between 1882 and 1948. Many are large mansions with their own stables. The district can be viewed from the street, though many mansions are fenced or screened by shrubs and tall trees. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 27, 1984.

In the late 1800s, wealthy families from the North came here to escape harsh winters and build winter homes. This seasonal community grew and developed over several decades as a retreat for affluent people.

The district's name comes from the Aiken Winter Colony, the seasonal society of wealthy Northern families who built here between 1882 and 1948. Many of the mansions were raised with their own stables, so horses stood at the centre of daily life. From the street you can still read this arrangement: large houses set back behind shrubs and stately trees, with stable blocks alongside.

The district can be viewed from the street, but many mansions and properties are fenced or screened by shrubs and large trees, so the buildings are seen from outside rather than entered. It lies in Aiken, South Carolina, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 27, 1984.

A polo field from 1882 and a golf course from 1892 show what leisure activities the wealthy residents valued. These sports facilities remain in place today and remind visitors of the passion for horses and golf from that era.