Aynor: The Little Golden Town with a Big Heart
Built on Farms, Fueled by Community
Once a stop along the railroad and a hub for tobacco and cotton, Aynor has grown into a golden town that treasures its past and embraces its future.
The Little Golden Town—was founded in the late 1800s and incorporated in 1913.
What began as a small farming settlement grew around the railroad and became a hub for crops like tobacco and cotton. Today, Aynor is a proud, close-knit community that honors its rural roots while embracing steady growth and small-town charm.
Early settlement
The area that became Aynor was settled in the mid-19th century as a farm owned by a man named Jacob Eyknor (“Eyknor’s Farm”).
Another tradition holds that the town’s name comes from Mary Aynor Lewis, who lived on the tract of land that now includes the town, raised a large family there, and whose surname “Aynor” was adopted for the community.
The region is part of Horry County, South Carolina and lies in its northwestern portion.
Growth and incorporation
The arrival of a railroad terminus in the town’s vicinity helped spur development, with lots sold around the tracks by Burroughs & Collins.
The town was officially incorporated in 1913.
By the 1930s, Aynor had grown into a local center for commodity-crop production including turpentine, tobacco and cotton; it also had warehouses, a brickyard, cotton gin, sawmills and packing houses.
Mid-20th century and beyond
Over time, the town’s economy shifted away from traditional agriculture, but the heritage remains important.
Among its community landmarks: the former Levister Development Activity Center (originally the Levister Elementary School built in 1953 for African-American students) marks part of the town’s educational and social history.
Today, Aynor is described as a peaceful small-town community roughly 35 miles inland from the coast, with a slower pace of life and a heritage tied to its rural origins.
Legacy
Aynor’s history is defined by its transition from a mid-century agricultural crossroads (with tobacco, cotton and turpentine) into a small incorporated town with roots in the railroad era, and a community proud of its heritage while looking to the future.
