Built on Farms, Fueled by Community

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

• Aynor earned the nickname “The Little Golden Town”.

• 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.