ELLENTON
Aiken Co.,South
Carolina
(OLD) Ellenton is
a true ghost town, as it was physically relocated from its original location to
a new spot, and renamed New Ellenton (2000 pop 2260). It was moved when the United States
Government purchased some 200,000 acres of land along the Savannah
River to be used in development of the Savannah River Nuclear
Plant in the early 1950s. This forced
move was not a popular one and there remain many disgruntled former citizens
among the 6000 folks that were relocated.
The old town site
of Ellenton is completely off limits for any kind of exploration.
When I was doing a
little research into the history of this site back in 1984, I was ‘politely’
told to “mind my own business.” However,
since then, the story is out there and more people are aware of the interesting
history of this place. An outside website shares a little
history of the old town.
The town of New
Ellenton is still alive, and each October since 1972,
hosts “The Atomic City Festival” to
keep alive the memories and stories of those forced to relocate.
The original site of Ellenton was established around 1870
as an agricultural community. It was
incorporated as a town in 1880, and prospered.
It began to decline in the 1930s, and by 1950 only had a population of
about 760. Some of the 30 businesses
included: churches, cotton gin, municipal buildings, two schools and a railroad
station. In November, 1950 it was
announced that a nuclear weapons manufacturing plant would be built to produce tritium and plutonium-239 for use in H-bombs.
This plant would be erected along the Savannah
River and would necessitate relocation of people in several
communities, including Ellenton, Dunbarton and Meyers
Mill.
The town of New
Ellenton was established outside the periphery of the
plant property and many citizens of the displaced communities moved their
buildings and themselves there beginning in 1951. (GBS)
* * * * *
Ellenton, still partially
exists but is inaccessible because it is on the property of Savannah River
Nuclear Site.
Contributed by Ted Cisine, Sep
27, 2005
* * * * *
One I highly
recommend is the town of Ellenton. After
World War II, the US Corps of Engineers surveyed the Savannah River Site (or
“Bomb Plant” as the locals called it) for nuclear reactors and enriching
uranium for nuclear bombs. The government moved out an entire town of
people. As my grandfather told it, a lawyer (name withheld by GBS) made
quite a sum of money by representing the displaced people in court. Ruins
of this town still exist on the property of the Savannah River Site, but access
is extremely limited. The town of “New Ellenton” is north of the old town.
Contributed by Joe
Miley, Jan 18, 2006
This was our Ghost Town of the Month for October 2008
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FIRST POSTED: October 10, 2008
LAST UPDATED:
November 14, 2008
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