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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