Camden, Tennessee

Camden is a city in Benton County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 3,828 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Benton County.

Geography

Camden is positioned at (36.046344, -88.085944). The city is situated along Cypress Creek, near the creek's modern confluence with the Kentucky Lake impoundment of the Tennessee River (the original lower of the creek were entirely engulfed by Tennessee River with the completion of Kentucky Dam in 1944). The area is characterized by low hills to the north and west and wetlands to the east, the latter of which is largely protected by the Camden Wildlife Management Area.

Camden is centered around the junction of U.S. Route 70, which connects Camden to Nashville to the east and Memphis to the west, and Tennessee State Route 191, which connects Camden to Eva and Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park to the northeast and Interstate 40 to the southeast. U.S. Route 641, which intersects US-70 in the western half of Camden, connects the area with Paris and Kentucky to the north.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.6 square miles (58.5 km²), of which, 11.1 square miles (28.7 km²) of it is land and 11.5 square miles (29.8 km²) of it (50.88%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,828 people, 1,631 households, and 1,014 families residing in the city. The population density was 344.9 people per square mile (133.2/km²). There were 1,840 housing units at an average density of 165.8/sq mi (64.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.08% White, 5.33% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.31% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.33% of the population.

There were 1,631 households out of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the city the population was spread out with 20.1% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 26.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 81.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,348, and the median income for a family was $31,667. Males had a median income of $27,413 versus $20,142 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,271. About 11.6% of families and 16.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.1% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Camden and Benton County function on primarily an agrarian economy, and Camden serves as a bedroom community for the Tennessee Valley Authority facility and the DuPont titanium dioxide production plant in New Johnsonville, TN, five miles to the east and on the other side of the Tennessee River.

In the past, Camden and Benton County were known for sorghum production, however, the last sorghum production facility shut down in summer 2001. Tourism, however, is quickly supplanting it, with the well-promoted Tennessee Freshwater Pearl Museum at Birdsong Resort & Marina providing an influx of out-of-town dollars. Pearls, both farmed and harvested in the wild, have been a staple of Benton County for years. The Tennessee River Freshwater Pearl Farm is the only one of its kind in North America. Birdsong Resort, Marina and Lakeside RV and Tent Campgrounds offers tours of the farm and museum daily located off Interstate 40 at the Birdsong Exit # 133 which is halfway between Nashville and Memphis. Another notable event in Camden is the Bargain Highway, where parts of U.S. Highway 641 and U.S. Highway 70 are transformed into a 30-mile yardsale during Labor Day Weekend.

Media

Radio Stations

• WAKQ-FM 105.5 "Today's Best Music with Ace & TJ in the Morning"
• WTPR-AM 710 "The Greatest Hits of All Time"
• WTPR-FM 101.7 "The Greatest Hits of All Time"

History

Native Americans were living and camping in the Camden area as early as Archaic period (8000-1000 B.C.). A substantial Archaic site has been excavated at nearby Eva (the actual site is now submerged), uncovering evidence of semi-permanent habitation dating back 7000 years.

The first Euro-American settlers arrived in the Benton County area around 1818, shortly after (and probably before) the county was purchased from the Chickasaw. Camden has its roots as a stopover along the stage coach route between Nashville and Memphis. Initially known as "Tranquility," the community had attained the name "Camden" by the 1830s, a name influenced by the Revolutionary War-era Battle of Camden. When Benton County was created in 1835, Camden was chosen as the county seat. The city of Camden was officially incorporated in 1838.

People associated with Camden

• Patsy Cline - She died in a plane crash at Camden.
• Frank P. Lashlee - Former member of the Tennessee House of Representatives who was born here.
• Nyman Furr - Fiddle player, bassist, singer, songwriter with Nyman Furr & The Little Juice Band. Also played with Maggie Lee & The Percussions.

References

External links

• Benton County Chamber of Commerce