Camden, Tennessee

Camden is a city located in Benton County, Tennessee. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 3,828. It is the county seat of Benton County⁶.

Table of contents

1 Geography 2 Demographics 3 Lifestyle

Geography

Camden is located at 36°2'47" North, 88°5'9" West (36.046344, -88.085944)¹. Only three miles west of the western branch of the Tennessee River, Camden is approximately 20 miles south of Paris, TN; 85 miles west of Nashville, TN; and 120 miles east of Memphis, TN.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 58.5 km² (22.6 mi²). 28.7 km² (11.1 mi²) of it is land and 29.8 km² (11.5 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 50.88% water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 3,828 people, 1,631 households, and 1,014 families residing in the city. The population density is 133.2/km² (344.9/mi²). There are 1,840 housing units at an average density of 64.0/km² (165.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 93.08% White, 5.33% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. 1.33% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

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

In the city the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 44 years. For every 100 females there are 81.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 77.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $26,348, and the median income for a family is $31,667. Males have a median income of $27,413 versus $20,142 for females. The per capita income for the city is $15,271. 16.6% of the population and 11.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 26.1% are under the age of 18 and 12.9% are 65 or older.

Lifestyle

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.

Another notable event in Camden is the Bargain Highway, where parts of U.S. Highway 641 and U.S. Highway 79 are transformed into a 30-mile yardsale during Labor Day Weekend.