Camden County, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Camden County
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Camden County Courthouse in Woodbine
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Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
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 Georgia's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Georgia |
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| Founded | 1777 | ||
| Named for | Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden | ||
| Seat | Woodbine | ||
| Largest city | Kingsland | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 782 sq mi (2,030 km2) | ||
| • Land | 613 sq mi (1,590 km2) | ||
| • Water | 169 sq mi (440 km2) 21.6%% | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 54,768 | ||
| • Density | 89.3/sq mi (34.5/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| Congressional district | 1st | ||
Camden County is a county in the southeastern part of Georgia. In 2020, about 54,768 people lived there. The main town, or county seat, is Woodbine. The biggest city is Kingsland.
Camden County is one of Georgia's original counties. It was created on February 5, 1777. It is the 11th largest county in Georgia by size. It is also the 41st largest by how many people live there.
Camden County is part of the Kingsland, Georgia area. This area is also connected to the larger Jacksonville, Florida–Georgia region.
Contents
Exploring Camden County's Past
Early Visitors and Settlements
The first European to visit this area was Captain Jean Ribault from France in 1562. He was looking for a good place for a new settlement. Ribault named the rivers he saw the Seine and the Some. Today, these are known as the St. Marys and Satilla Rivers. He said the area was "Fairest, fruitfulest and pleasantest of all the world."
In 1565, Spain became worried about the French. They sent a large group to take over the land. The Spanish tried to teach the Timucuan Native Americans about Catholicism. The Timucuan people had lived on Cumberland Island for at least 4,000 years.
Both the British and Spanish wanted this land. This caused problems between their colonies of South Carolina and Florida. The colony of Georgia was started in 1733 to protect British interests. Spain lost its claim to the land in 1742 after the Battle of Bloody Marsh.
General Oglethorpe was on Cumberland Island when it got its name from a Native American leader named Tomochichi. Oglethorpe built a hunting lodge there called Dungeness. He also built Fort St. Andrews and Fort Prince Williams on the island. These forts helped protect the area.
In 1763, Spain gave Florida to the British. After this, Georgia's border moved south to the St. Marys River. This river is now Camden County's southern border. In 1765, new areas called parishes were created in this region.
Forming Camden County
Georgia was the last colony to join the American Revolutionary War in 1775. This was partly because of strong Native American groups and British Florida nearby. In the Georgia Constitution of 1777, St. Thomas and St. Marys Parishes became Camden County. It was named after Charles Pratt, a supporter of American independence.
During the Revolutionary War, many forts were built in Camden County. There were also several attacks by raiders. One famous raider was Daniel McGirth. Some people in Camden County, called Loyalists, supported the British. They built Wright's Fort on the St. Marys River. American troops tried to take the fort but failed. Later, British soldiers burned it down. Americans rebuilt it, then burned it again to keep it from the enemy.
The main way people made money in the county was by growing rice. Sea Island cotton was grown on Cumberland Island. Other crops like sugar cane and forest products like turpentine were also important. Camden County was also a place for trade with Native Americans. It was a shipping center around the town of St. Marys.
The county was a place of conflict between settlers and Native Americans. This led to local wars and people being forced to move. An important agreement, the Treaty of Colerain, was signed in 1796. It helped set boundaries between the United States and the Creek Nation.
In 1811, many men from Camden County fought in the Patriot War in Florida. They helped capture the town of Fernandina.
On January 15, 1815, British troops landed on Cumberland Island. They attacked the fort at Point Peter and easily took it. British soldiers stayed in the county through February. They raided towns and farms. This happened almost a month after the Treaty of Ghent was signed, which ended the War of 1812. The British occupation led to many enslaved people gaining their freedom.
Camden County was on an international border until 1819. That year, the Adams–Onís Treaty made Florida American territory.
Changes and Growth in Camden County
At the start of the American Civil War, many people moved inland for safety. The town of St. Marys was attacked by the United States Navy. Camden County formed four volunteer companies to fight in the war.
After the war, land was supposed to be given to freed slaves. However, by 1868, many freed people in Camden County lost the land they had been given. The land was returned to its former owners.
Plans for railways in the area began in the 1830s. In 1893, the Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad built a line through Camden County. In 1923, the county seat moved from St. Marys to Woodbine. This showed how important railways had become. In 1927, U.S. Route 17 was built through Woodbine and Kingsland.
From 1917 to 1937, a plant that made oil and fertilizer was a major business. In 1939, the Gilman Paper Company opened, providing many jobs. This company closed in 2002, and 900 workers lost their jobs.
In 1965, Thiokol Chemical launched a large rocket from their plant in the county. On February 3, 1971, a fire and explosion happened at the plant. This accident killed 29 workers and injured 50 others.
During World War II, the United States Coast Guard patrolled the island and nearby waters. In 1954, the U.S. Army bought land to build a military port. In 1976, the Kings Bay area was chosen for a submarine base. Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay now covers a large area. Camden County's population grew a lot after the military base was built. In the 1980s, it was one of the fastest-growing counties in the U.S.
Cumberland Island National Seashore was created in 1970 to protect the island's nature and history. Crooked River State Park was established in 1985.
Since 2012, Camden County has been thinking about building a spaceport. This would be a place to launch rockets and spacecraft. The county is looking into buying land for this project. If it happens, it could bring new jobs and opportunities to the area.
Camden County's Geography
Camden County covers about 782 square miles. About 613 square miles is land, and 169 square miles (21.6%) is water.
Most of Camden County is in the Satilla River sub-basin. This area includes the St. Marys and Satilla Rivers. The northern part of the county is in the Cumberland-St. Simons sub-basin. The southern border is in the St. Marys River sub-basin.
The 1898 Georgia hurricane hit Cumberland Island in Camden County. It was the strongest hurricane to ever hit Georgia.
Major Roads in Camden County
I-95 (Interstate 95)
US 17
SR 25
SR 25 Spur
SR 40
SR 40 Spur
SR 110
SR 252
SR 405 (unsigned designation for I-95)
Neighboring Counties
- Glynn County (north)
- Nassau County, Florida (south)
- Charlton County (west)
- Brantley County (northwest)
Protected Natural Areas
Towns and Communities
Cities
Census-Designated Place
Other Communities
- Dover Bluff
- Hopewell
- Spring Bluff
- Waverly
- White Oak
- Bullhead Bluff
Who Lives in Camden County?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 305 | — | |
| 1800 | 1,681 | 451.1% | |
| 1810 | 3,941 | 134.4% | |
| 1820 | 4,342 | 10.2% | |
| 1830 | 4,578 | 5.4% | |
| 1840 | 6,075 | 32.7% | |
| 1850 | 6,319 | 4.0% | |
| 1860 | 5,420 | −14.2% | |
| 1870 | 4,615 | −14.9% | |
| 1880 | 6,183 | 34.0% | |
| 1890 | 6,178 | −0.1% | |
| 1900 | 7,669 | 24.1% | |
| 1910 | 7,690 | 0.3% | |
| 1920 | 6,969 | −9.4% | |
| 1930 | 6,338 | −9.1% | |
| 1940 | 5,910 | −6.8% | |
| 1950 | 7,322 | 23.9% | |
| 1960 | 9,975 | 36.2% | |
| 1970 | 11,334 | 13.6% | |
| 1980 | 13,371 | 18.0% | |
| 1990 | 30,167 | 125.6% | |
| 2000 | 43,664 | 44.7% | |
| 2010 | 50,513 | 15.7% | |
| 2020 | 54,768 | 8.4% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 58,118 | 15.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1930-1940 1940-1950 1960-1980 1980-2000 2010 2020 |
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| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 31,975 | 35,977 | 37,203 | 73.23% | 71.22% | 67.93% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 8,719 | 9,621 | 9,497 | 19.97% | 19.05% | 17.34% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 195 | 230 | 185 | 0.45% | 0.46% | 0.34% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 429 | 706 | 845 | 0.98% | 1.40% | 1.54% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 32 | 70 | 66 | 0.07% | 0.14% | 0.12% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 70 | 72 | 325 | 0.16% | 0.14% | 0.59% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 659 | 1,247 | 2,989 | 1.51% | 2.47% | 5.46% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,585 | 2,590 | 3,658 | 3.63% | 5.13% | 6.68% |
| Total | 43,664 | 50,513 | 54,768 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
In 2020, Camden County had 54,768 people. There were 19,338 households and 14,380 families. Most people were non-Hispanic white (67.93%). About 17.34% were African American. Other groups included Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, and people of mixed races. About 6.68% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Schools in Camden County
Camden County has one large public high school. It also has two middle schools and nine elementary schools. There is also an alternative school. About 9,600 students attend schools in the county.
Camden County High School is the only public high school. It offers many classes to help students get ready for college or a career. The high school campus is one of the biggest in Georgia. It has a main building, a separate center for ninth graders, and other buildings. The school offers advanced classes and college courses. The school's football team, the Wildcats, has won three state championships.
Famous People from Camden County
- James Seagrove: An agent for the Creek Native Americans. He also helped start St. Marys.
- Duncan Lamont Clinch: A military leader who later became a politician.
- Thomas Buckingham Smith: Born on Cumberland Island. He was a diplomat and scholar.
- John Floyd: A politician and military general.
- Charles Rinaldo Floyd: Led the first U.S. trip into the Okefenoke Swamp.
- Catherine Littlefield Greene: Wife of General Nathaniel Greene. She lived on Cumberland Island.
- Travis Taylor: A professional football player (wide receiver) for the Baltimore Ravens and other teams.
- Stump Mitchell: A professional football player (running back) and coach.
- Ryan Seymour: A professional football player (offensive guard) for the New York Giants and other teams.
- Alicia Patterson: She started and edited Newsday. Her remains are buried in Kingsland.
- Jarrad Davis: A professional football player (linebacker) for the Detroit Lions.
- Jason Spencer: A former State Representative for Georgia.
- William J. Hardee: A general in the Confederate army.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Camden (Georgia) para niños
