Camden County, Missouri Facts for Kids

Camden County
Quick facts for kids U.S. county
The Camden County Courthouse in Camdenton
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Missouri
Founded	January 29, 1841
Named for	Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden
Seat	Camdenton
Largest city	Osage Beach
Area
• Total	709 sq mi (1,840 km²)
• Land	656 sq mi (1,700 km²)
• Water	53 sq mi (140 km²) 7.4%
Population (2020)
• Total	42,745
• Estimate (2022)	43,768
• Density	60.29/sq mi (23.278/km²)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts	3rd, 4th

Camden County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 42,745. Its county seat is Camdenton. The county was organized on January 29, 1841, as Kinderhook County and renamed Camden County in 1843 after Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden, Lord Chancellor of the United Kingdom and leader of the British Whig Party. Camden County is also the primary setting of the Netflix show Ozark.

History

Settlement and founding

There is no preserved record of the area that is now Camden County being inhabited before 1827, when Kentuckian settlers Harrison Davis and Reuben Berry pitched a camp on the Dry Auglaize Creek, eight miles east of what is now Linn Creek. Throughout the next few years, more settlers came into the area, and by 1831, there were thirteen families living near the Dry Auglaize. Records of settling the Wet Auglaize Creek date back to the beginning of 1832. The first school in Camden County was built on a farm in 1833.

Original county seat

The town of Oregon was established in 1841 and became the county seat. In 1843, when the name of the county was changed from Kinderhook to Camden, the name of Oregon was changed to Erie. In 1854, a cholera epidemic struck Erie, leaving only 7 survivors. As a result, the county seat was changed to Linn Creek in 1855.

American Civil War

Camden County saw some fighting during the American Civil War.

Battle of Monday's Hollow

Part of the American Civil War

Date	October 13, 1861
Location	Camden County, Missouri
Result	Union victory

Belligerents

United States

Missouri State Guard

Commanders and leaders

Col. John Wyman
Maj. Clark Wright
Maj. W.D. Bowen

Lt. Col. J.M. Johnson

Units involved

13th Illinois Infantry Regiment
13th Illinois Cavalry Regiment

Frémont Battalion
First Battalion

Unnamed cavalry unit

Casualties and losses

1 killed

Approximately 100 killed and wounded

On October 13, 1861, the Battle of Monday's Hollow took place. Colonel John Wyman led the 13th Illinois Infantry Regiment from the east towards Linn Creek, while the 13th Illinois Cavalry Regiment, consisting of Major Clark Wright's Frémont Battalion and Major W.D. Bowen's First Battalion headed southwest towards Lebanon. Bowen's forces collided with a Missouri State Guard cavalry unit commanded by Lieutenant Colonel J.M. "Myscal" Johnson. Bowen called for assistance from Wright and Wyman, halting near where Missouri Route 7 now crosses Murphy Creek. The Union forces saw Johnson's cavalry, and Wyman attacked, driving the Missouri State Guard in the direction of Lebanon.

Skirmish at Linn Creek

Wyman remained in his camp for several days after the Battle of Monday's Hollow. Southern partisans took control of an undefended Linn Creek. On October 14, 1861, the Frémont Battalion descended on the town and drove out the southerners, taking 37 prisioners.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 709 square miles (1,840 km²), of which 656 square miles (1,700 km²) is land and 53 square miles (140 km²) (7.4%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Morgan County (north)
Miller County (northeast)
Pulaski County (east)
Laclede County (southeast)
Dallas County (southwest)
Hickory County (west)
Benton County (northwest)

Major highways

U.S. Route 54
Route 5
Route 7

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1850	2,338	—
1860	4,975	112.8%
1870	6,108	22.8%
1880	7,266	19.0%
1890	10,040	38.2%
1900	13,113	30.6%
1910	11,582	−11.7%
1920	10,474	−9.6%
1930	9,142	−12.7%
1940	8,971	−1.9%
1950	7,861	−12.4%
1960	9,116	16.0%
1970	13,315	46.1%
1980	20,017	50.3%
1990	27,495	37.4%
2000	37,051	34.8%
2010	44,002	18.8%
2020	42,745	−2.9%
2021 (est.)	43,436	−1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2015

As of the census of 2000, there were 37,051 people, 15,779 households, and 11,297 families residing in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile (22 people/km²). There were 33,470 housing units at an average density of 51 units per square mile (20/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.68% White, 0.26% Black or African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. Approximately 0.93% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 15,779 households, out of which 23.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.80% were married couples living together, 6.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.40% were non-families. 23.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.68.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.30% under the age of 18, 6.10% from 18 to 24, 23.30% from 25 to 44, 31.40% from 45 to 64, and 19.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 100.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,840, and the median income for a family was $40,695. Males had a median income of $28,020 versus $20,825 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,197. About 8.00% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.00% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2010), Camden County is part of the Bible Belt, with evangelical Protestantism being the most predominant religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Camden County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (33.09%), nondenominational evangelical groups (13.92%), and Roman Catholics (11.44%).

2020 Census

Camden County Racial Composition
Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	38,714	90.6%
Black or African American (NH)	247	0.6%
Native American (NH)	177	0.41%
Asian (NH)	221	0.52%
Pacific Islander (NH)	28	0.07%
Other/Mixed (NH)	2,003	5.7%
Hispanic or Latino	1,355	4.7%

Education

Public schools

Camdenton R-III School District – Camdenton
- Dogwood Elementary School (PK-02)
- Hawthorn Elementary School (03-04)
- Osage Beach Elementary School (PK-04)
- Hurricane Deck Elementary School (PK-04)
- Oak Ridge Intermediate School (05-06)
- Camdenton Middle School (07-08)
- Camdenton High School (09-12)
Climax Springs R-IV School District – Climax Springs
- Climax Springs Elementary School (K-06)
- Climax Springs High School (07-12)
Macks Creek R-V School District – Macks Creek
- Macks Creek Elementary School (PK-06)
- Macks Creek High School (07-12)
Stoutland R-II School District – Stoutland
- Stoutland Elementary School (PK-06)
- Stoutland High School (07-12)

Private schools

Lake Christian Academy - Sunrise Beach (PK-12) - Nondenominational Christian

Public libraries

Camden County Library District

Communities

Cities

Camdenton (county seat)
Lake Ozark (mostly in Miller County)
Linn Creek
Osage Beach (largest city, also in Miller County)
Richland (mostly in Pulaski County and a small part in Laclede County)

Villages

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated places

Notable people

Joseph W. McClurg, Governor of Missouri (1869-1871) and U.S. Representative from Missouri (1863-1868)

Camden County, Missouri facts for kids

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