Camden County, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Camden New South Wales
Location in New South Wales
Lands administrative divisions around Camden: Westmoreland Cook Cumberland Argyle Camden Pacific Ocean Argyle St Vincent Pacific Ocean

Camden County was one of the very first areas marked out in New South Wales, Australia. It's like an old-fashioned way of dividing up land. Today, it's one of the 141 official land divisions called cadastral divisions. Think of it as a big historical block of land!

What Was Camden County?

This county covered a large area. It stretched along the coast near Wollongong and went south to the Shoalhaven River. Inland, it included towns like Berrima and Picton. Its western edge was the Wollondilly River.

Early Settlements in Camden County

The very first settlement in this area was Camden Park. It was started by John Macarthur in 1806. This settlement was just across the Nepean River from Cumberland County. It was the first time land across the Nepean River was settled.

Today, Camden is a suburb of Sydney. It's in the same general area as the historical Camden County. However, some parts of the modern suburb are actually in what used to be Cumberland County.

Who Was Camden County Named After?

Camden County was named to honor John Pratt, 1st Marquess Camden. He was an important person who lived from 1759 to 1840. Naming places after important figures was a common practice back then.

Voting Areas in the Past

Between 1856 and 1859, the area had its first voting districts. These were called the Electoral district of Western Division of Camden and the Electoral district of Eastern Division of Camden. These divisions helped people vote for their representatives.

Facts About Camden County

In 1852, Camden County was very large. It covered about 1,403,320 acres, which is roughly 5,679 square kilometers. At that time, around 9,663 people lived there.