# Camden County, North Carolina

Camden County is a consolidated city-county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,355, making it the fourth-least populous county in North Carolina. Its county seat is Camden. Camden County is included in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC Combined Statistical Area.

## History

The county was formed in 1777 from part of Pasquotank County. It was named for Charles Pratt, 1st Lord Camden, a British politician who had opposed the Stamp Act and was sympathetic towards American colonists. The county is the site of the southern terminus of the Dismal Swamp Canal. The first county courthouse was constructed in 1782 and was replaced in 1847. It was the site of the Battle of South Mills in April 1862, during the American Civil War.
Shiloh Baptist Church, founded around 1727 by Paul Palmer, is the oldest Baptist church in North Carolina. It is located in the Shiloh township.
Though technically there are (or were) no incorporated municipalities in Camden County (with the exception of a small portion of Elizabeth City; most of which is in bordering Pasquotank County), the county became the first consolidated city-county entity in North Carolina on July 1, 2006.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 310.25 square miles (803.5 km$^2$), of which 240.33 square miles (622.5 km$^2$) is land and 69.92 square miles (181.1 km$^2$) (22.54%) is water.

### National protected area

* Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (part)

### State and local protected areas

* Dismal Swamp State Park
* North River Game Land (part)

### Major water bodies

* Albemarle Sound
* Intracoastal Waterway
* North River
* Pasquotank River

### Adjacent counties

* City of Suffolk, Virginia – north
* City of Chesapeake, Virginia – north
* Currituck County – east
* Tyrrell County – south
* Pasquotank County – southwest
* Gates County – northwest

### Major highways

* Future I-87
* US 17
* US 17 Bus.
* US 158
* NC 34
* NC 343

## Demographics
### 2020 census

Camden County racial composition :
| Race | Number | Percentage |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 8,200 | 79.19% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 1,049 | 10.13% |
| Native American | 40 | 0.39% |
| Asian | 118 | 1.14% |
| Pacific Islander | 1 | 0.01% |
| Other/Mixed | 607 | 5.86% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 340 | 3.28% |
As of the 2020 census, there were 10,355 people, 3,933 households, and 3,154 families residing in the county.

### 2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 9,980 people, 2,662 households, and 2,023 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile (11 people/km$^2$). There were 2,973 housing units at an average density of 12 units per square mile (4.6 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 82.1% White, 13.2% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. 2.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,662 households, out of which 31.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.20% were married couples living together, 9.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.00% were non-families. 20.70% 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 2.58 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.50% under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,493, and the median income for a family was $45,387. Males had a median income of $36,274 versus $24,875 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,681. 10.10% of the population and 7.90% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 12.60% are under the age of 18 and 20.30% are 65 or older.

### Demographic change

The county's population changed little between 1830 and 1970, averaging at about 5,500 residents. It grew slightly between 1970 and 1990, and then grew rapidly between 1990 and 2000.

## Government and politics

Camden County is a member of the Albemarle Commission regional council of governments. It is represented by Bobby Hanig in the 1st district in the North Carolina State Senate and Edward Charles Goodwin in the 1st district in the North Carolina House of Representatives.
United States presidential election results for Camden County, North Carolina :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 4,716 | 74.81% | 1,522 | 24.14% | 66 | 1.05% |
| 2020 | 4,312 | 72.43% | 1,537 | 25.82% | 104 | 1.75% |
| 2016 | 3,546 | 70.83% | 1,274 | 25.45% | 186 | 3.72% |
| 2012 | 3,109 | 66.09% | 1,508 | 32.06% | 87 | 1.85% |
| 2008 | 3,140 | 65.13% | 1,597 | 33.13% | 84 | 1.74% |
| 2004 | 2,480 | 64.75% | 1,339 | 34.96% | 11 | 0.29% |
| 2000 | 1,628 | 57.51% | 1,187 | 41.93% | 16 | 0.57% |
| 1996 | 1,074 | 41.86% | 1,186 | 46.22% | 306 | 11.93% |
| 1992 | 1,039 | 38.84% | 1,153 | 43.10% | 483 | 18.06% |
| 1988 | 1,144 | 50.87% | 1,081 | 48.07% | 24 | 1.07% |
| 1984 | 1,282 | 54.25% | 1,075 | 45.49% | 6 | 0.25% |
| 1980 | 813 | 38.94% | 1,212 | 58.05% | 63 | 3.02% |
| 1976 | 562 | 31.07% | 1,231 | 68.05% | 16 | 0.88% |
| 1972 | 909 | 60.20% | 556 | 36.82% | 45 | 2.98% |
| 1968 | 180 | 9.06% | 707 | 35.58% | 1,100 | 55.36% |
| 1964 | 534 | 38.03% | 870 | 61.97% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 338 | 25.00% | 1,014 | 75.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 343 | 29.67% | 813 | 70.33% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 340 | 25.45% | 996 | 74.55% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 127 | 16.30% | 576 | 73.94% | 76 | 9.76% |
| 1944 | 193 | 21.09% | 722 | 78.91% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 134 | 12.24% | 961 | 87.76% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 117 | 10.40% | 1,008 | 89.60% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 78 | 7.85% | 915 | 92.05% | 1 | 0.10% |
| 1928 | 245 | 28.19% | 624 | 71.81% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 132 | 22.88% | 436 | 75.56% | 9 | 1.56% |
| 1920 | 142 | 20.82% | 540 | 79.18% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1916 | 86 | 18.86% | 368 | 80.70% | 2 | 0.44% |
| 1912 | 40 | 9.88% | 303 | 74.81% | 62 | 15.31% |

## Education

There are five schools in Camden County: Grandy Primary School, Camden Intermediate School, Camden Middle School, Camden County High School, and Camden Early College. However, one other former school lies in Shiloh. It was a community school for the Shiloh area. The Shiloh School sign is still visible on the top of the facade at the front of the building.

## Communities
### City

* Elizabeth City (mostly in Pasquotank County)

### Census-designated places

* Camden (county seat and largest community)
* South Mills

### Unincorporated communities

* Black Swamp
* Old Trap
* Shiloh

### Townships

* Courthouse
* Shiloh
* South Mills