Camden, Arkansas
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Camden is a city located in Ouachita County, Arkansas. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 13,154. The city is the county seat of Ouachita CountyTemplate:GR. In 1783, a French trader named Fabre settled on a bluff above the Ouachita River and called the settlement “Ecore Fabre” (Faber’s Bluff or the Hill of Faber). This would mark the permanent settlement of what would become Camden. The city of Camden marks its founding as 1824, but it was not incorporated and officially named “Camden” until 1844. Some controversy exists over the origin of the name but most agree it is named for Camden, Alabama, the hometown of General Thomas Woodward, an early city founder. Prior to the name change from Ecore Fabre to Camden, the location was simply known as “The Bluff”.
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Geography
ARMap-doton-Camden.png
Location of Camden, Arkansas
Camden is located at 33°34'15" North, 92°50'6" West (33.570941, -92.834924)Template:GR. It is on the Ouachita River, at the end of the navigable river.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 42.8 km² (16.5 mi²). 42.6 km² (16.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.36% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 13,154 people, 5,421 households, and 3,561 families residing in the city. The population density is 308.7/km² (799.4/mi²). There are 6,259 housing units at an average density of 146.9/km² (380.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 48.88% White, 49.41% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 5,421 households out of which 30.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% are married couples living together, 19.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% are non-families. 31.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 16.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.36 and the average family size is 2.97.
In the city the population is spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 82.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 76.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $27,814, and the median income for a family is $35,291. Males have a median income of $31,257 versus $19,046 for females. The per capita income for the city is $14,599. 22.5% of the population and 18.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 32.0% of those under the age of 18 and 19.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Historical Sketch
Trivia:
Lt. Stokeley Morgan of Camden fired the opening shots of the Spanish-American War from a battleship in Manilia Harbor, Phillipines.
Edgar Allen Poe worked for the Camden Herald Newspaper for three months in 1847.
Elvis Presley played the Camden auditorium three times in 1957.
Sam Walton lived and worked here before he founded Wal-Mart.
Part of the Civil War mini-series North and South was filmed here.
The 1970s David Caradine movie Boxcar Bertha was filmed here.
Carrie Nation the famous prohibitionist held a rally here in 1906.
Will Rogers performed here in 1928.
Wild Bill Hickcock served here during the Union Army’s occupation of Camden.
Red Adair the famous oil well fire fighter was arrested for murder here and later cleared.
Huey P. Long delivered a stump-speech as he campaigned for Hattie Carraway in Camden in 1936.
Jim Ed Brown, famous country-western singer, hauled wood here before he became famous.
Governor Goerge Hays, Governor Ben Laney, Senator John McClellen and Governor/Senator David Pryor were from Camden.
Matilda Crockett, Davy Crockett’s sister, is buried here.
Porter Clay, brother of Henry Clay the leading US Senator prior to the Civil War, is buried here.
Robert Hite, one of Jimmy Doolittle’s Raiders, lives in Camden.
Nick McDonald is the Dallas Police officer who captured Lee Harvey Oswald after he assassinated President Kennedy.
Matthew Ruthert from Camden headed the effort to successfully have “In God We Trust” placed on our currency.
External links
- Camden Area Chamber of Commerce (http://www.growingcamden.com/)