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
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 prisoners.
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
- Route 134
- Route 242
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 42,745. The median age was 51.6 years. 18.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 27.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.7 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 91.5% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.2% from some other race, and 5.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.2% of the population.
43.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 56.3% lived in rural areas.
There were 18,617 households in the county, of which 21.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 21.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 39,473 housing units, of which 52.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.4% were owner-occupied and 20.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 18.5%.
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, 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%).
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
- Friedenswald
- Stoutland
- Sunrise Beach
- Village of Four Seasons
Census-designated places
- Climax Springs
- Macks Creek
- Montreal
Other unincorporated places
- Bannister
- Barnumton
- Branch
- Damsel
- Decaturville
- Edith
- Green Bay Terrace
- Hugo
- Hurricane Deck
- Neongwah
- Passover
- Purvis
- Roach
- Sagrada
- Toronto
- Wet Glaize
Notable people
- Joseph W. McClurg, Governor of Missouri (1869–1871) and U.S. Representative from Missouri (1863–1868)
Politics
Local
The Republican Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Camden County.
State
Camden County is split between two legislative districts that elect members of the Missouri House of Representatives, both of which are represented by Republicans.
- District 123 — Suzie Pollock (R-Lebanon). Consists of the southern half of the county, including the communities of Camdenton, Linn Creek, Macks Creek, and Stoutland.
- District 124 — Lisa Thomas (R-Lake Ozark). Consists of the northern half of the county, including the communities of Climax Springs, Lake Ozark, Osage Beach, Sunrise Beach, and Village of Four Seasons.
All of Camden County is a part of Missouri's 16th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Justin Brown (R-Rolla).
Federal
Most of Camden County is included in Missouri's 3rd Congressional District and is currently represented by Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Luetkemeyer was elected to a seventh term in 2020 over Democratic challenger Megan Rezabek.
Part of Camden County is included in Missouri's 4th Congressional District and is currently represented by Vicky Hartzler (R-Harrisonville) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Hartzler was elected to a sixth term in 2020 over Democratic challenger Lindsey Simmons.
Camden County, along with the rest of the state of Missouri, is represented in the U.S. Senate by Josh Hawley (R-Columbia) and Roy Blunt (R-Strafford).
Blunt was elected to a second term in 2016 over then-Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander.
Political culture
Camden County has long been a Republican stronghold. The last Democrat to carry the county was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932, the only time a Democrat has won the county since Stephen Douglas in 1860. Underlining how Republican the county is, it rejected native son Harry Truman in 1944 when he was Roosevelt's running mate, and when he headed the ticket himself in 1948. Jimmy Carter is the only Democrat since Lyndon B. Johnson to manage even 40 percent of the county's vote.
Like most rural areas in western Missouri, voters in Camden County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative principles which tend to influence their Republican leanings.
Missouri presidential preference primaries
2020
The 2020 presidential primaries for both the Democratic and Republican parties were held in Missouri on March 10. On the Democratic side, former Vice President Joe Biden (D-Delaware) both won statewide and carried Camden County by a wide margin. Biden went on to defeat President Donald Trump in the general election.
Incumbent President Donald Trump (R-Florida) faced a primary challenge from former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, but won both Camden County and statewide by overwhelming margins.
2016
The 2016 presidential primaries for both the Republican and Democratic parties were held in Missouri on March 15. Businessman Donald Trump (R-New York) narrowly won the state overall, but carried a majority of the vote in Camden County. He went on to win the presidency.
On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D-New York) narrowly won statewide, but Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) carried Camden County by a small margin.
2012
The 2012 Missouri Republican Presidential Primary's results were nonbinding on the state's national convention delegates. Voters in Camden County supported former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pennsylvania), who finished first in the state at large, but eventually lost the nomination to former Governor Mitt Romney (R-Massachusetts). Delegates to the congressional district and state conventions were chosen at a county caucus, which selected a delegation favoring Santorum. Incumbent President Barack Obama easily won the Missouri Democratic Primary and renomination. He defeated Romney in the general election.
2008
In 2008, the Missouri Republican Presidential Primary was closely contested, with Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) prevailing and eventually winning the nomination.
Then-Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes than any candidate from either party in Camden County during the 2008 presidential primary. Despite initial reports that Clinton had won Missouri, Barack Obama (D-Illinois), also a Senator at the time, narrowly defeated her statewide and later became that year's Democratic nominee, going on to win the presidency.