Camden, Maine
Camden, Maine | |
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Aerial view of Camden from the harbor | |
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Seal | |
Location in Knox County and the state of Maine. | |
| Coordinates: 44°14′35″N 69°06′36″W / 44.24306°N 69.11000°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | Knox |
| Incorporated | 1791 |
| Villages | Camden Melvin Heights |
| Government | |
| • Type | Town Meeting-Council–manager |
| Area | |
• Total | 26.65 sq mi (69.02 km2) |
| • Land | 18.24 sq mi (47.24 km2) |
| • Water | 8.41 sq mi (21.78 km2) |
| Elevation | 269 ft (82 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 5,232 |
| • Density | 287/sq mi (110.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code | 04843 |
| Area code | 207 |
| FIPS code | 23-09725 |
| GNIS feature ID | 582384 |
| Website | www |
Camden is a town in Knox County, Maine, United States. The population was 5,232 at the 2020 census. Located on Penobscot Bay at the mouth of the Megunticook River, Camden is one of the few places on the Atlantic seaboard where mountains meet the sea.
The town was incorporated in 1791 and named after Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden, a supporter of American colonial rights. Camden developed as an industrial center in the 19th century, with mills along the Megunticook River supporting shipbuilding, textile manufacturing, and lime production. The local shipyards launched notable vessels including the first six-masted schooner ever built.
Beginning in the 1880s, Camden transformed into a prominent summer colony, attracting wealthy seasonal residents from northeastern cities who built elaborate mansions along the waterfront. The town has maintained cultural significance as the birthplace of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Edna St. Vincent Millay and home to institutions including the Camden International Film Festival. Camden's scenic harbor and historic architecture have made it a popular filming location for movies including Peyton Place, (1957) Casper (1995) and In the Bedroom (2001).