Camden pairs a peaceful feel with plenty of activities
The seat of Benton County, Camden provides a small-town atmosphere near the recreation hub of Kentucky Lake. Residents — including plenty of retirees — enjoy the area’s blend of peaceful character and plentiful activities. “This area is kind of more of a retirement area, so people are not in a hurry,” says Kevin Stepp, the broker and owner of Patriot Realty USA Camden, and a lifelong resident of Camden. “They’re not rushed to get somewhere. You don’t feel like you have to get ahead of someone to beat them out. The atmosphere is just more laid back.”
Boating and fishing on Kentucky Lake, a few miles east
A portion of the Tennessee River was impounded by the Tennessee Valley Authority in 1944, creating Kentucky Lake. The body of water is known as a hotspot for boating and fishing and serves as the venue for regional fishing tournaments. The Eva Beach Recreation Area on Kentucky Lake is 6 miles east and has a beach and a boat slip, plus a playground. Within town, Camden City Park has several baseball fields and a basketball court. Across the street are a playground, a dog park, and the community pool, which is open over the summer.
Midcentury homes throughout Camden's neighborhoods
Residential streets in Camden cut through the woods, with properties shaded by tall trees. Homes often have large, grassy front yards, and cars tend to be parked in driveways or under carports. Expansive lots are typical farther from the center of town. Midcentury-era homes are most common throughout the community, and smaller cottages and bungalows sell from $70,000 to $160,000. Larger ranch-style homes go between $125,000 and $350,000.
Education at Benton County Schools, including Camden Central High
The Benton County Schools system serves Camden, receiving a B-minus overall grade from Niche. Students can start at Camden Elementary for kindergarten through second grade, with the school getting a B-minus rating. The B-rated Briarwood School teaches third through fifth. Camden Junior High and Camden Central High each receive a B-minus. According to the Tennessee Department of Education, 65.7% of Central graduates met the state’s criteria for postgraduate readiness in 2024, compared to the state rate of 48.9%.
Shops and restaurants on the courthouse square and Main Street
Downtown Camden centers on the Benton County Courthouse, with storefronts on the square that surrounds it. Boutiques and hardware stores sit alongside restaurants like the DayMaker Cafe, which serves breakfast and lunch daily. More businesses can be found along Main Street, including the local favorite Camden Donut and the Cash Saver grocery store. Fast food spots like McDonald’s line U.S. Highway 641, which leads north to Walmart on the community’s outskirts. Otherwise, locals head 60 miles to Jackson or 90 miles to Nashville for more shopping options. “If you want to do some major shopping, you might have to go to a bigger city, but people like what they have here,” Stepp says.
Annual events in town and throughout Benton County
Camden puts on plenty of annual events, including holiday celebrations. The city’s Christmas parade, which marches down Main Street each December, is most popular. But residents take advantage of happenings throughout Benton County. The two-day Bargain Highway event is a yard sale that spans the 30 miles of Highway 641 in the county, cutting through Camden. “Benton County has quite a bit to offer that people can come and see,” Stepp says. “Normally there’s something going on somewhere. I won’t say every weekend of the year, but there’s quite a bit going on where people can find something to do.”
Routes to employers and larger cities like Jackson or Nashville
Residents of Camden are generally car-dependent, though the Northwest Tennessee Human Resource Agency provides an on-demand transit service for the community and surrounding counties. While Camden has some industry in town, locals commute to major employers in nearby areas like New Johnsonville, 9 miles away. The West Tennessee Healthcare Camden Hospital offers an emergency room, among other services. About 60 miles away, Jackson Regional Airport has commercial flights to Atlanta and Chicago, though residents more often go to Nashville International Airport 100 miles east.
