Camden dates to 1791, and 37% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 97% of U.S. towns · #12 of 143 in Maine. What drives it
18 places in town are on the National Register, among them 3 National Historic Landmarks and four historic districts with 162 buildings between them. Below: 2 old photos and papers, maps from 1884 on, and the census since 1790.
Founding year: Wikidata; Wikipedia’s history section gives the same year.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Camden’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Camden is more historic than 97% of U.S. towns, #12 of 143 in Maine. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its National Register listings ranks highest and its age lowest.
A+
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Camden’s overall grade.
Maine towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Maine town has 15.9 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Camden’s 330 sits above most of its state (98% of Maine towns have fewer) while its 173 historic buildings outnumber those of 92% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from A to A+. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±8.5 points). Two sources give 1791.
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Camden’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving. 3 are National Historic Landmarks, the highest tier. Boundary changes and added documentation are counted with their listing.
The coastal region of Camden, situated on Penobscot Bay, offered rich resources and excellent geography for a future maritime community. While various regional Native groups historically utilized the coastal and forest resources, the beginning of its organized history and development started with the arrival of the first European pioneers.
Passages that mention Camden, cut from the printed page as they were published.
History of Camden and Rockport, Maine1907 · page 483Read the page →
Read the text
Sect. 2. The several inhabitants of the town of Camden shall be holden to pay all taxes which have been legally assessed upon them by the town of Camden, and collectors of taxes for said town of Camden are hereby authorized and required to collect and pay all taxes to them already committed according to their respective warrants. All moneys now in the treasury of said town of Camden and all sums which shall hereafter be received from taxes heretofore assessed, shall be applied to the
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of Camden and Rockport, Maine1907 · page 484Read the page →
Read the text
like proportion, or may partition said farm according to law. All the other real property of the town of Camden shall be held and owned by the said towns of Camden and Rockport respectively, by the town where said property is located. All the personal property of the town of Camden shall be held and owned by the town in possession thereof. The books and papers and records of the town of Camden shall be retained by said town of Rockport, and each town shall have access to , the same. No
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
Timeline
Camden, 1791 to 2013
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Camden. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1904Rockland sheet · 1:62,500
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Camden.
Every building
Camden, building by building, 1884–1912
Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.
In 1791, according to Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history of the town. the first U.S. census counted 331 people here in 1790.
How does Camden rank for history?
Camden is more historic than 97% of U.S. towns, #12 of 143 in Maine. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in Camden?
18 listings, 3 of them National Historic Landmarks: 8 buildings, among them the Curtis Island Light (listed 1973, the first), 4 historic districts with 162 contributing buildings, and 6 structures. 173 historic buildings in all.
How old are the homes in Camden?
37% of Camden’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±8.5 points), against a typical 19% for a Maine town; the median home was built in 1970.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (2), Wikidata (2), the National Register of Historic Places (18), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the USGS Geographic Names Information System, Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
★ Landmark
★ Landmark
★ Landmark
