Photo: Dr. Blazer · CC BY-SA 4.0Camden spent more per resident in 2022 than 93% of similar cities
Camden’s city government spent $13.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, about $1,653 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau. Water and other utilities ($30.3 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Camden is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,972 per resident in 2022: more than 93% of them
Camden’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,972 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 43 South Carolina cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,137, and the middle half spent $694–$1,548. Camden spent more than 93% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($5.5 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
South Carolina cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Camden itself left out).
About $1,653 per resident a year, or $4.53 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 27%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is down 9% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Camden reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $1,972 · 2023: $1,653. Per resident it went from $1,972 to $1,653 (down 16%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 7,288 to 7,907.
full-time in March 2025, down from 154 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $1,408 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.53% of the home’s value, vs 0.48% across South Carolina.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Camden’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to Camden’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Camden →
Who’s in charge in Camden
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Camden’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityofcamden.org ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 52 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2023 finance file (7,907).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Kershaw County School District
Camden’s K–12 school district, shared with Bethune, Elgin. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $12,809 per pupil, $7,113 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
South Carolina districts overall: 45% local, 43% state, 13% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Camden’s votes are counted by county
South Carolina reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Camden alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Kershaw County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican63.5%21,289 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat35.3%11,826 votesOthers: 1.2% (418 votes).
Most votes in Kershaw County: Donald J Trump
South Carolina: Trump 58.2%, Harris 40.4%
100% of Camden lies in Kershaw County. Every 2024 race in Kershaw County is on the county’s page.
Kershaw County’s 2024 results →Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Camden.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: cityofcamden.org ↗
- 2South Carolina HouseCamden is split between 2 districts
- 3South Carolina SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of South Carolina
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Camden compares with the towns next door
Camden spent $1,972 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Camden | $1,972 | $1,408 |
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Camden’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Camden’s government
How much does Camden spend per resident?
About $1,653 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,972 was more than 93% of 43 South Carolina cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Camden?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,408 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.53% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.48% across South Carolina. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofcamden.org.
Who runs Camden’s government?
See cityofcamden.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Camden yet.
How did Camden vote in 2024?
South Carolina counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Camden alone. Kershaw County, where 100% of Camden lies, voted Trump 63.5%, Harris 35.3% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Camden?
151 full-time and 27 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $724,011 (about $8.7M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Camden in the state legislature?
Camden is split among 2 State House districts and 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The South Carolina Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Camden’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →