According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (22.54%) is water.
National protected area
- Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (part)
State and local protected areas
- Dismal Swamp State Park
- North River Game Land (part)
Major water bodies
- Albemarle Sound
- Intracoastal Waterway
- North River
- Pasquotank River
Adjacent counties
- City of Suffolk, Virginia – north
- City of Chesapeake, Virginia – north
- Currituck County – east
- Tyrrell County – south
- Pasquotank County – southwest
- Gates County – northwest
Major highways
Demographics
thumb|2020 population density of Camden County NC by census block
2020 census
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+Camden County, North Carolina – Racial and ethnic composition<br><small></small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(NH = Non-Hispanic)</small>
!Pop 1980
!Pop 1990
!Pop 2000
!Pop 2010
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020
!% 1980
!% 1990
!% 2000
!% 2010
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020
|-
|White alone (NH)
|3,923
|4,375
|5,516
|8,103
|style='background: #ffffe6; |8,200
|67.30%
|74.10%
|80.12%
|81.19%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |79.19%
|-
|Black or African American alone (NH)
|1,849
|1,481
|1,185
|1,299
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,049
|31.72%
|25.08%
|17.21%
|13.02%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |10.13%
|-
|Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)
|3
|16
|28
|32
|style='background: #ffffe6; |40
|0.05%
|0.27%
|0.41%
|0.32%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.39%
|-
|Asian alone (NH)
|9
|8
|39
|145
|style='background: #ffffe6; |118
|0.15%
|0.14%
|0.57%
|1.45%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.14%
|-
|Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)
|x
|x
|2
|3
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1
|x
|x
|0.03%
|0.03%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.01%
|-
|Other race alone (NH)
|8
|0
|0
|0
|style='background: #ffffe6; |53
|0.14%
|0.00%
|0.00%
|0.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.51%
|-
|Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)
|x
|x
|66
|183
|style='background: #ffffe6; |554
|x
|x
|0.96%
|1.83%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.35%
|-
|Hispanic or Latino (any race)
|37
|24
|49
|215
|style='background: #ffffe6; |340
|0.63%
|0.41%
|0.71%
|2.15%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.28%
|-
|Total
|5,829
|5,904
|6,885
|9,980
|style='background: #ffffe6; |10,355
|100.00%
|100.00%
|100.00%
|100.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%
|}
As of the 2020 census, there were 10,355 people, 3,875 households, and 3,154 families residing in the county.
The median age was 40.8 years. 23.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.2 males age 18 and over.
5.2% of residents lived in urban areas, while 94.8% lived in rural areas.
Of these households, 37.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 60.9% were married-couple households, 15.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 18.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. there were 9,980 people, 2,662 households, and 2,023 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 2,973 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 82.1% White, 13.2% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. 2.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,662 households, out of which 31.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.20% were married couples living together, 9.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.00% were non-families. 20.70% 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 2.58 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.50% under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,493, and the median income for a family was $45,387. Males had a median income of $36,274 versus $24,875 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,681. 10.10% of the population and 7.90% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 12.60% are under the age of 18 and 20.30% are 65 or older.
Demographic change
The county's population changed little between 1830 and 1970, averaging at about 5,500 residents. It grew slightly between 1970 and 1990, and then grew rapidly between 1990 and 2000.
Government and politics
Camden County is a member of the Albemarle Commission regional council of governments. It is represented by Bobby Hanig in the 1st district in the North Carolina State Senate and Edward Charles Goodwin in the 1st district in the North Carolina House of Representatives.
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Education
There are five schools in Camden County Schools: Grandy Primary School, Camden Intermediate School, Camden Middle School, Camden County High School, and Camden Early College. However, one other former school lies in Shiloh. It was a community school for the Shiloh area. The Shiloh School sign is still visible on the top of the facade at the front of the building.
Communities
thumb|300px|Map of Camden County with municipal and township labels
City
- Elizabeth City (mostly in Pasquotank County)
Census-designated places
- Camden (county seat and largest community)
- South Mills
Unincorporated communities
- Black Swamp
- Old Trap
- Shiloh
Townships
- Courthouse
- Shiloh
- South Mills
See also
- List of counties in North Carolina
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Camden County, North Carolina