The history of the seaside town of Camden, Maine begins in 1605. Named in honor of Lord Camden, the community is 200 miles north of Boston, 85 miles from Portland,
and 8 miles north of Rockland.
Scenic Route 1 runs through Camden, the home of 5,000 people during the off-season. The town was officially founded on May 8, 1769. Originally a part of the Miscongus
Grant, Native American tribes called it Megunticook.
Camden and adjacent Rockport to the south share a harbor on Penobscot Bay, where lobster boats, yachts, and tall wind-jammers abound. Until 1891, Camden and Rockport
were a single town.
Mountains such as Mt. Battie in Camden Hills State Park rise behind the town. From its peak, you can see islands in the bay (which inspired the Edna St.
Vincent Millay poem Renascence). When the air is clear, you can even see Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, Camden was the home of wealthy ship builders, ship captains, and mill owners. Today, like its Midcoast Maine neighbors,
Camden is a warm blend of families, artists, seniors, professionals, parents, and children. The local high-tech industry is growing as well.
Residents and visitors alike appreciate the easy access to skiing with a view of the sea, or sailing with a view of the mountains, golfing or dining,
cultural events and museums, classes and conferences.
Local attractions include the Knox Mill, Curtis Island Lighthouse, Harbor Park and the Village Green. Writer Edna St. Vincent Millay attended Camden High School as a
teenager, and a 1912 poetry reading at a local inn launched her Pulitzer Prize-winning career.
Each February, the Camden Snow Bowl hosts the National Toboggan Championships, with more than 250 teams competing. June is the time for the annual Soap Box Derby,
blasting you back to the 1950s, as young people build their own motorless vehicles and race them down the hill. Sea-kayaking is a popular spot in Penobscot Bay.
