Camden County is a county in Missouri, United States, wrapped around the Lake of the Ozarks in the central part of the state. It had a population of 42,745 at the 2020 census and covers 709 square miles (1,840 km2) — 656 square miles (1,700 km2) of land and 53 square miles (140 km2) of water — centred near 38°02′N 92°46′W.
Camdenton is the county seat, and its postal code is 65020. The county holds five incorporated cities, four villages and three census-designated places, plus dozens of unincorporated communities strung along the lake’s many arms. Camden County is in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Camden County
Camden County’s settlements cluster tightly around the Lake of the Ozarks, formed when Bagnell Dam impounded the Osage River in 1931. The table below covers the incorporated cities and villages, the three CDPs, and the unincorporated communities carried over from the county’s historical gazetteer; population figures are the 2020 census count where available, and CDP/Unincorp. mark places with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camdenton | City · seat | — | 65020 |
| Osage Beach | City | — | 65065 |
| Lake Ozark | City | — | 65049 |
| Linn Creek | City | — | 65052 |
| Richland | City | — | — |
| Village of Four Seasons | Village | — | 65049 |
| Sunrise Beach | Village | — | 65079 |
| Stoutland | Village | — | — |
| Friedenswald | Village | — | — |
| Climax Springs | CDP | — | 65324 |
| Macks Creek | CDP | — | 65786 |
| Montreal | CDP | — | 65591 |
| Roach | Unincorp. | — | 65787 |
| Bannister | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Barnumton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Big Bend Acres | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Branch | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Damsel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Decaturville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Freedom | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Green Bay Terrace | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hahatonka | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hugo | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hurricane Deck | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Laguna Beach | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Neongwah | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Old Linn Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Only | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Passover | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pleasant Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Purvis | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sagrada | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Toronto | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wet Glaize | Unincorp. | — | — |
| White City | Unincorp. | — | — |
Two of the incorporated cities straddle county lines and are only partly in Camden County: Lake Ozark and Osage Beach both extend into neighboring Miller County, and Richland sits mostly in Pulaski County with a small slice reaching into Camden. Old Linn Creek is the drowned former county seat, submerged when Bagnell Dam filled the lake in 1931 — the modern city of Linn Creek was rebuilt on higher ground nearby.
ZIP Codes
- 65020 — Camdenton
- 65065 — Osage Beach
- 65049 — Lake Ozark (also serves the Village of Four Seasons)
- 65052 — Linn Creek
- 65079 — Sunrise Beach
- 65324 — Climax Springs
- 65591 — Montreal
- 65786 — Macks Creek
- 65787 — Roach
Smaller unincorporated communities such as Stoutland, Freedom and Toronto draw mail service from the nearest post office town rather than carrying a ZIP code of their own.
Geography
Camden County sits in the Ozark Highlands, cut through by the flooded valleys of the Osage and Niangua rivers, which together form the sprawling, 1,150-mile shoreline of the Lake of the Ozarks. The terrain away from the lake is rolling, wooded and rocky, typical of the Ozark Plateau, with the lake itself covering roughly 8 percent of the county’s total area. Camden County borders seven counties: Morgan County to the north, Miller County to the northeast, Pulaski County to the east, Laclede County to the southeast, Dallas County to the southwest, Hickory County to the west, and Benton County to the northwest.
Demographics
Camden County had 42,745 residents at the 2020 census, spread thinly at roughly 65 people per square mile of land. Osage Beach and Camdenton are the county’s two largest communities, both built up around the lake’s tourism and retirement economy rather than a traditional downtown core. Household income in the county runs well below the Missouri median of $68,545, reflecting a large share of retirees and seasonal-wage lake-resort workers rather than year-round salaried employment.
Economy & Local Life
Tourism and lake recreation drive Camden County’s economy: marinas, resorts, restaurants and vacation-rental management fill the shoreline from Camdenton through Osage Beach to Lake Ozark. Bass Pro Shops-owned Big Cedar-style outdoor recreation, boat dealerships and the outlet shopping along the Osage Beach strip employ a large share of the workforce, much of it seasonal. Lake of the Ozarks State Park, Missouri’s largest state park, anchors the county’s public land east of Osage Beach. Health care and county government, both centered in Camdenton, are the steadiest year-round employers.
History
The county was organized on January 29, 1841, as Kinderhook County, taking its name from the New York hometown of then-President Martin Van Buren. In 1843, after Van Buren left office and the name lost its political appeal, the county was renamed Camden County, honoring Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden, a British Whig political figure. The county’s modern character dates to 1931, when Union Electric completed Bagnell Dam on the Osage River, creating the Lake of the Ozarks and submerging the original county seat of Linn Creek; the town relocated and Camdenton was founded nearby as the new seat. The lake later became widely known as the setting of Netflix’s crime drama “Ozark.”
Getting There
U.S. Route 54 runs through the heart of the county, linking Camdenton, Lake Ozark and Osage Beach, with Missouri Routes 5, 7, 134 and 242 branching out to the smaller lake communities.
- Jefferson City — 40 miles north
- Springfield — 65 miles southwest
- Columbia — 75 miles north
- Lebanon — 35 miles south
The nearest commercial airport is Lee C. Fine Memorial Airport at the lake for general aviation, with the closest scheduled commercial service at Springfield-Branson National Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Camden County, Missouri?
It sits in the central Ozarks, wrapped around the Lake of the Ozarks, roughly 40 miles south of Jefferson City.
What is the population of Camden County?
42,745 residents as of the 2020 census.
How big is Camden County?
709 square miles (1,840 km2), including 53 square miles of lake and river water.
What is the county seat of Camden County?
Camdenton is the county seat.
How many towns and villages are in Camden County?
Five incorporated cities, four villages, three census-designated places and dozens of unincorporated lake communities.
What ZIP codes are in Camden County?
Nine, anchored by 65020 (Camdenton), 65065 (Osage Beach) and 65049 (Lake Ozark).
Why was Camden County originally called Kinderhook County?
It was named for President Martin Van Buren’s hometown in New York before being renamed Camden County in 1843.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Missouri.