In 1783, a French trader
named Fabre settled on a bluff above the Ouachita River and called the
settlement “Ecore Fabre” (Faber’s Bluff or the Hill of Faber). This would mark
the permanent settlement of what would become Camden. The city of Camden marks
its founding as 1824, but it was not incorporated and officially named “Camden”
until 1844. Some controversy exists over the origin of the name but most agree
it is named for Camden, Alabama, the hometown of General Thomas Woodward, an
early city founder. Prior to the name change from Ecore Fabre to Camden, the
location was simply known as "The Bluff".