Town of Camden

The first road through Camden, from Rome to Salmon River, was surveyed in 1799 and 520 man-days of work were assessed against the 68 in habitants of the area to construct the road.  In 1847, the State Legislature granted permission to build a plank road on the same route. 

Other roads, most of them fanning out from the Village to the surrounding rural area, were constructed later.  The first bridge across the West Branch of Fish Creek was built in 1803.

The Rome, Watertown, and Ogdensburg Railroad, and the Elmira, Cortland, and Northern branch of the Lehigh Valley Railroad aided the growth and development of the Camden area.  The railroad between Rome and Camden was completed in 1850 and was opened to Watertown the following year.  The New York Central Railroad took over the Rome, Watertown, and Ogdensburg line in the early 1890's. 

The Lehigh Valley line was extended from Cortland to Camden in 1887.  The Lehigh Valley tracks to Camden and the New York Central spur line from Rome were removed some years ago.