Cameron Park, California

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Cameron Park, California
settlement_type = CDP


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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location in El Dorado County and the state of California


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = California
subdivision_name2 = El Dorado
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
established_date =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 19.3
area_total_sq_mi = 7.5
area_land_km2 = 19.1
area_land_sq_mi = 7.4
area_water_km2 = 0.2
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1
elevation_ft = 1198
elevation_m = 365
population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 14549
population_metro =
population_density_km2 = 753.8
population_density_sq_mi = 1939.9
timezone = Pacific (PST)
utc_offset = -8
latd = 38 |latm = 40 |lats = 35 |latNS = N
longd = 120 |longm = 59 |longs = 22 |longEW = W
timezone_DST = PDT
utc_offset_DST = -7
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 95682
area_code = 530
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 06-10256
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1733968
footnotes =
website =

Cameron Park is a census-designated place (CDP) in El Dorado County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,549 at the 2000 census. Cameron Park is a relatively new community situated in the Northern California Gold Country of the Sierra Nevada foothills, approximately 30 miles (50 km) east of Sacramento and 70 miles (110 km) west of South Lake Tahoe.

History

The original inhabitants of the area surrounding Cameron Park were the Niesnan branch of the Maidu Indians. Grinding rocks and burial mounds serve as glimpses of the past and are still visible in various locations around Cameron Park.

Major development began in the area when Larry Cameron purchased 5,000 foothill acres in the 1950s for ranching purposes. In the years since then, the land has slowly been divided into lots of varying sizes, including ranch-sized properties and medium and high density residential neighborhoods. Today, Cameron Park contains a mix of large ranches, single family homes, apartments and businesses.

Geography and climate

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 7.4 square miles (19.2 km²), of which, 7.4 square miles (19.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.94%) is water.

Thick shrubbery and trees cover the hills in and around Cameron Park. Typical vegetation includes an abundance of redbud trees, manzanita bushes, gray pines, and oak trees. The elevation of Cameron Park varies between approximately 1200-1400 feet above sea level, typically just slightly above the fog line and below the snow line.

Summers are generally hot and dry, with average daytime temperatures in the 90s, but often reaching 100 and sometimes 110 or more. Nights, however, tend too cool off more so than in the Sacramento Valley below. Autumns tend to be an "extended summer" throughout California and Cameron Park is no exception. Winters are generally cold and rainy with highs averaging in the 40s to 50s and nights occasionally dropping below freezing. Cameron Park typically receives a dusting of snow every few years.

The soil in Cameron Park is reddish and clay-like and not conducive to many types of vegetation.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 14,549 people, 5,537 households, and 4,147 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,975.8 people per square mile (763.2/km²). There were 5,703 housing units at an average density of 774.5/sq mi (299.2/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.25% White, 0.63% Black or African American, 0.89% Native American, 1.44% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 1.88% from other races, and 2.80% from two or more races. 6.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,537 households out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.9% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 19.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $59,678, and the median income for a family was $66,279. Males had a median income of $51,002 versus $34,897 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $26,677. About 3.7% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 1.3% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

In the state legislature Cameron Park is located in the 1st Senate District, represented by Republican Dave Cox, and in the 4th Assembly District, represented by Republican Ted Gaines. Federally, Cameron Park is located in California's 4th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +11 [cite web | title = Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest? | publisher = Campaign Legal Center Blog | url=http://www.clcblog.org/blog_item-85.html | accessdate = 2007-10-20] and is represented by Republican John Doolittle.

ites of interest

Cameron Park has several shopping areas, a championship golf course and country club, a recreational lake and the Cameron Airpark Estates.

The unique Airpark Estates provide an opportunity for residents who are pilots to commute from home to destination without leaving their airplane. Wide streets double as taxiways leading from the homes to the adjacent airport. Aircraft hangers (over sized garages) house personal airplanes. The adjoining airport (O61) is a public airport and vital to the surrounding region.

Cameron Park was once known as the home of "Sam's Town" where many travelers stopped on their way to and from Lake Tahoe. This restaurant and amusement complex was torn down in 2002 and is now a Food 4 Less shopping center.

Parts of the Skinner Vineyard and Winery from the early 1860s can be seen at the intersection of Green Valley Road and Cameron Park Drive. All that is left of Skinner's ranch is a portion of the cellar (integrated into the Cameron Park Nursery on the north-east corner of the intersection), a tiny remnant of the distillery wall (behind mobile homes in the mobile home park near the south-east corner of the intersection), and the Skinner cemetery (near the south-west corner of the intersection). The cemetery itself contains the graves of James and Jessie Skinner (nee Bernard) and three of their sons. The cemetery is located on a small hill just southeast of the intersection behind the facade of Round Table Pizza. Unfortunately, only remnants of a few headstones remain due to the elements and vandalism.

References

External links

* [http://www.sscpchamber.org/ Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.cameronpark.org/index.html Community Services District]
* [http://www.cameronparkcc.com/ Cameron Park Country Club]