Camas, Washington facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Camas, Washington
City
Aerial view of Camas and the Columbia River, looking northwest
Location of Camas in Washington
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	Clark
Government
• Type	Mayor–council
Area
• Total	16.24 sq mi (42.06 km2)
• Land	14.07 sq mi (36.45 km2)
• Water	2.17 sq mi (5.61 km2)
Elevation	712 ft (217 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	26,065
• Estimate  (2021)	27,054
• Density	1,734.85/sq mi (669.84/km2)
Demonym(s)	Camasonian
Time zone	UTC-8 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	98607
Area code	360, 564
FIPS code	53-09480
GNIS feature ID	2409967

Camas is a city in Clark County, Washington. It had about 26,000 people living there in 2020. The city is located along the Columbia River. It is part of the larger Portland metropolitan area.

One interesting natural feature in Camas is Prune Hill. This hill is an old, inactive volcano. It is part of a group of ancient volcanoes in the area.

History of Camas

Camas became an official city on June 18, 1906. The city got its name from the camas lily flower. This plant has a bulb that looks like an onion. Native Americans valued it as a food source.

A paper mill was built in Camas in 1883. It was supported by Henry Pittock, a rich businessman from England. He had moved to Portland, Oregon, and published a newspaper called The Oregonian. Today, a large Georgia-Pacific paper mill is still in downtown Camas. The local high school teams are even called "the Papermakers" because of this mill.

How the Paper Mill Grew

In 1883, Pittock's company bought a lot of land. They started the Columbia River Paper Company in 1884. This company began making paper in 1885. Later, it joined with other paper companies. By 1928, it became part of Crown Zellerbach. This company grew to be the biggest paper maker on the West Coast. The Camas mill became the largest of its kind in the world.

During World War II, the Camas mill helped the war effort. It made parts for US Navy ships. These ships were built at nearby shipyards. In 1950, the Camas mill was the first factory to make folded paper napkins. For many years, the mill was the biggest employer in Clark County, Washington.

Over time, the mill changed owners several times. In 2018, the company announced it would reduce some of its paper-making operations.

New Industries in Camas

For a long time, the paper mill was almost the only big business in Camas. But in recent years, many new types of companies have moved in. These are often high-tech companies. They include Hewlett-Packard, Linear Technology, WaferTech, and Underwriters Laboratories. This has helped Camas have a more diverse economy.

Geography and Nature

Camas covers about 15 square miles (39 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but some is water. The city has many lakes and rivers. These include Lacamas Lake, Lacamas Creek, Round Lake, Fallen Leaf Lake, Tug Lake, the Washougal River, and the Columbia River.

Camas is located about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northeast of Portland, Oregon.

Fun Things to Do

Camas has annual events that bring people together. One popular event is "Camas Days" in the summer. There are also other festivals and celebrations throughout the year.

Parks and Outdoor Fun

Entrance sign at Lacamas Park

Camas has many parks for everyone to enjoy. Some of these parks include:

• Crown Park
• Dorothy Fox Park
• Fallen Leaf Park
• Forest Home Park
• Goot Park
• Grass Valley Park
• Louis Bloch Park
• Oak Park
• Prune Hill Sports Park
• Skate Park
• Lacamas Heritage Trail Park

Lacamas Park is a large park that includes Round Lake. You can visit this park all year. It has places for barbecues, a playground, and trails. You can walk around the park and the lake. The park also has access to the Camas Potholes. There is a 1.2-mile (1.9 km) loop trail around Round Lake. People often enjoy water activities in Round Lake during the summer.

Heritage Park is another great park. It has facilities to launch boats into Lacamas Lake. There is also a playground and open fields. You can find trails through the trees for walking. The parking lot is big, with spaces for vehicles with trailers.

People of Camas

In 2020, there were 26,065 people living in Camas. The city had 8,923 households. Most people were White (76.3%). About 9.9% were Asian, and 10.1% were from two or more races. About 7.2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

In 2010, the city had 19,355 people. About 46.5% of households had children under 18. The average age in Camas was 36.9 years. About 31.1% of residents were under 18 years old.

Schools in Camas

Camas has its own school district. You can find more information about the schools in the Camas School District article.

Sister Cities

Camas has special connections with cities in other countries. These are called sister cities. They help promote friendship and understanding. Camas's sister cities are:

• Hamamatsu, Japan
• Taki, Mie, Japan
• Krapkowice, Poland
• Morawica, Poland
• Zabierzów, Poland

Famous People from Camas

Many notable people have connections to Camas. Some of them include:

• Michael R. Barratt, a NASA astronaut
• Jaime Herrera Beutler, a U.S. Representative (a person who represents the area in the national government)
• Greg Biffle, a NASCAR race car driver
• Shane Chen, an inventor and entrepreneur (someone who starts businesses)
• Niko De Vera, a professional soccer player
• Alexa Efraimson, a professional runner
• Kenneth Fisher, a financial author and money manager
• Denis Hayes, an environmental activist who helped organize the first Earth Day
• Jimmie Rodgers, a pop singer from the 1950s
• Taylor Williams, a Major League Baseball player
• Wendy Wilson, a singer and member of the 1990s girl group Wilson Phillips

Gallery

• 

  Competition is fierce at the Camas Days bathtub races.

• 

  Downtown Camas, looking east

• 

  Downtown Camas, looking west

• 

  Liberty Theatre in downtown Camas

• 

  U.S. Post Office in Camas

• 

  Round Lake

• 

  Camas Potholes

• 

  Lacamas Lake

See also

In Spanish: Camas (Washington) para niños