Cameron Park, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cameron Park
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| Cameron Park, California | |
Panoramic view of Cameron Park
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Location in El Dorado County and the state of California
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 Cameron Park
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | El Dorado |
| Area | |
| • Total | 11.30 sq mi (29.26 km2) |
| • Land | 11.23 sq mi (29.08 km2) |
| • Water | 0.07 sq mi (0.19 km2) 0.62% |
| Elevation | 1,198 ft (365 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 19,171 |
| • Density | 1,681.75/sq mi (649.31/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
95682
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| Area code(s) | 530 |
| FIPS code | 06-10256 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1733968 |
Cameron Park is a special kind of community called a census-designated place (CDP) in El Dorado County, California, United States. It's part of the larger Sacramento Area. In 2020, about 19,171 people lived there.
Cameron Park is located in the Northern California Gold Country. This area is in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It's about 30 miles (50 km) east of Sacramento. It's also about 70 miles (110 km) west of South Lake Tahoe.
Contents
History of Cameron Park
The first people to live in the Cameron Park area were Nisenan, also known as Southern Maidu Indians. You can still see signs of their past, like grinding rocks and burial mounds, in and around the park.
Modern development in the area started in the 1950s. A man named Larry Cameron bought a large piece of land, about 5,000 acres (2,000 ha). He first used it for ranching. Later, he planned to build homes, a golf course, parks, a lake, and even a small airport.
Over the years, this land has been divided into smaller pieces. Today, Cameron Park has a mix of ranches, single-family homes, apartments, and businesses. In 2020, there were 7,748 homes in Cameron Park.
Geography and Climate
Cameron Park covers about 11.2 square miles (29.0 km2). Most of this area is land, with a small part, about 0.1 square miles (0.19 km2), being water. This water area includes Cameron Park Lake.
The community is in a "chaparral zone," which is an area with lots of brush. It's just east of the Central Valley. You'll find many native plants here, like redbud and manzanita bushes. The main trees are gray pines and oak trees. Some ponderosa pines grow in higher areas.
Cameron Park is about 1,200 to 1,450 feet (365 to 442 meters) above sea level. It usually doesn't get much snow, unlike the higher Sierra Nevada mountains to the east.
Weather in Cameron Park
Summers in Cameron Park are usually hot and dry. Daytime temperatures often reach 90 to 100°F (32 to 38°C), and sometimes even higher. It doesn't rain much during summer. Nights are cooler than in the Sacramento Valley because of the higher elevation.
Autumns are often like an "extended dry, hot summer." Winters are generally cool and rainy. High temperatures are usually between 40 to 60°F (4 to 16°C). Nights can sometimes drop below freezing. It rarely snows in Cameron Park, maybe once every few years.
The soil here is reddish and clay-like. It comes from a type of volcanic rock called Gabbro. This soil is rich in nutrients.
Population Information
In 2020, Cameron Park had a population of 19,171 people. The population density was about 1,631 people per square mile (630 people per km2).
Most people in Cameron Park are White (88.2%). There are also people from other backgrounds, including African American (0.9%), Native American (1.1%), Asian (2.3%), and Pacific Islander (0.2%). About 17% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
The median age in Cameron Park was 45.3 years in 2020. This means half the people were older than 45.3 and half were younger. About 25.1% of the population was under 18 years old in 2010.
Getting Around Cameron Park
El Dorado Transit offers local bus services in Cameron Park. There's also an Express bus that goes to Iron Point Station.
You can also use Amtrak Thruway bus service. This bus connects Cameron Park to Sacramento Valley Station in the west and South Lake Tahoe in the east.
Fun Places to Visit
Cameron Airpark Estates
Cameron Airpark Estates is a very unique neighborhood. The wide streets here are also used as taxiways for airplanes! Many homes have large garages called hangars where people keep their personal aircraft. This allows residents to fly their planes right from their homes. The nearby Cameron Airpark (O61) is a public airport and important for the area.
Cameron Park Lake
Next to the Airpark Estates is the man-made Cameron Park Lake. It's about 10 acres (4 ha) big. You can walk or jog on the trail around the lake. There are also picnic areas, boat rentals, tennis courts, and playgrounds. You might see turtles and water birds at the lake. The lake is regularly stocked with fish like bluegill, black bass, and black crappie.
Cameron Park Lake is also where the annual "Summer Spectacular" event happens around July 4th. This event has entertainment, food, and a fireworks show. The lake also hosts "Ribstock," a one-day barbecue festival.
Other Interesting Spots
Cameron Park was once known for "Sam's Town." This was a restaurant and amusement complex where many travelers stopped on their way to Lake Tahoe. It was taken down in 2002 and is now a grocery store. Only a plaque remains to mark its history.
You can still see parts of the Skinner Vineyard and Winery from the 1860s. These are at the intersection of Green Valley Road and Cameron Park Drive. There's a small part of the old cellar and a tiny piece of the distillery wall left. The Skinner cemetery is also nearby, where James and Jessie Skinner and three of their sons are buried.
The El Dorado Community Health Center (EDCHC) in Cameron Park offers many health services. These include general health care, dental services, a pharmacy, and immunizations.
Parks for Fun
Cameron Park has several great parks for families.
Rasmussen Park
Rasmussen Park has baseball and soccer fields. It also features a small bridge over a brook and a mile-long track for walking and jogging. There are two separate playgrounds for kids to enjoy.
Cameron Park Lake Park Area
The area around Cameron Park Lake is also a developed park. It has a disc golf course, tennis courts, and places for fishing. You can rent boats and find many picnic spots. It's also a good place to watch wildlife. There is a small fee to enter Cameron Park Lake.
Christa McAuliffe Park
Christa McAuliffe Park is another large park. It's located between Camerado Springs Middle School and U.S. Route 50. This park has a playground, benches, picnic areas, a skate park, and large fields for rugby or soccer.
See also
In Spanish: Cameron Park (California) para niños
