Cameron, Texas
Encyclopedia
Cameron is a city in Milam County, Texas, United States
. The population was 5,634 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Milam County.
and 190
, approximately 71 miles northeast of Austin
in north central Milam County.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.2 square miles (10.9 km²), all of it land.
authorized a seven-member commission to find a permanent site for the Milam County seat. The commission purchased a 60-acre tract of Daniel Monroe's headright on the Little River
in 1846 and named the new community Cameron after Ewen Cameron
, a Scot highlander
prominent in the Texas Revolution
and a member of the Mier Expedition
during the war with Mexico
. When the courthouse in Cameron was completed later that year, county records were transferred to Cameron from Nashville
– a community situated along the Brazos River
that had served as the Milam County seat during the period when Texas was an independent Republic
. The new town struggled due to its isolated location with the nearest railroad being fifty miles away. In the late 1840s and early 1950s, several attempts were made to navigate the Little River in order to give Cameron easier access to trade routes. The most successful attempts occurred in 1850 after heavy rains made the river rise. J.W. McCown, Sr. persuaded Captain Basil M. Hatfield to bring his steamboat "Washington" through the upper Brazos up to the Little River. The steamboat and the merchandise it brought caused great excitement among the locals, and a two-day celebration was held when the boat tied up two-and-a-half miles east of Cameron. Despite this, however, navigation of the river was impractical on a regular basis and places such as Port Sullivan and Nashville developed into Milam County's dominant business centers during the 1850s and 1860s. More competition came in the 1870s when nearby Rockdale
was established on the International-Great Northern Railroad
. Faced with these challenges, some Milam County residents began to question whether Cameron should remain the county seat instead of the newly prosperous town of Rockdale. Elections were held in 1874 and 1880 on the issue with the results going in favor of maintaining the status quo.
arrived in Cameron. This improved the local economy and led to subsequent population growth. In the six-year period between 1878 and 1884, the total number of residents rose from around 500 to 800, an increase of sixty percent. Cameron had attempted to incorporate in 1856, 1866, and 1873, but each time the charter was allowed to lapse. It was officially incorporated in 1889. The San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway arrived in 1890, giving the town another positive boost. By 1892, the population stood at nearly 2,000.
Although cotton dominated the economy of Cameron during the 19th century, the 20th century brought more diversified industries. The discovery of oil in neighboring Williamson County
in 1915 prompted Milam County residents to initiate their own exploration. The Minerva-Rockdale oil field was discovered in 1921 and provided new opportunities for investment. In the 1920s and 1930s, several milk product companies were operating in Cameron, including the Kraft-Phenix Cheese Corporation. At the 1930 census
, the population was 4,565. That figure rose to 5,040 in 1940.
industry that supplied the plant's power revitalized the economy of Milam County. The plant closed in 2009. Between 1950 and 1960, Cameron registered an increase of 588 residents, from 5,052 to 5,640.
This level of growth would not continue, however. The Texas and New Orleans Railroad
discontinued its track from Cameron south to Giddings
. Southern Pacific, which had taken over the Texas and New Orleans, abandoned its track from Cameron north to Rosebud
. The population would continue to experience slight fluctuations throughout the remained of the late 20th century.
On May 27–31, 2010 a campground outside of Cameron hosted the Burning Flipside
festival which brought over 2400 campers through Cameron who were encouraged to contribute to the Milam County economy by purchasing provisions within Cameron.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 5,634 people, 2,090 households, and 1,404 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,327.9 people per square mile (513.0/km²). There were 2,383 housing units at an average density of 561.6 per square mile (217.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 66.68% White, 20.66% African American, 0.60% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 10.17% from other races
, and 1.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 26.66% of the population.
There were 2,090 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples
living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.0% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,878, and the median income for a family was $30,927. Males had a median income of $23,988 versus $18,497 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,122. About 20.8% of families and 22.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.8% of those under age 18 and 22.4% of those age 65 or over.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 5,634 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Milam County.
Geography
Cameron is located at 30°51′16"N 96°58′43"W (30.854544, -96.978716). It is situated at the junction of U.S. Highways 77U.S. Route 79
U.S. Route 79 is a north–south United States highway. The route is a northeast-southwest diagonal, with both east–west segments and north–south segments equally mixed. The highway's northern terminus is in Russellville, Kentucky, at an intersection with U.S. Highway 68 and KY 80...
and 190
U.S. Route 190
U.S. Route 190, also known as the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway, is an east–west United States highway in Louisiana and Texas. It evolved from the shortest of intrastate routes in 1926 to a length comparable to a main Interstate Highway route, leading from the swamps and pine forests of...
, approximately 71 miles northeast of Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
in north central Milam County.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 4.2 square miles (10.9 km²), all of it land.
Early years
Soon after Texas became a U.S. State, the Texas LegislatureTexas Legislature
The Legislature of the state of Texas is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Texas. The legislature is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The Legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin...
authorized a seven-member commission to find a permanent site for the Milam County seat. The commission purchased a 60-acre tract of Daniel Monroe's headright on the Little River
Little River (Texas)
The Little River is a river in the U.S. state of Texas. It is formed by the confluence of the Leon River and the Lampasas River near Little River, Texas. It flows generally southeast for seventy-five miles until it empties into the Brazos River near Port Sulllivan....
in 1846 and named the new community Cameron after Ewen Cameron
Ewen Cameron (Captain)
Captain Ewen Cameron was an officer in the Republic of Texas army, and participated in the ill-fated Mier Expedition.Cameron, who had migrated from Scotland to Kentucky, had come to Texas in 1836, arriving just after the Texas Revolution.On December 26, 1842, The Mier Expedition was a failed raid...
, a Scot highlander
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
prominent in the Texas Revolution
Texas Revolution
The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836...
and a member of the Mier Expedition
Mier Expedition
The Mier Expedition, was an offshoot that developed originally out of the Somervell Expedition, which was a unsuccessful military operation launched in November 1842 by a Texian militia against Mexican border settlements. It included a major battle at Ciudad Mier on December 26 and 27, 1842 which...
during the war with Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. When the courthouse in Cameron was completed later that year, county records were transferred to Cameron from Nashville
Nashville, Texas
Nashville was a community on the southeast bank of the Brazos River in present-day Milam County, Texas, United States....
– a community situated along the Brazos River
Brazos River
The Brazos River, called the Rio de los Brazos de Dios by early Spanish explorers , is the longest river in Texas and the 11th longest river in the United States at from its source at the head of Blackwater Draw, Curry County, New Mexico to its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico with a drainage...
that had served as the Milam County seat during the period when Texas was an independent Republic
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
. The new town struggled due to its isolated location with the nearest railroad being fifty miles away. In the late 1840s and early 1950s, several attempts were made to navigate the Little River in order to give Cameron easier access to trade routes. The most successful attempts occurred in 1850 after heavy rains made the river rise. J.W. McCown, Sr. persuaded Captain Basil M. Hatfield to bring his steamboat "Washington" through the upper Brazos up to the Little River. The steamboat and the merchandise it brought caused great excitement among the locals, and a two-day celebration was held when the boat tied up two-and-a-half miles east of Cameron. Despite this, however, navigation of the river was impractical on a regular basis and places such as Port Sullivan and Nashville developed into Milam County's dominant business centers during the 1850s and 1860s. More competition came in the 1870s when nearby Rockdale
Rockdale, Texas
Rockdale is a city in Milam County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,440 at the 2000 census.Rockdale was the site of a large Alcoa smelting operation, which could produce 1.67 million pounds of aluminum per day. The ALCOA plant was closed in late 2008 - early 2009.Author George Sessions...
was established on the International-Great Northern Railroad
International-Great Northern Railroad
The International – Great Northern Railroad was a railroad that operated in the U.S. state of Texas. It was created on September 30, 1873, when International Railroad and Houston and Great Northern Railroad merged....
. Faced with these challenges, some Milam County residents began to question whether Cameron should remain the county seat instead of the newly prosperous town of Rockdale. Elections were held in 1874 and 1880 on the issue with the results going in favor of maintaining the status quo.
Incorporation and growth
In 1881, the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe RailwayGulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway
The Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway was a subsidiary of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in eastern Texas and to Purcell, Oklahoma.- Nineteenth Century :...
arrived in Cameron. This improved the local economy and led to subsequent population growth. In the six-year period between 1878 and 1884, the total number of residents rose from around 500 to 800, an increase of sixty percent. Cameron had attempted to incorporate in 1856, 1866, and 1873, but each time the charter was allowed to lapse. It was officially incorporated in 1889. The San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway arrived in 1890, giving the town another positive boost. By 1892, the population stood at nearly 2,000.
Although cotton dominated the economy of Cameron during the 19th century, the 20th century brought more diversified industries. The discovery of oil in neighboring Williamson County
Williamson County, Texas
Williamson County is a county located on both the Edwards Plateau to the west, consisting of rocky terrain and hills, and Blackland Prairies in the east consising of rich, fertile farming land, The two areas are roughly bisected by Interstate 35...
in 1915 prompted Milam County residents to initiate their own exploration. The Minerva-Rockdale oil field was discovered in 1921 and provided new opportunities for investment. In the 1920s and 1930s, several milk product companies were operating in Cameron, including the Kraft-Phenix Cheese Corporation. At the 1930 census
United States Census, 1930
The Fifteenth United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau one month from April 1, 1930, determined the resident population of the United States to be 122,775,046, an increase of 13.7 percent over the 106,021,537 persons enumerated during the 1920 Census.-Census questions:The 1930 Census...
, the population was 4,565. That figure rose to 5,040 in 1940.
Modern times
Cameron residents received much needed job opportunities in the 1950s when the Aluminum Company of America built a plant southwest of Rockdale. Jobs at the plant as well as the ligniteLignite
Lignite, often referred to as brown coal, or Rosebud coal by Northern Pacific Railroad,is a soft brown fuel with characteristics that put it somewhere between coal and peat...
industry that supplied the plant's power revitalized the economy of Milam County. The plant closed in 2009. Between 1950 and 1960, Cameron registered an increase of 588 residents, from 5,052 to 5,640.
This level of growth would not continue, however. The Texas and New Orleans Railroad
Texas and New Orleans Railroad
The Texas and New Orleans Railroad is a former railroad in Texas and Louisiana. At one point the company was the largest railroad in Texas, with of trackage in 1934, but by 1961 there were only remaining when it was merged with parent company Southern Pacific....
discontinued its track from Cameron south to Giddings
Giddings, Texas
Giddings is the county seat of Lee County, Texas, United States situated on the intersection of U.S. Highways 77 and 290, east of Austin. Its population was 5,105 at the 2000 census. The city's motto is "Giddings Texas: Experience Hometown Hospitality"....
. Southern Pacific, which had taken over the Texas and New Orleans, abandoned its track from Cameron north to Rosebud
Rosebud, Texas
Rosebud is a city in Falls County, Texas. The population was 1,493 at the 2000 census. As of July, 2007, the population was 1,348, an -8.4% change since 2000. Rosebud is the birthplace of NFL running back LaDainian Tomlinson.-Geography:...
. The population would continue to experience slight fluctuations throughout the remained of the late 20th century.
On May 27–31, 2010 a campground outside of Cameron hosted the Burning Flipside
Burning Flipside
Burning Flipside is an annual alternative arts and performance festival staged in Central Texas near Austin. Modeled on and loosely associated with Burning Man, Flipside is one of several Regional Burns around the USA....
festival which brought over 2400 campers through Cameron who were encouraged to contribute to the Milam County economy by purchasing provisions within Cameron.
Demographics
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,634 people, 2,090 households, and 1,404 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,327.9 people per square mile (513.0/km²). There were 2,383 housing units at an average density of 561.6 per square mile (217.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 66.68% White, 20.66% African American, 0.60% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 10.17% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 26.66% of the population.
There were 2,090 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.0% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,878, and the median income for a family was $30,927. Males had a median income of $23,988 versus $18,497 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $14,122. About 20.8% of families and 22.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.8% of those under age 18 and 22.4% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- Drayton McLane, Jr.Drayton McLane, Jr.Drayton McLane, Jr. is an American entrepreneur. He is chairman of the McLane Group, a high technology firm. He was, until 1990, the CEO of the McLane Company, a grocery and food service warehouse, supply, and logistics firm, and was, from 1993 until 2011, the chairman and CEO of the Major League...
, owner of the Houston AstrosHouston AstrosThe Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
, was born in Cameron.
- Virgil JohnsonVirgil Johnson (singer)Virgil Lewis Johnson is a retired African American deejay, formerly at radio station KDAV in Lubbock. He was the lead singer of The Velvets, a 1950s and 1960s vocal quintet from Odessa, also in West Texas. They are best remembered for their 1961 hit "Tonight ", which peaked at No. 26 on the...
, lead singer of The VelvetsThe VelvetsThe Velvets were an American doo wop group from Odessa in Ector County in west Texas. The African American quintet was formed in 1959 by Virgil Johnson, a high school English teacher, with four of his students. Roy Orbison heard the group and signed them to Monument Records in 1960. Their first...
, and a retired educator was born in Cameron. He has resided in LubbockLubbock, TexasLubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
since the 1960s. He is a dejay at RadioRadioRadio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
KDAVKDAVKDAV is an AM radio station licensed to Lubbock, Texas, broadcasting an oldies format which focuses on 1950s and early 1960s pop, rockabilly, mild doo-wop, and country oldies....
.
- Catherine HardwickeCatherine HardwickeCatherine Hardwicke is an American production designer, film writer and film director. Her works include the independent film Thirteen, which she co-wrote with Nikki Reed, the film's co-star, the Biblically-themed The Nativity Story, the vampire film Twilight, and the werewolf film Red Riding Hood...
, an American film director who directed the popular vampire film TwilightTwilight (2008 film)Twilight is a 2008 American romantic vampire film based on Stephenie Meyer's popular novel of the same name. Directed by Catherine Hardwicke, the film stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. It is the first film in The Twilight Saga film series...
, based on the book by Stephenie MeyerStephenie MeyerStephenie Meyer is an American author known for her vampire romance series Twilight. The Twilight novels have gained worldwide recognition and sold over 100 million copies globally, with translations into 37 different languages...
, was born in Cameron.
- Rapper/Producer E.L. was born in Cameron.