Camas is a city located in Clark County, Washington with a population of about 15,000. Officially incorporated on June 18, 1906, the city is named after the camas lily, a native flower. At the west end of downtown Camas is a large Georgia-Pacific paper-mill from which the high school teams get their name "the Papermakers". Updated and expanded odor control equipment installed around the year 2000 has dramatically reduced the odor from the mill. Historically, the commercial base of the city was based almost solely on the paper mill; however, the diversity of industries has been enhanced considerably in recent years by the influx of several white-collar, high-tech companies including Sharp Microelectronics, Linear Technologies and Wafer Tech among others. Today it is one of the most desirable areas in the Portland metropolitan areas due to the high quality of its schools and the perception amongst newcomers that it provides a small-town life. Annual events include the summer "Camas Days," as well as other festivals and celebrations.
The east side of town borders the city of Washougal, Washington and the west side of town borders Vancouver, Washington. Camas is part of the Portland, Oregon greater metropolitan area, with Portland across the Columbia River. At this juncture the river is nearly a mile wide; vehicular traffic flows across the Columbia via Interstate bridges on both I-5 and I-205. The main road through town is the limited access SR-14 expressway.
One of the major geographical features of the city is Prune Hill, upon which a great portion of the residential area of the city is located. Prune hill is the remaining cinder cone of an extinct volcano.
Based on per capita income, one of the more reliable measures of affluence, Camas ranks 59th of 522 areas in the state of Washington to be ranked.
As of the census of 2000, there are 12,534 people, 4,480 households, and 3,422 families residing in the city. The population density is 443.6/km2 (1,149.3/mi2). There are 4,736 housing units at an average density of 167.6/km2 (434.3/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 92.01% White, 0.69% African American, 0.69% Native American, 3.41% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 0.80% from other races, and 2.26% from two or more races. 2.86% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 4,480 households out of which 42.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.9% are married couples living together, 8.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% are non-families. 18.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 6.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.78 and the average family size is 3.19.
In the city the population is spread out with 31.2% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 females there are 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 94.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $60,187, and the median income for a family is $64,885. Males have a median income of $51,470 versus $31,985 for females. The per capita income for the city is $27,267. 5.4% of the population and 4.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 6.4% of those under the age of 18 and 4.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Source:
CamasWashington.com
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