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Cameron, Louisiana
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Cameron is a census-designated place (CDP) in and the parish seat of Cameron Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,965 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lake Charles Metropolitan Statistical Area.
957, Cameron was nearly destroyed by Hurricane Audrey. A storm surge of 12 feet (3.6 m) and 150 mile per hour (240 km/h) winds caused the death of more than 300 residents of the town.
Nearly fifty years later, in late September 2005, Hurricane Rita destroyed 90 percent of the homes in the parish seat.
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Encyclopedia
Cameron is a census-designated place (CDP) in and the parish seat of Cameron Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,965 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lake Charles Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
In 1957, Cameron was nearly destroyed by Hurricane Audrey. A storm surge of 12 feet (3.6 m) and 150 mile per hour (240 km/h) winds caused the death of more than 300 residents of the town.
Nearly fifty years later, in late September 2005, Hurricane Rita destroyed 90 percent of the homes in the parish seat. This time, however, virtually everyone evacuated, and no one was killed in the town.
Hurricane Ike again leveled Cameron just as it was recovering from Rita in 2005. Currently Cameron is only accessible for residents to clean up. Once noted for its location next to Lake Calcasieu and the Gulf of Mexico as a fishing destination the bays and bayous around the town are filled with gas slicks and sewage sludge.
Culture
Cameron is on the Creole Nature Trail, one of the National Scenic Byways.
Cameron is home to the Louisiana Fur and Wildlife Festival which is held in January. January 2008 will be the 51st Fur Festival. http://www.furfestival.com/
Geography
Cameron is located at (29.788055, -93.311764).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 29.4 square miles (76.1 km2), of which, 27.9 square miles (72.2 km2) of it is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km2) of it (5.17%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,965 people, 695 households, and 510 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 70.5 people per square mile (27.2/kmē). There were 800 housing units at an average density of 28.7/sq mi (11.1/kmē). The racial makeup of the CDP was 82.49% White, 11.86% African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.36% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.55% of the population.
There were 695 households out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.2 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $30,370, and the median income for a family was $33,661. Males had a median income of $24,762 versus $26,406 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $13,499. About 17.0% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
The United States Postal Service Cameron Post Office is located at 144 Adam Roux Street in the CDP.
Education
Cameron Parish School Board serves the town. South Cameron High School, a consolidated primary and secondary school, serves the community.
Prior to Hurricane Rita's impact in September 2005, South Cameron High School served area high schoolers while Cameron Elementary School, within Cameron, served grades Pre-Kindergarten through 7. In September 2005 Hurricane Rita swept through Cameron Parish, damaging South Cameron Elementary, Cameron Elementary, and South Cameron High. The South Cameron Elementary, Cameron Elementary, and South Cameron High students shared Grand Lake High School's campus with Grand Lake for almost an entire year. In fall 2006 the three schools consolidated with all students going to the South Cameron High School campus.
Cameron Parish Public Library operates the main Cameron Parish Library at 469 Marshall Street in the Cameron CDP.
External links
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