Early settlers arrived by stagecoach and covered wagon over Hound Dog Trail, much of which is now US Highway 36. Cameron's first entrepreneur was Isaac Baldwin who, in 1830, established a post office.
By 1855, the town site was laid out by Samuel McCorkle who named it in honor of his wife, Malinda Cameron. McCorkle donated a tract of centrally located land, now known as McCorkle Park.
Cameron was incorporated in 1867 and emerged as the agricultural trade center for the area. Cameron's "Crossroads of the Nation" slogan goes back to the mid 1800s when it became a prominent rail crossing. Today the term refers to the intersection of I-35 and US 36 through which pass 40,000 vehicles per day.
The climate of Cameron is typically mid-western. Its growing season lasts approximately 192 days. The average temperature is 55 degrees (2 months have average temperatures below 32 degrees).
Cameron Community Hospital, with its abundance of skilled physicians and 57-bed state-of-the-art facility, is well-known for quality medical care. The hospital takes pride in its active staff of 8 physicians plus more than 50 consulting specialists. The hospital routinely handles complex medical procedures usually found only in metropolitan medical centers. Ambulance and emergency services are available 24 hours a day, and Life Flight helicopter transportation is available to hospitals in Kansas City. Other health services in Cameron include several medical clinics, a district health office, dentists, chiropractic clinics, pharmacists, and three nursing homes.
Cameron R-1 School District is rated AAA. The school system has a well-rounded program in academics, arts, vocation and athletics. Cameron is close to two vocational technical schools-- in Chillicothe & St. Joseph. Both schools offer a wide range of courses and vocational training.
Residents of Cameron are secure in the knowledge that they are protected by a fine police force and fire department. Cameron has an outstanding volunteer fire department on call at all times.
Cameron has a thriving business community which provides a variety of employment opportunities for area residents. The major employers in Cameron are in the corrections, insurance, health care and education fields, but a wide assortment of job opportunities are available in many other fields. Easy access to Kansas City via I-35 affords abundant commuter employment opportunities.
Cameron has an excellent park system includes tennis courts, golf course, club house, three parks with a beautiful swimming pool, lighted ballparks, playgrounds, picnic areas, and two band shells for summer concerts.
Enjoyment of the outdoors is abundant, with fishing at the reservoirs, Smithville Lake, and Wallace State Park, which also offers boating, camping, and picnicking. Cameron's Olympic-size swimming pool hosts regional meets and features the Parkside Fury, an exciting 121-foot serpentine water slide plus enclosed playground equipment.
Lake Viking is Missouri's best kept secret! Lake Viking is a private lake community, with security patrol, own fire department and community church. Located 1 1/2 hours North of Kansas City, the lake consists of 640 acres of water and 19 miles of shore-line. Owners enjoy a large club house, sand beaches, swimming pool, camp areas and large marina with boat sales of Cobalt, Four Winns and Sylvan.
Cameron has a wide range of types of housing available. There are many beautiful older homes, new modern housing developments, mobile home parks, duplexes and apartment complexes. Housing in Cameron is more affordable than in larger metropolitan areas.
Cameron is ready for a promising future and welcomes new businesses and residents in its continuing growth and progress. Come see for yourself. We at United Country of Cameron will be happy to answer any questions you have about real estate in our area and will do our best to help you find the property of your choice.