| Situated
in the eastern hilly portion of Clark County lies
the City of Camas, home to approximately 16,700
residents and several large, hi-tech manufacturing
industries. Located along the banks of the Columbia
River, this "small" city has become a "big" player
in the locating and siting of international companies.
Traveling
east on Pacific Rim Blvd., one passes modern manufacturing
companies and industries located in the Cascade
Business Park. Companies such as Sharp Microelectronics
and Sharp Labs of America, Linear Technology,
Wafer Tech, Underwriters Laboratories, and others
have built and located in this newer area.
See
the Business Section.
This
same drive affords a view of Prune Hill, an ancient
and dormant volcanic hill named for its earlier
prune orchards. Rising gently over the western
half of the City, this area has become a showcase
for large homes that hug the hillsides, providing
expansive views of downtown Portland and surrounding
areas, with beautiful views of Mt. Hood. Descending
from the top of the hill and past the lake, one
enters the more established areas of the City
and its picturesque, downtown environs. With its
goal of increasing business opportunities and
making downtown "the place to be," the City has
established a Downtown Visioning Committee to
conceptualize and implement strategies for attracting
additional growth in this vital area of the community.
From
its origins over 100 years ago as a paper-mill
town, which still boasts a mill operated by Georgia-Pacific
Corporation, Camas has expanded, developed, and
successfully blended a mix of cultures, values,
and vision. These ideals have been instrumental
in promoting diverse economic growth, encouraging
development of livable, family-oriented neighborhoods,
protecting open-space, building parks and other
recreational amenities - in short, balancing the
nexus between jobs, housing and recreation. Prioritizing
the quality of life for all residents has made
Camas a truly unique community. |