Cameron

History

When the Fort Smith and Southern Railway laid tracks in the area of the present day town of Cameron in 1886–87, there was already a settlement of about 40 people. At the time of its founding, Cameron was located in Skullyville County, a part of the Moshulatubbee District of the Choctaw Nation. The U. S. Post Office Department established a post office that it named Cameron, Indian Territory in 1888. According to Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, the post office and town may have been named for either of two persons. One was William Cameron, a former Mine Inspector for Indian Territory. The other was James Cameron, an employee of the Fort Smith and Southern Railway. In 1883, James Reynolds, a successful rancher and entrepreneur, established the Cameron Institute, which was sponsored by the Presbyterian Church but was open to enrolling students of any denomination. It educated children from primary to high school level. Reynolds became a resident of Cameron, where he built an imposing home, now known as the James E. Reynolds House, that had the appearance of a castle. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places listings in LeFlore County, Oklahoma.

Geography

Cameron is located northeast of Poteau. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all land.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• POTEAU HS
  High · Poteau · 636 students · 16.3:1 ratio
• SPIRO ES
  Elementary · Spiro · 571 students · 17.8:1 ratio
• POTEAU UPPER ES
  Elementary · Poteau · 471 students · 14.3:1 ratio
• POTEAU PRIMARY ES
  Elementary · Poteau · 433 students · 14.9:1 ratio
• PANAMA ES
  Elementary · Panama · 428 students · 15.9:1 ratio
• POCOLA ES
  Elementary · Pocola · 385 students · 17.5:1 ratio
• 7TH AND 8TH GRADE ACADEMIC CTR
  Middle · Poteau · 362 students · 19.1:1 ratio
• SPIRO HS
  High · Spiro · 290 students · 16.1:1 ratio