Easy access to
nearby mountains made lumbering a natural local industry. Settlers cut
and hauled logs to Salt Lake City to trade for provisions; the trip
usually took at least four days. John Pack built the first local sawmill
in 1860 on Beaver Creek a few miles east of Kamas. Richard Pangburn
built a shingle mill near the townsite as well. In the 1990s, Kamas
is still known for its fine wood mills. Another early industry that
distinguished Kamas Valley was dairying. John Pack established the valley's
first cheese factory in 1868, and, again, Kamas is even today identified
as one of the finest dairy sections in the state. Its fertile land is
also used for stock raising. Agriculture is facilitated by this excellent
soil, the climate, and an abundance of water.
Over the years
Kamas has had a number of local businesses, including mercantile and
banking institutions. It also has kept pace with other Summit County towns in providing modern services. In 1916 an independent electric
lighting system was installed by George W. Butler. Telephones, modern
water systems, and improved roads came to Kamas during the first decade
of the twentieth century. The population of the town in 1990 was 1,061.