Cambray was established in 1892, the Southern Pacific Railroad drilled a well to create a water stop.

[4] Cambray would enjoy a short but successful second life as a stop along new US 80 and US 70 when the latter highway was also designated over the route.

[2] During the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed a highway overpass over the Southern Pacific Railroad and built several irrigation canals as part of the New Deal program.

The CCC workers were housed in an auto court on the side of US 80 in Cambray and did most of their business at the town's general store.

[2] The end of the small town's success arrived in 1956, when US 70 and US 80 were re-aligned onto a new highway bypassing Cambray.