El Dorado County, California
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El Dorado County is a county located in the Gold Country of California, in the Sierra Nevada. Its 2000 population was 156,299. The county seat is Placerville.
Much of the population of El Dorado County has become suburbanized, as the metropolitan Sacramento area has expanded. In addition, the population of the Lake Tahoe area has also boomed recently.
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History
El Dorado County was one of the original counties of California, created in 1850 at the time of statehood. Parts of the county's territory were given to Amador County in 1854 and to Alpine County in 1864.
The county derives its name from "El Dorado" -- the far-famed fabulous region of genial clime and never-fading verdure, where gold and precious stones are as common as rocks and pebbles, where wines gently flow from fountains. The name, meaning "the gilded one" in Spanish, appears at the beginning of the 16th century as that of a mythical Native American chief who was said to have been covered with gold dust during the performance of religious rites. When the discovery of gold by James W. Marshall at Coloma in January 1848 became known to the world, California, and particularly that section where gold was discovered, was called "El Dorado."
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,631 km² (1,788 mi²). 4,431 km² (1,711 mi²) of it is land and 200 km² (77 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 4.32% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 156,299 people, 58,939 households, and 43,025 families residing in the county. The population density is 35/km² (91/mi²). There are 71,278 housing units at an average density of 16/km² (42/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 89.71% White, 0.52% Black or African American, 1.00% Native American, 2.13% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 3.55% from other races, and 2.96% from two or more races. 9.32% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 58,939 households out of which 34.20% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.10% are married couples living together, 8.90% have a female householder with no husband present, and 27.00% are non-families. 20.10% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.30% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.63 and the average family size is 3.04.
In the county the population is spread out with 26.10% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 26.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 99.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 97.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county is $51,484, and the median income for a family is $60,250. Males have a median income of $46,373 versus $31,537 for females. The per capita income for the county is $25,560. 7.10% of the population and 5.00% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 7.60% of those under the age of 18 and 5.00% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Cities and towns
- Cameron Park
- Diamond Springs
- El Dorado Hills
- Georgetown
- Placerville
- Pollock Pines
- Shingle Springs
- South Lake Tahoe
The county is also home to the Heavenly Ski Resort and the Sierra At Tahoe Ski Resort.
External links
- El Dorado County website (http://www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/)
