El Dorado, California

For the town formerly named El Dorado in Calaveras County, California, see Mountain Ranch, California.

Coordinates: 38°40′58″N 120°50′52″W / 38.68278°N 120.84778°W

El Dorado
Unincorporated community
El Dorado

Location in California

Coordinates: 38°40′58″N 120°50′52″W / 38.68278°N 120.84778°W
Country United States
State California
County El Dorado County
Elevation[1] 1,608 ft (490 m)
Reference no. 486
El Dorado map

El Dorado (Spanish for The golden; formerly Eldorado, Mud Spring, and Mud Springs[2]), not to be confused with the nearby El Dorado Hills, is an unincorporated community in El Dorado County, California. It is located 4 miles (6.4 km) southwest of Placerville,[2] at an elevation of 1608 feet (490 m).[1] The population was 4,096 at the 2000 census. The town is registered as California Historical Landmark #486.[3] The ZIP code is 95623. The community is inside area code 530.

History

El Dorado, "The Gilded One", was first known as Mud Springs from the boggy quagmire the cattle and horses made of a nearby watering place. Originally an important camp on the old Carson Trail, by 1849-50 it had become the center of a mining district and the crossroads for freight and stagecoach lines. At the height of the rush its large gold production supported a population of several thousand. It was incorporated as the town of El Dorado in 1856.

The first post office in Mud Spring was opened in 1851, the name was changed to El Dorado in 1855.[2] The town incorporated in 1855 and disincorporated in 1857.[2]

Politics

In the state legislature, El Dorado is in the 1st Senate District, represented by Republican Ted Gaines,[4] and the 5th Assembly District, represented by Republican Frank Bigelow.[5]

Federally, El Dorado is in California's 4th congressional district, represented by Republican Tom McClintock.[6]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: El Dorado, California
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, Calif.: Word Dancer Press. p. 481. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
  3. "El Dorado". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
  4. "Senators". State of California. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  5. "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  6. "California's 4th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.

External links