El Dorado County, California

El Dorado County, California
County
County of El Dorado
Images, from top down, left to right: A barn in El Dorado County, the shore of Lake Tahoe in Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park, the South Fork American River running through the El Dorado hills, Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
Flag Seal
Location in the state of California
California's location in the United States
Country	United States of America
State	California
Regions	Sierra Nevada, Gold Country
Metropolitan area	Greater Sacramento
Incorporated	February 18, 1850[1]
County seat	Placerville
Largest city	El Dorado Hills
Area
• Total	1,786 sq mi (4,630 km^2)
• Land	1,708 sq mi (4,420 km^2)
• Water	78 sq mi (200 km^2)
Highest elevation[2]	10,886 ft (3,318 m)
Population (April 1, 2010)[3]
• Total	181,058
• Estimate (2015)[3]	184,452
• Density	100/sq mi (39/km^2)
Time zone	Pacific Time Zone (UTC−8)
• Summer (DST)	Pacific Daylight Time (UTC−7)
Area code	530
FIPS code	06-017
GNIS feature ID	277273
Website	www.edcgov.us

El Dorado County, officially the County of El Dorado, is a county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 181,058.^[3] The county seat is Placerville.^[4]

El Dorado County is included in the Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is located in the historic Gold Country in the Sierra Nevada.

The population of El Dorado County has grown as Greater Sacramento has expanded into the region. In the unique Lake Tahoe area of the county, environmental awareness and environmental protection initiatives have grown along with the population since the 1960 Winter Olympics, hosted at Squaw Valley Ski Resort in neighboring Placer County.

History

The present-day site of El Dorado County was once home to the Maidu, Washoe, and Miwok Native American tribes, and is notable for being the site of the 1848 gold discovery that sparked the California Gold Rush.^[5] The County of El Dorado was one of California's original 27 counties formed in 1850 (the number has risen to 58 today). Its name is derived from the Spanish meaning "the gilded/golden".^[6]

The final segments of the Pony Express mail route ran through El Dorado County until its replacement with the telegraph service in 1861; U.S. Highway 50 follows the Pony Express route today.

• Mother lode
• James W. Marshall
• California Mining and Mineral Museum

Local landmarks:

• Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
• Confidence Hall
• Fountain-Tallman Soda Works
• John Pearson Soda Works
• Combellack-Blair House
• Rubicon Point Light

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,786 square miles (4,630 km²), of which 1,708 square miles (4,420 km²) is land and 78 square miles (200 km²) (4.4%) is water.^[7]

Geographic features

American River Sierra Nevada (U.S.) Carson Range Crystal Range Echo Lake (California) Freel Peak[8] as its highest point at 10,881 feet (3,317 m). Mount Price (California) Mount Tallac Silver Peak (El Dorado County, California) Talking Mountain

Lake Tahoe Fallen Leaf Lake (California) Folsom Lake Francis Lake Gilmore Lake Loon Lake (California) Lost Lake (California) Pyramid Lake (El Dorado County, California) Union Valley Reservoir Waca Lake

Recreation

Parks

• Eldorado National Forest
• Desolation Wilderness
• D. L. Bliss State Park
• Emerald Bay State Park
• Eagle Falls Trailhead
• Glen Alpine Springs Trailhead
• Folsom Lake State Recreation Area
• Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
• Pine Hill Ecological Reserve
• Tahoe National Forest

Skiing

• Heavenly Ski Resort
• Sierra-At-Tahoe Ski Resort

Racing

• Placerville Speedway

Wineries

• California Shenandoah Valley AVA
• Fair Play AVA
• El Dorado AVA
• Nello Olivo
• Sierra Foothills AVA

Demographics

2011

Population, race, and income
Total population[9]	179,878
White[9]	157,853	87.8%
Black or African American[9]	1,367	0.8%
American Indian or Alaska Native[9]	1,802	1.0%
Asian[9]	6,260	3.5%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander[9]	167	0.1%
Some other race[9]	6,323	3.5%
Two or more races[9]	6,106	3.4%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)[10]	21,222	11.8%
Per capita income[11]	$34,385
Median household income[12]	$68,815
Median family income[13]	$82,930

Places by population, race, and income

Places by population and race
Place	Type[14]	Population[9]	White[9]	Other[9] [note 1]	Asian[9]	Black or African American[9]	Native American[9] [note 2]	Hispanic or Latino (of any race)[10]
Auburn Lake Trails	CDP	3,741	97.0%	1.5%	0.2%	1.0%	0.3%	2.3%
Cameron Park	CDP	16,697	90.8%	6.1%	2.2%	0.6%	0.4%	15.4%
Camino	CDP	1,933	98.7%	0.7%	0.3%	0.4%	0.0%	3.5%
Cold Springs	CDP	569	90.9%	9.1%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	3.3%
Coloma	CDP	353	82.4%	17.3%	0.3%	0.0%	0.0%	20.1%
Diamond Springs	CDP	11,367	93.6%	2.3%	1.3%	0.7%	2.1%	9.4%
El Dorado Hills	CDP	43,563	84.0%	5.4%	8.9%	1.7%	0.1%	7.3%
Georgetown	CDP	2,338	89.9%	8.2%	0.0%	0.1%	1.8%	10.7%
Grizzly Flats	CDP	923	97.4%	0.0%	0.9%	0.0%	1.7%	6.7%
Placerville	City	10,394	82.5%	12.0%	2.0%	0.7%	2.9%	19.4%
Pollock Pines	CDP	6,953	95.2%	3.6%	0.8%	0.0%	0.4%	9.8%
Shingle Springs	CDP	4,797	92.7%	2.0%	0.0%	0.7%	4.6%	16.7%
South Lake Tahoe	City	21,814	76.8%	16.8%	4.5%	0.6%	1.3%	31.3%
Tahoma ‡	CDP	563	82.8%	17.2%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	8.5%
‡ Data for El Dorado County area of this CDP

Places by population and income
Place	Type[14]	Population[15]	Per capita income[11]	Median household income[12]	Median family income[13]
Auburn Lake Trails	CDP	3,741	$35,522	$79,573	$92,308
Cameron Park	CDP	16,697	$34,839	$72,562	$84,361
Camino	CDP	1,933	$26,015	$51,742	$63,412
Cold Springs (El Dorado County)	CDP	569	$30,925	$97,576	$99,286
Coloma	CDP	353	$22,462	$44,844	$44,844
Diamond Springs	CDP	11,367	$28,786	$52,911	$62,150
El Dorado Hills	CDP	43,563	$44,920	$115,121	$123,816
Georgetown	CDP	2,338	$24,117	$52,169	$62,614
Grizzly Flats	CDP	923	$20,902	$32,365	$56,813
Placerville	City	10,394	$26,109	$53,385	$66,890
Pollock Pines	CDP	6,953	$30,826	$54,478	$62,760
Shingle Springs	CDP	4,797	$34,055	$86,786	$89,778
South Lake Tahoe	City	21,814	$22,958	$41,685	$51,538
Tahoma ‡	CDP	563	$32,105	$54,286	$63,646
‡ Data for El Dorado County area of this CDP

2010

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1850	20,057		—
1860	20,562		2.5%
1870	10,309		−49.9%
1880	10,683		3.6%
1890	9,232		−13.6%
1900	8,986		−2.7%
1910	7,492		−16.6%
1920	6,426		−14.2%
1930	8,325		29.6%
1940	13,229		58.9%
1950	16,207		22.5%
1960	29,390		81.3%
1970	43,833		49.1%
1980	85,812		95.8%
1990	125,955		46.8%
2000	156,299		24.1%
2010	181,058		15.8%
Est. 2015	184,452		1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[16] 1790–1960[17] 1900–1990[18] 1990–2000[19] 2010–2015[3]

The 2010 United States Census reported that El Dorado County had a population of 181,058. The racial makeup of El Dorado County was 156,793 (86.6%) White, 1,409 (0.8%) African American, 2,070 (1.1%) Native American, 6,297 (3.5%) Asian, 294 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 7,278 (4.0%) from other races, and 6,917 (3.8%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21,875 persons (12.1%).^[20] The largest growth in the county has come in El Dorado Hills where the population grew by 24,092 residents to a total of 42,108 since 2000.^[20]

Population reported at 2010 United States Census
The County	Total Population	White	African American	Native American	Asian	Pacific Islander	other races	two or more races	Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
El Dorado County	181,058	156,793	1,409	2,070	6,297	294	7,278	6,917	21,875
Incorporated cities	Total Population	White	African American	Native American	Asian	Pacific Islander	other races	two or more races	Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
Placerville	10,389	8,716	80	162	98	13	867	453	1,863
South Lake Tahoe	21,403	15,733	182	232	1,186	39	3,230	801	6,665
Census-designated places	Total Population	White	African American	Native American	Asian	Pacific Islander	other races	two or more races	Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
Auburn Lake Trails	3,426	3,190	6	28	36	5	45	116	208
Cameron Park	18,228	16,242	143	194	425	36	461	727	2,056
Camino	1,750	1,604	7	14	18	4	55	48	197
Cold Springs	446	413	4	5	3	0	15	6	43
Coloma	529	462	4	3	8	0	15	37	63
Diamond Springs	11,037	9,743	39	176	110	6	518	445	1,377
El Dorado Hills	42,108	35,089	615	196	3,563	71	681	1,893	3,802
Georgetown	2,367	2,128	47	59	18	2	45	68	177
Grizzly Flats	1,066	954	6	14	7	2	19	64	96
Pollock Pines	6,871	6,195	18	128	56	3	251	220	713
Shingle Springs	4,432	3,919	14	108	50	3	132	206	469
Tahoma‡	780	736	2	7	7	0	11	17	35
Unincorporated communities	Total Population	White	African American	Native American	Asian	Pacific Islander	other races	two or more races	Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
All others not CDPs (combined)	56,226	51,669	242	744	712	110	933	1,816	4,111
‡ Note: these numbers reflect only the portion of this CDP in El Dorado County

2000

As of the census^[21] of 2000, there were 156,299 people, 58,939 households, and 43,025 families residing in the county. The population density was 91 people per square mile (35/km²). There were 71,278 housing units at an average density of 42 per square mile (16/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 89.7% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 1.0% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.6% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. 9.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 14.9% were of German, 13.4% English, 10.3% Irish, 6.6% Italian and 6.6% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 90.5% spoke English and 6.5% Spanish as their first language.

There were 58,939 households out of which 34.2% had youngsters under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.0% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.

The 2000 census also states that the median income for a household in the county was $51,484, and the median income for a family was $60,250. Males had a median income of $46,373 versus $31,537 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,560. About 5.0% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.6% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Voter registration statistics

Population and registered voters
Total population[9]	179,878
Registered voters[22][note 3]	110,206	61.3%
Democratic[22]	32,176	29.2%
Republican[22]	48,362	43.9%
Democratic–Republican spread[22]	-16,186	-14.7%
Independent[22]	4,214	3.8%
Green[22]	887	0.8%
Libertarian[22]	1,010	0.9%
Peace and Freedom[22]	293	0.3%
Americans Elect[22]	5	0.0%
Other[22]	883	0.8%
No party preference[22]	22,376	20.3%

Cities by population and voter registration

Cities by population and voter registration
City	Population[9]	Registered voters[22] [note 3]	Democratic[22]	Republican[22]	D–R spread[22]	Other[22]	No party preference[22]
Placerville	10,394	52.9%	34.0%	37.4%	-3.4%	11.5%	21.3%
South Lake Tahoe	21,814	42.4%	38.6%	22.8%	+15.8%	14.0%	29.0%

Overview

Presidential election results

Year	GOP	DEM	Others
2012	57.3% 50,973	39.5% 35,166	3.2% 2,859
2008	54.1% 50,314	43.6% 40,529	2.2% 2,083
2004	61.2% 52,878	37.3% 32,242	1.4% 1,244
2000	58.3% 42,045	36.4% 26,220	5.4% 3,871
1996	51.8% 32,759	36.3% 22,957	11.8% 7,480
1992	39.9% 25,906	32.4% 21,012	27.7% 17,969
1988	59.3% 30,021	39.1% 19,801	1.5% 781
1984	64.9% 27,583	33.7% 14,312	1.4% 583
1980	58.3% 21,238	29.5% 10,765	12.2% 4,446
1976	47.7% 12,472	48.8% 12,763	3.5% 919
1972	54.2% 11,330	41.4% 8,654	4.4% 921
1968	49.0% 7,468	39.7% 6,054	11.3% 1,719
1964	39.5% 5,775	60.3% 8,810	0.2% 25
1960	49.2% 6,065	50.1% 6,175	0.8% 97

Election results from statewide races
Year	Office	Results
2010	Governor	Whitman 56.2 - 38.6%
	Lieutenant Governor	Maldonado 55.6 - 32.8%
	Secretary of State	Dunn 53.5 - 37.4%
	Controller	Chiang 46.1 - 45.7%
	Treasurer	Walters 51.3 - 41.0%
	Attorney General	Cooley 60.4 - 29.4%
	Insurance Commissioner	Villines 53.6 - 33.8%

El Dorado is a predominantly Republican county in Presidential and congressional elections. The last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Lyndon Johnson in 1964 election, and the last Democrat to win the county was Jimmy Carter in the 1976 presidential election. The county is noted as a center of political concern with the United Nations non-binding sustainable development plan Agenda 21, which was on the County Board of Supervisors meeting Agenda on May 15, 2012. Concerns included the threat of U.S. Forest Service road closures and traffic roundabouts.^[23] On February 19, 2013 14 members of the El Dorado County Grand Jury resigned, forcing Supervising Judge Steven Bailey to dissolve it.^[24]

El Dorado County is in California's 4th congressional district, represented by Republican Tom McClintock.^[25] In the State Assembly, the county is split between the 5th Assembly District, represented by Republican Frank Bigelow and the 6th Assembly District, represented by Republican Beth Gaines.^[26] In the State Senate, it is in the 1st Senate District, represented by Republican Ted Gaines.^[27]

Crime

The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense.

Population and crime rates
Population[9]	179,878
Violent crime[28]	520	2.89
Homicide[28]	3	0.02
Forcible rape[28]	50	0.28
Robbery[28]	71	0.39
Aggravated assault[28]	396	2.20
Property crime[28]	1,736	9.65
Burglary[28]	932	5.18
Larceny-theft[28][note 4]	1,540	8.56
Motor vehicle theft[28]	178	0.99
Arson[28]	17	0.09

Cities by population and crime rates

Cities by population and crime rates
City	Population[29]	Violent crimes[29]	Violent crime rate per 1,000 persons	Property crimes[29]	Property crime rate per 1,000 persons
Placerville	10,479	55	5.25	194	18.51
South Lake Tahoe	21,586	148	6.86	544	25.20

Transportation

Major highways

Map of El Dorado County in Northern California

• U.S. Route 50
• State Route 49
• State Route 89
• State Route 193
• Luther Pass

Public transportation

• El Dorado Transit runs local service in Placerville and surrounding areas (as far east as Pollock Pines). Commuter service into Sacramento and Folsom is also provided.
• BlueGo is the transit operator for the South Lake Tahoe area. Service also runs into the state of Nevada.

Airports

General aviation airports are include: Placerville Airport, Georgetown Airport, Cameron Airpark and Lake Tahoe Airport.

Asbestos

Portions of El Dorado county are known to contain natural asbestos formations near the surface.^[30] The USGS studied amphiboles in rock and soil in the area in response to an EPA sampling study and subsequent criticism of the EPA study. The study found that many amphibole particles in the area meet the counting rule criteria used by the EPA for chemical and morphological limits, but do not meet morphological requirements for commercial-grade-asbestos. The executive summary pointed out that even particles that do not meet requirements for commercial-grade-asbestos may be a health threat and suggested a collaborative research effort to assess health risks associated with "Naturally Occurring Asbestos".^[31]

In 2003 after construction of the Oak Ridge High School (El Dorado Hills, CA) soccer field, the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry found that some student athletes, coaches and school workers received substantial exposures. The inside of Oak Ridge High School needed to be cleaned of dust.^[30]

Communities

El Dorado County Courthouse, Placerville

Cities

• Placerville (county seat)
• South Lake Tahoe

Unincorporated communities

• Auburn Lake Trails
• Cameron Park
• Camino
• Camp Sacramento
• Cold Springs
• Coloma
• Cool
• Diamond Springs
• Echo Lake
• El Dorado
• El Dorado Hills
• Fair Play
• Garden Valley
• Georgetown
• Greenwood
• Grizzly Flats
• Happy Valley
• Meyers
• Kyburz
• Outingdale
• Phillips
• Pilot Hill
• Pollock Pines
• Rescue
• Shingle Springs
• Somerset
• Strawberry
• Tahoma
• Twin Bridges

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in El Dorado County, California
• Hiking trails in El Dorado County

Notes

1. Other = Some other race + Two or more races
2. Native American = Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander + American Indian or Alaska Native
3. Percentage of registered voters with respect to total population. Percentages of party members with respect to registered voters follow.
4. Only larceny-theft cases involving property over $400 in value are reported as property crimes.

References

1. "Chronology". California State Association of Counties. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
2. "Freel Peak". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
3. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
5. Irish, Marc Charles. "Brief History of El Dorado County | El Dorado County, CAGenWeb | Marc Charles Irish". www.cagenweb.com. Retrieved 2016-03-23.
6. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 116.
7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
8. Freel Peak
9. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001. American FactFinder. Retrieved 2013-10-26.
10. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B03003. American FactFinder. Retrieved 2013-10-26.
11. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19301. American FactFinder. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
12. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19013. American FactFinder. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
13. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19113. American FactFinder. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
14. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. American FactFinder. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
15. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B01003. American FactFinder. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
16. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
17. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
18. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
19. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
20. "2010 Census P.L. 94-171 Summary File Data". United States Census Bureau.
21. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
22. California Secretary of State. February 10, 2013 - Report of Registration. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
23. Carlos Alcalá (May 24, 2012). "El Dorado County folks riled by U.N. agenda for sustainable growth". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
24. Cathy Locke (March 10, 2013). "The Public Eye: El Dorado County grand jury disbands after mass resignation". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
25. "California's 4th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
26. "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
27. "Senators". State of California. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
28. Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice, State of California. Table 11: Crimes – 2009. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
29. United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Crime in the United States, 2012, Table 8 (California). Retrieved 2013-11-14.
30. Raloff, Janet (July 8, 2006), "Dirty Little Secret", Science News, archived from the original (– ^{Scholar search}) on July 13, 2007
31. Meeker, G.P.; Lowers, H.A.; Swayze, G.A.; Van Gosen, B.S.; Stutley, S.J.; Brownfield, I.K. (December 2006), Mineralogy and Morphology of Amphiboles Observed in Soils and Rocks in El Dorado Hills, California, United States Geological Survey

External links

• Official website
• official El Dorado County Historical Museum website
• El Dorado Environmental air quality management - Naturally occurring asbestos information
• El Dorado County Weather
• El Dorado County Visitors Authority
• Sierra Community Access Television
• El Dorado Western Railway Foundation blog The railway is restoring the Diamond & Caldor No. 4 Shay locomotive at the El Dorado County Historical Museum

Coordinates: 38°47′N 120°32′W / 38.78°N 120.53°W