El Dorado County is located in the American state of California. It is part of the Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade Metropolitan Statistical area. The county is very diverse with landscapes ranging from oak-studded hills and breathtaking lakes to a snow-clad mountainous terrain.
The county’s name comes from the mythical El Dorado city, which means “the gilded one” in Spanish. It covers approximately 1,786 square miles, reaching from Folsom Lake to Lake Tahoe. The county seat is Placerville, also known as "Old Hangtown", a reminder of California's Gold Rush era.
As of 2020 census, the population of El Dorado County was estimated to be close to 197,000. The local economy is predominantly reliant on wineries, apple orchards, mining, forestry and tourism, especially related to the region’s numerous outdoor recreational opportunities, including hiking, boating, and skiing.
In terms of education, the county is served by the El Dorado Union High School District and several elementary districts. For higher education, residents can conveniently access Folsom Lake College.
The county is also home to notable cultural attractions such as Gold Bug Park & Mine, the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, and the Lake Tahoe Historical Society Museum. Additionally, it is also the location of a portion of the famous Lake Tahoe, one of the largest, deepest, and clearest freshwater lakes in the world.
