California

El Dorado

191,185
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About El Dorado

El Dorado, California, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 20,057. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 191,185.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 21 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020191,185
2010181,058
2000156,299
1990125,995
198085,812
197043,833
196029,390
195016,207
194013,229
19308,325
19206,426
19107,492
19008,986
18909,232
188010,683
187010,309
186020,562
185020,057
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in El Dorado

National Register of Historic Places listings in El Dorado, California.

Vikingsholm
South Lake Tahoe
Combellack-Blair House
Placerville
Pope Estate
South Lake Tahoe
Bayley Hotel
Pilot Hill
Sugar Pine Point State Park
Homewood
Confidence Hall
Placerville
Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Colony Farm
Gold Hill
Coloma
Placerville
Fountain-Tallman Soda Works
Placerville
Pearson, John, Soda Works
Placerville
Episcopal Church of Our Saviour
Placerville
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Other counties in California

Explore census history and historic records for more California counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about El Dorado County, California

This page charts the census history of El Dorado County, California. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about El Dorado

When does El Dorado first appear in the US census?
El Dorado, California first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 20,057.
What is the population of El Dorado?
At the most recent federal census (2020), El Dorado had a recorded population of 191,185.
How many historic places are in El Dorado?
21 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in El Dorado, California.
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