County of El Dorado Overview

The history of El Dorado County dates back to the 1848 discovery of gold that led to the California Gold Rush. Taking up 1,786 square miles of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, most of the county is public land composed of rolling hills and mountains. According to a U.S. Census estimate, 192,843 people reside in El Dorado County, whose biggest hubs are Placerville, South Lake Tahoe, and the unincorporated but fast-growing El Dorado Hills. The region attracts visitors with wine trails, historic towns, and a flourishing arts culture, plus loads of outdoor activities including skiing, mountain biking, fishing, and whitewater rafting.