El Dorado, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
El Dorado, Arkansas
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City
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Jefferson Street in downtown El Dorado's Union Square District
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Location of El Dorado in Union County, Arkansas.
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 El Dorado, Arkansas
Location in Arkansas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Union |
| Founded | 1843 |
| Established | May 5, 1870 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council |
| • Body | El Dorado City Council |
| Area | |
| • City | 16.21 sq mi (41.98 km2) |
| • Land | 16.20 sq mi (41.96 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 226 ft (69 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • City | 17,755 |
| • Density | 1,095.98/sq mi (423.16/km2) |
| • Metro | 44,170 Arkansas census statistical areas |
| Demonym(s) | El Doradoans |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
71730, 71731, 71768
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| Area code(s) | 870 |
| FIPS code | 05-21070 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2403547 |
| Highways | .svg){kind=small}      |
El Dorado is a city in the southern part of Arkansas, United States. It is the main city of Union County. In 2020, about 17,755 people lived there.
El Dorado is an important place for business and culture in south central Arkansas. It is home to the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission. The city also has a cool downtown arts area called the Murphy Arts District (MAD). You can find a college, South Arkansas College (SouthArk), and an arts center, the South Arkansas Arts Center (SAAC), here too.
The city became famous in the 1920s because of a big oil boom. Later, during World War II, it grew into a center for making chemicals. Today, oil, chemicals, and timber (wood) are still important parts of the city's economy.
Contents
- Discovering El Dorado's Past
- Exploring El Dorado's Location and Weather
- People of El Dorado: Demographics
- Arts, Culture, and Fun in El Dorado
- Parks and Recreation for Everyone
- Learning and Schools in El Dorado
- Staying Connected: Media in El Dorado
- Getting Around: Transportation and Utilities
- Famous People from El Dorado
- See also
Discovering El Dorado's Past
Key Moments in El Dorado's History
- 1829: The area that would become Union County was created from parts of other counties.
- 1843: Matthew Rainey founded the city and named it El Dorado. It became the county seat that same year.
- 1870: El Dorado officially became an incorporated city.
- 1891: The first passenger train arrived in El Dorado, connecting it to other towns.
- 1921: The Busey No. 1 oil well was completed. This started the big oil boom, earning El Dorado the nickname "Arkansas' Original Boomtown."
- 1922: The El Dorado Oil Refinery was built.
- 1927: The Lion Oil-Exchange Building, an important building from the oil boom era, was finished.
Exploring El Dorado's Location and Weather
Where is El Dorado Located?
El Dorado is in the West Gulf Coastal Plain region of Arkansas. This area is known for its pine forests and farms. It also has natural resources like natural gas, oil, and bromine.
El Dorado's Climate and Temperatures
The city has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and mild winters.
| Climate data for El Dorado, Arkansas (South Arkansas Regional Airport at Goodwin Field) (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1892–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 83 (28) |
89 (32) |
99 (37) |
96 (36) |
99 (37) |
108 (42) |
110 (43) |
112 (44) |
110 (43) |
99 (37) |
89 (32) |
83 (28) |
112 (44) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 55.9 (13.3) |
60.2 (15.7) |
68.7 (20.4) |
76.4 (24.7) |
83.5 (28.6) |
90.5 (32.5) |
93.6 (34.2) |
93.5 (34.2) |
88.2 (31.2) |
77.6 (25.3) |
66.0 (18.9) |
58.0 (14.4) |
76.0 (24.4) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 44.7 (7.1) |
48.5 (9.2) |
56.3 (13.5) |
63.9 (17.7) |
72.0 (22.2) |
79.3 (26.3) |
82.4 (28.0) |
81.8 (27.7) |
75.8 (24.3) |
64.6 (18.1) |
53.8 (12.1) |
46.8 (8.2) |
64.2 (17.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 33.6 (0.9) |
36.8 (2.7) |
44.0 (6.7) |
51.3 (10.7) |
60.5 (15.8) |
68.0 (20.0) |
71.3 (21.8) |
70.2 (21.2) |
63.4 (17.4) |
51.5 (10.8) |
41.6 (5.3) |
35.6 (2.0) |
52.3 (11.3) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −10 (−23) |
−9 (−23) |
11 (−12) |
26 (−3) |
34 (1) |
46 (8) |
53 (12) |
50 (10) |
35 (2) |
24 (−4) |
9 (−13) |
−4 (−20) |
−10 (−23) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.39 (112) |
4.47 (114) |
5.10 (130) |
5.39 (137) |
4.81 (122) |
3.88 (99) |
3.43 (87) |
3.40 (86) |
3.23 (82) |
4.58 (116) |
3.83 (97) |
5.61 (142) |
52.12 (1,324) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 9.4 | 9.4 | 10.3 | 8.7 | 10.55 | 8.6 | 8.4 | 7.4 | 6.3 | 7.3 | 8.7 | 9.3 | 104.3 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
People of El Dorado: Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 443 | — | |
| 1890 | 455 | 2.7% | |
| 1900 | 1,857 | 308.1% | |
| 1910 | 4,202 | 126.3% | |
| 1920 | 3,887 | −7.5% | |
| 1930 | 16,421 | 322.5% | |
| 1940 | 15,858 | −3.4% | |
| 1950 | 23,076 | 45.5% | |
| 1960 | 25,292 | 9.6% | |
| 1970 | 25,283 | 0.0% | |
| 1980 | 25,270 | −0.1% | |
| 1990 | 23,146 | −8.4% | |
| 2000 | 21,530 | −7.0% | |
| 2010 | 18,884 | −12.3% | |
| 2020 | 17,756 | −6.0% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 17,339 | −8.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
El Dorado's Population in 2020
In 2020, El Dorado had 17,756 people living in 7,164 households. About 25.9% of the people were under 18 years old. People over 65 made up 16.7% of the population. The city had slightly more females (50.6%) than males (49.4%).
The average income for a household was $41,831. About 22.6% of the people lived below the poverty line.
Arts, Culture, and Fun in El Dorado
Cool Places to Visit
The Murphy Arts District (MAD) opened in 2017 in downtown El Dorado. It has a music hall, an outdoor stage, a farmer's market, and a restaurant. There's also a huge playscape (a fun play area) and a water park!
The South Arkansas Arts Center (SAAC) is a large building with art galleries, a ballet studio, a theater, and classrooms for art. It hosts many shows and art exhibits.
The El Dorado Municipal Auditorium is a big hall where you can see music shows, school plays, and dance performances.
The El Dorado Conference Center is a modern building that opened in 2011. It has a large hall for events and smaller meeting rooms. It also houses student services for South Arkansas College.
Exciting Annual Events
- Mayhaw Festival: This event in May is also called "Bugs Bands and Bikes." It includes a crawfish boil, a "Battle of the Bands" music competition, and a motorcycle show.
- SouthArk Outdoor Expo: Held in September, this expo has activities for people who love fishing, hunting, and other outdoor fun.
- MusicFest: In October, this festival takes over an eight-block area with over 30 music acts on five different stages.
- Winter Events: During winter, El Dorado celebrates with a "Festival of Lights" and the "largest Christmas parade in Arkansas."
Popular Attractions to See
- The Union County Courthouse is a historic building that opened in 1928.
- The South Arkansas Arboretum opened in 1965 and is Arkansas's only state park located inside a city. It has over 2 miles (3.2 km) of paved walking trails.
- The Rialto Theater is a historic movie theater that opened in 1929. It used to show live stage shows and movies.
Parks and Recreation for Everyone
El Dorado has several city parks, including Lions Club Park (which has a golf course), Mattocks Park, Mosby Park, Neel Park, Old City Park, and South Side Park.
The El Dorado Recreation Complex and Pavilion offers a playground, baseball and softball fields. It's where the El Dorado High School teams play.
Memorial Stadium is a large football stadium with 7,030 seats. It hosts sports events, school games, and an annual college football game called the Boomtown Classic.
Learning and Schools in El Dorado
El Dorado has a strong school system. Many teachers and administrators have advanced degrees. Over 4,600 students attend the nine public schools in the El Dorado School District #15. A new high school was finished in 2011.
Public Schools
Elementary Schools
There are five elementary schools, each focusing on different areas:
- Hugh Goodwin Elementary School of the Arts
- Murmil Heights Learning Center
- Northwest Elementary School of Environment
- Retta Brown Elementary School of Communication and Technologies
- Yocum Elementary School of Math and Science
Middle and High Schools
- Washington Middle School (grades 5–6)
- Barton Junior High School (grades 7–8)
- El Dorado High School (grades 9–12)
College Education
South Arkansas Community College (SouthArk) is a two-year college. It offers programs and degrees in health, industrial skills, liberal arts, and business.
Private Schools
El Dorado also has several private schools:
- Maranatha Baptist Christian School (Pre-K to 12th grade)
- West Side Christian School (Pre-K to 12th grade)
- Light Brigade Christian Academy (Pre-K to 12th grade)
Staying Connected: Media in El Dorado
Radio Stations
You can listen to many radio stations in El Dorado, playing different types of music and talk shows. Some include KMLK, KDMS, KIXB, KMRX, KAGL, KELD, KELD-FM, KLBQ, KBSA, and KAKV.
Television Channels
Several TV stations serve El Dorado, offering news, entertainment, and educational programs. These include KTVE (NBC), KETZ (PBS), K20OC (CBS), KTBS (ABC), KNOE (CBS), KARD (FOX), and KMLU (MeTV).
Local Newspaper
The El Dorado News-Times is one of the oldest newspapers in South Arkansas, keeping residents informed about local news.
Getting Around: Transportation and Utilities
Major Roads and Highways
El Dorado is connected by several important highways:
Future Interstate 69
U.S. Highway 63
U.S. Highway 82
U.S. Highway 167
Highway 7
Highway 15
Airports in El Dorado
The city has two airports:
- South Arkansas Regional Airport at Goodwin Field: Used by private planes and one commercial airline.
- El Dorado Downtown Airport: Used by local businesses and smaller private planes.
City Services and Utilities
El Dorado Water Utilities provides water to the city. Electricity comes from Entergy of Arkansas. Other companies provide natural gas, bottled gas, cable TV, internet, and phone services.
Famous People from El Dorado
Many notable people have connections to El Dorado:
- Beryl Anthony Jr.: A former member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Donna Axum: Crowned Miss America in 1964.
- Lou Brock: A baseball legend and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
- Albert H. Crews: An astronaut and Air Force officer.
- Glenn D. Daniels: The founder of Country Music Television (CMT).
- David Frizzell: A country music singer.
- Lefty Frizzell: Another country music singer, who grew up in El Dorado.
- Daniel Gafford: An NBA basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks.
- Lamar Hunt: A famous businessman and owner of the Kansas City Chiefs football team. He is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- E. Fay Jones: A well-known architect.
- Charles Portis: The author of the famous novel True Grit.
- William Ragsdale: An actor.
- Adam Setliff: An Olympic discus thrower.
- Reece Tatum: A basketball player for the Harlem Globetrotters.
- Travis Williams: An NFL running back.
- Josh Wilson: A contemporary Christian musician.
See also
In Spanish: El Dorado (Arkansas) para niños
