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Eldorado, Illinois facts for kids

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Eldorado
City of Eldorado
According to the 1945 Film Daily Yearbook, the 500-seat Grand was one of three movie houses in operation at that time, which also included the Orpheum and the Knox. Today the former Grand is used as a meeting place for a fraternal order.
According to the 1945 Film Daily Yearbook, the 500-seat Grand was one of three movie houses in operation at that time, which also included the Orpheum and the Knox. Today the former Grand is used as a meeting place for a fraternal order.
Nickname(s): 
City of Daffodils
Location of Eldorado in Saline County, Illinois.
Location of Eldorado in Saline County, Illinois.
Location of Illinois in the United States
Location of Illinois in the United States
Country United States
State Illinois
County Saline
Founded by Samuel Elder and Joseph Read
Area
 • Total 2.54 sq mi (6.59 km2)
 • Land 2.50 sq mi (6.48 km2)
 • Water 0.04 sq mi (0.11 km2)
Elevation
390 ft (120 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 3,743
 • Density 1,495.41/sq mi (577.32/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code(s)
62930
Area code(s) 618
FIPS code 17-23009
GNIS ID 2394639
Wikimedia Commons Eldorado, Illinois

Eldorado is a city in Saline County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,122 at the 2010 census, with a 1980 peak of 5,198. Although the city's name is spelled as if it were Spanish, the name was originally "Eldereado" or “Elder-Reado” (depending on the source)—a combination of the last names of the town's two founders, Judge Samuel Elder, his son William, grandson Francis Marion, and neighbor Joseph Read, and his brother William. According to legend, a signpainter for the railroad painted the name "Eldorado" on the train depot; as a result, the spelling and pronunciation (el-do-RAY-doh) was forever changed.

Eldorado is included in the Illinois–Indiana–Kentucky tri-state area and is a bedroom community in the Harrisburg micropolitan statistical area.

History

In September, 1963, five months before The Beatles' first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show brought them stardom in the United States, George Harrison performed at the Veterans of Foreign Wars hall in Eldorado with a local band. This was the first performance by a Beatle in the United States. At the time, Harrison and his brother were visiting their sister, Louise, who had recently relocated with her husband to nearby Benton.

At one time there was an extensive maze of railroad tracks that arched out from the town's center. All but one are now replaced with bike trails.

In 1946, the adjacent village of Beulah Heights disincorporated and annexed to Eldorado.

Eldorado was a sundown town until the sign was removed in the 1960s.

Geography

Eldorado is located at 37°48′51″N 88°26′27″W / 37.81417°N 88.44083°W / 37.81417; -88.44083 (37.814212, -88.440937).

According to the 2010 census, Eldorado has a total area of 2.431 square miles (6.30 km2), of which 2.39 square miles (6.19 km2) (or 98.31%) is land and 0.041 square miles (0.11 km2) (or 1.69%) is water.

The junction of the pioneer Kaskaskia and Goshen Trails was located just south of the city. The Goshen Trail began in Old Shawneetown, Illinois and ran along the east side of Eldorado and on to the Goshen Settlement, a community near the present day East St. Louis.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1900 1,445
1910 3,366 132.9%
1920 5,004 48.7%
1930 4,482 −10.4%
1940 4,891 9.1%
1950 4,500 −8.0%
1960 3,573 −20.6%
1970 3,876 8.5%
1980 5,198 34.1%
1990 4,536 −12.7%
2000 4,534 0.0%
2010 4,122 −9.1%
2020 3,743 −9.2%
U.S. Decennial Census
Eldorado IL Museum
Old City Hall, now a museum

As of the census of 2010 there were 4,122 people, 1,796 households, and 1,044 families residing in the city. There were 2,053 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 97.3% White, 0.8% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.4% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of the population.

There were 1,945 households, out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.1% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.9% were non-families. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.85.

The median age was 43 years. The unemployment rate 17.5%.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,799, and the median income for a family was $36,361. The per capita income for the city was $17,715. About 25.2% of families and 28.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.6% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those aged 65 or over.

Education level of those aged 25 and over: 6.1% less than ninth grade; 11% grade 9–12 with no diploma; 32.1% high school graduates; 24.7% some college, no degree; 9.6% Associate degree; 12.3% Bachelor's degree; and 4.3% graduate level or higher. Overall, the percentage of high school graduates is 83%. Approximately 7% of the population are veterans.

Sports

Eldorado holds a few records within the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). Basketball star Mike Duff is ranked #28 for career points (2,558), #4 for most points in a season (1,097-accomplished in 1977), and #13 with highest scoring average, season (32.2-accomplished in 1977). In baseball, #6 for most consecutive wins at home (26).

In December 1977, tragedy struck when former Eldorado basketball standouts Mike Duff and Kevin Kingston were killed in the crash of Air Indiana Flight 216 shortly after takeoff in Evansville, Indiana. Both were members of the Evansville Aces basketball team. The high school gymnasium was renamed in their memory.

Education

The Eldorado elementary school system consolidated in 1979, combining four schools (3 located in Eldorado, one from nearby Raleigh). Grades Pre-K through grade 5 attend Eldorado Elementary. Eldorado Middle School serves grades 6–8, and Eldorado High School grades 9-12. The high school mascot is the Eagles.

Eldorado High School
Eldorado High School

As of the beginning of the 2018–2019 school year, there were 1,157 students (Pre-K-12) enrolled in Eldorado Community Unit #4 schools (Elementary 598, Middle School 243, High School 351). The middle school and high schools were rated “commendable schools” on the 2018 Illinois School Report Card.

To the south of Eldorado is Southeastern Illinois College (junior college). The nearest major university is Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

Notable residents

  • Todd Duffee, mixed martial artist
  • David D. Phelps, former U.S. Congressman
  • Maryanne Wolf, professor of neuroscience and author

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Eldorado (Illinois) para niños

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