El Dorado, Arkansas Explained

El Dorado, Arkansas
Settlement Type:City
Mapsize:250x200px
Pushpin Map:Arkansas
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Name1:Arkansas
Subdivision Name2:Union
Population Demonym:El Doradoans
Established Title:Founded
Established Title1:Established
Government Type:Mayor–council
Governing Body:El Dorado City Council
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Paul Choate
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:41.98
Area Total Sq Mi:16.21
Area Land Km2:41.96
Area Land Sq Mi:16.20
Area Water Km2:0.02
Area Water Sq Mi:0.01
Elevation Ft:226
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:17755
Population Metro:44170 Arkansas census statistical areas
Population Density Sq Mi:1095.98
Population Density Km2:423.16
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Coordinates:33.2361°N -92.6417°W
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Postal Code Type:ZIP codes
Postal Code:71730, 71731, 71768
Area Code:870
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:05-21070
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:2403547
Blank2 Name:Highways
Blank2 Info:

El Dorado is a city in and the county seat of Union County, on the southern border of Arkansas, United States.[2] According to the 2020 census, the population of the city is 17,755.[3]

El Dorado is headquarters of the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission as well as Murphy USA, Deltic Timber Corporation and a DelekUS oil refinery. The city has a downtown arts district, the Murphy Arts District (MAD); a community college, South Arkansas College (SouthArk); and a multi-cultural arts center, South Arkansas Arts Center (SAAC). El Dorado is the population, cultural and business center of south central Arkansas.

The city was the heart of the 1920s oil boom in the area. During World War II, it became a center of the chemical industry, which still plays a part in the economy, as do oil and timber.

History

Timeline

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.3sqmi, of which 16.3sqmi is land and 0.1sqmi (0.31%) is water.

Topography

El Dorado is located in the West Gulf Coastal Plain: In Arkansas, the West Gulf Coastal Plain covers the southeastern and south central portions of the state along the border of Louisiana. This Lowland area of Arkansas is characterized by pine forests and farmlands. Natural resources include natural gas, petroleum deposits and beds of bromine flats. The lowest point in the state is found on the Ouachita River in the West Gulf Coastal Plain of Arkansas.[16]

Climate

El Dorado is located in the humid subtropical zone (Köppen climate classification: Cfa).[17]

Demographics

2020 census

El Dorado racial composition[18] !Race!Num.!Perc.
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)9,02950.85%
White (non-Hispanic)6,86838.68%
Native American340.19%
Asian2101.18%
Pacific Islander30.02%
Other/Mixed5953.35%
Hispanic or Latino1,0175.73%
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 17,756 people, 7,164 households, and 4,466 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,096 people per square mile.

25.9% of the population were under 18, and 7.1% were under 5. People over 65 made up 16.7% of the population. The gender make up of the city was 50.6% female and 49.4% male.

The median household income was $41,831, and the per capita income was $24,081. People under the poverty line made up 22.6% of the population.

2010 census

As of the census[19] of 2010, there were 18,884 people, 8,969 households, and 5,732 families residing in the city. The population density was 1323.3sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 9,969 housing units at an average density of 607.9sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 49.9% Black or African American, 45.1% White, 0.30% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.8% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. 1.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[20]

There were 8,686 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were married couples living together, 19.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. Of 8,686 households, 304 are unmarried partner households: 243 heterosexual, 19 same-sex male, and 42 same-sex female. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,045, and the median income for a family was $34,753. Males had a median income of $30,876 versus $19,211 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,332. About 20.0% of families and 24.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.3% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Venues

The Murphy Arts District (MAD) opened in 2017 in downtown El Dorado.[21] The district includes a music hall, outdoor amphitheater, farmer's market, musical performers, restaurant with performance stage, the largest playscape in the state, and a water park.[22] [23]

The South Arkansas Arts Center (SAAC) is a 22500square feet facility with three visual art galleries, a ballet studio, a theatre, educational classroom space, and an open art studio.[24] SAAC hosts stage events and art exhibitions.[25]

The El Dorado Municipal Auditorium is a multi-purpose auditorium with a large lobby, grand hall seating, and multi-tiered sloping balcony. It has featured musical acts, entertainment shows, school productions, dance recitals and was formerly the location of the South Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, which was founded in 1956.[26]

The El Dorado Conference Center is a 50764square feet multi-purpose facility opened in 2011, which features an assembly hallmain hall, small meeting rooms, the student services for South Arkansas College, and bookstore, and café.[27]

Annual events

The Mayhaw Festival occurs in May.[28] The official event name is "Bugs Bands and Bikes".[29] It coincides with a crawfish boil, a "Battle of the Bands", a bike show/one day motorcycle rally, a motorcycle parade, and pool tournament. The "SouthArk Outdoor Expo occurs in September[30] with activities for anglers, hunters, children, and families.

MusicFest occurs in October in an eight-block area, featuring over 30 acts on five stages.[31]

Winter events include the "Festival of Lights" and the "largest Christmas parade in Arkansas".

Attractions

Parks and recreation

City parks include: Lions Club Park and Golf Course, Mattocks Park, Mosby Park, Neel Park, Old City Park, and South Side Park.

The El Dorado Recreation Complex and Pavilion has a playground, baseball and softball facility and two pavilions. It is the location of the El Dorado High School Wildcat Baseball Field and Ladycat Softball Field.

Memorial Stadium is a 7,030-seat football stadium and track which hosts sports event, school teams, the Boomtown Classic, an annual college football match between in-state college football rivals.[36]

Education

According to the 2000 Census, 22.5% of the population age 25+ had an associate degree or higher.[37] More than 400 teachers and administrators work to meet the needs of all students regardless of age, ability, or background. Approximately 50 percent of these teachers and administrators hold advanced degrees.[38] More than 4,600 students attend the nine El Dorado public schools in the El Dorado School District #15. A new high school with a 1500-student capacity was completed in June 2011.[39]

Public

Elementary

There are five elementary schools in the district, divided into academies (K-4) and 1 (K-6):

Secondary

Collegiate

South Arkansas Community College (SouthArk), is a public two-year institution providing educational programs, services, and resources for students. SouthArk offers degrees and certificates in health sciences, industrial technologies, liberal arts, and business.[40]

Private

Media

Radio

Radio stations include: KMLK (urban adult contemporary), KDMS (southern gospel), KIXB (country), KMRX (classic hits), KAGL (classic rock), KELD (talk), KELD-FM (contemporary hits), KLBQ (classic country), KBSA (NPR), and KAKV.

Television

Television stations serving El Dorado include: KTVE (NBC), KETZ (PBS), K20OC (CBS-HD), KTVE-HD (NBC-HD), K20OC (CBS), KETZ-DT (AETN/PBS), KTBS (ABC), KNOE (CBS), KARD (FOX), and KMLU (MeTV).

Print

The El Dorado News-Times is one of the oldest newspapers in South Arkansas.[41]

Infrastructure

Major highways

Airports

El Dorado has two airports, both owned by the city. South Arkansas Regional Airport at Goodwin Field services private aircraft and one commercial carrier,[42] and El Dorado Downtown Airport services local industries, and offers hangar space to small private planes.

Utilities

El Dorado water is served locally by El Dorado Water Utilities, a private company.[43] Electricity is supplied by Entergy of Arkansas. Other utility companies serving El Dorado include Summit Utilities (natural gas), Southern Lp-Gas (liquid gas), Bcs (bottled and metered gas), Suddenlink (cable TV, internet and phone), Verizon Wireless and AT&T (residential and wireless phone service).

Health systems

The city and surrounding area is served by the Medical Center of South Arkansas, MCSA, accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, is a general acute-care hospital licensed by the Arkansas Department of Health.[44]

Notable people

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files . October 29, 2021 . United States Census Bureau.
  2. Web site: Find a County . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120712220218/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx . July 12, 2012 . June 7, 2011 . National Association of Counties.
  3. Web site: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: El Dorado city, Arkansas . January 13, 2024 . www.census.gov . en.
  4. Web site: The History of El Dorado . December 5, 2020 . goeldorado.com.
  5. Web site: El Dorado (Union County) . December 5, 2020 . encyclopediaofarkansas.net.
  6. Web site: El Dorado Arkansas, United States . December 5, 2020 . britannica.com.
  7. Web site: ISJL : Digital Archive: El Dorado, Arkansas . https://web.archive.org/web/20071005234940/http://www.isjl.org/history/archive/ar/eldorado.htm . October 5, 2007 . December 6, 2020.
  8. Book: McWhirter, Cameron . Red Summer The Summer of 1919 and the Awakening of Black America . 2011 . Henry Holt and Company . 9780805089066 . 52.
  9. Web site: Frank Livingston (Lynching of) . November 11, 2018.
  10. Web site: Arkansas' original boomtown « Rex Nelson's Southern Fried . December 9, 2020 . rexnelsonsouthernfried.com.
  11. Web site: El Dorado, Arkansas - Canfor's Communities . December 10, 2020 . canfor.com.
  12. Web site: El Dorado - Arkansas.com . December 10, 2020 . arkansas.com.
  13. Web site: ISJL : Digital Archive: El Dorado, Arkansas . https://web.archive.org/web/20071005234940/http://www.isjl.org/history/archive/ar/eldorado.htm . October 5, 2007 . December 10, 2020 . isjl.org.
  14. Web site: January 6, 2020 . Our City - El Dorado Promise . December 10, 2020 . eldoradopromise.com.
  15. Web site: Media Information: Arkansas Parks & Tourism . https://web.archive.org/web/20070927213614/http://www.arkansasmediaroom.com/news-releases/printable_popup_botframe.asp?id=261 . September 27, 2007 . December 10, 2020 . arkansasmediaroom.com.
  16. Web site: Arkansas Geography from . August 19, 2012 . Netstate.
  17. Web site: November 6, 2008 . World Map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100906034159/http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/ . September 6, 2010 . September 25, 2010 . University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna.
  18. Web site: Explore Census Data . December 10, 2021 . data.census.gov.
  19. Web site: U.S. Census website . January 31, 2008 . United States Census Bureau.
  20. Web site: El Dorado, AR ZIP codes, demographics, job listings, schools, income stats & more . August 19, 2012 . Muninetguide.com.
  21. Web site: October 3, 2017 . High marks greet new Arkansas entertainment district; 21,000 people attend 4-day festival . May 18, 2022 . Arkansas Online . en.
  22. Web site: https://www.architectmagazine.com/project-gallery/murphy-arts-district . May 18, 2022 . www.architectmagazine.com.
  23. Web site: Murphy Arts District Calendar Murphy Arts District . May 18, 2022 . eldomad.com.
  24. Web site: South Arkansas Arts Center and Theatre - El Dorado, AR - Events, Entertainment . August 19, 2012 . Discoverourtown.com . July 18, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110718231824/http://www.discoverourtown.com/AR/El-Dorado/Events/south-arkansas-arts-center-and-theatre/136821.html . dead .
  25. Web site: July 29, 2010 . South Arkansas Arts Center El Dorado, AR . https://web.archive.org/web/20100729131940/http://www.saac-arts.org/ . July 29, 2010 . August 19, 2012 . Saac-arts.org.
  26. Web site: Venue . January 13, 2024 . SASO . en.
  27. Web site: July 19, 2011 . El Dorado Conference Center . https://web.archive.org/web/20110719094521/http://www.southark.edu/conference/ . July 19, 2011 . August 19, 2012 . Southark.edu.
  28. Web site: Mayhaw Festival - South Arkansas Historical Preservation Society & the Newton House Museum . soarkhistory.com.
  29. Web site: Bugs Bands & Bikes - Main Street El Dorado . mainstreeteldorado.org . July 15, 2015 . March 4, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093038/http://www.mainstreeteldorado.org/bugs_bands_bikes.html . dead .
  30. Web site: SouthArk Expo - South Arkansas Outdoor Expo . southarkexpo.com.
  31. Web site: MyArkLaMiss - MusicFest El Dorado Named Festival of The Year . myarklamiss.com . July 15, 2015 . July 15, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150715113704/http://www.myarklamiss.com/story/d/story/musicfest-el-dorado-named-festival-of-the-year/23400/fttCxrC-CkqF53VxXmzzFw . dead .
  32. Web site: Union County, Arkansas: History and Information . August 19, 2012 . E-referencedesk.com.
  33. Web site: June 30, 1983 . Union County, Arkansas . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120321184820/http://www.arkansasties.com/Union/CourtHouse.htm . March 21, 2012 . August 19, 2012 . Arkansasties.com.
  34. Web site: South Arkansas Arboretum is adjacent to El Dorado HS on west gulf coastal plain . August 19, 2012 . Arkansas State Parks.
  35. Web site: Rialto Theater . August 19, 2012 . Cinema Treasures.
  36. Web site: Memorial Stadium - El Dorado, Arkansas - StadiumConnection.com . 2024-11-18 . stadiumconnection.com . en.
  37. Web site: US Census Bureau Quick facts Sheet accessed 1 February 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120407012903/http://censtats.census.gov/data/AR/1600521070.pdf . April 7, 2012 . August 19, 2012.
  38. Web site: ELDORADOPUBLICSCHOOLS.COM . December 29, 2021 . www.eldoradopublicschools.com.
  39. Web site: June 1, 2010 . El Dorado High School, El Dorado, Ark. South Central Construction McGraw-Hill Construction . August 19, 2012 . South Central Construction.
  40. Web site: June 30, 1992 . SouthArk . August 19, 2012 . Southark.edu.
  41. Web site: El Dorado News Times - daily newspaper in El Dorado, Arkansas USA with local news and events . August 19, 2012 . Mondotimes.com.
  42. Web site: Resources > Airport > S Arkansas Regional Airport (El Dorado, AR) [KELD/ELD] |url=http://flightaware.com/resources/airport/KELD |access-date=August 19, 2012 |publisher=FlightAware].
  43. Web site: El Dorado Water Utilities (City Of El Dorado) - El Dorado, Arkansas (AR) Company Profile . August 19, 2012 . Manta.com.
  44. Web site: Home - About Us . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120321165037/http://www.themedcenter.net/About/Pages/About%20Us.aspx . March 21, 2012 . August 19, 2012 . Themedcenter.net.

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