El Dorado, Arkansas
El Dorado (locally /ɛl dʌˈreɪdoʊ/ el-duh-RAY-doh) is a city in, and the county seat of, Union County, on the southern border of Arkansas, United States. According to the 2020 census, the population of the city is 17,755.
El Dorado, Arkansas | |
|---|---|
City | |
Jefferson Street in downtown El Dorado's Union Square District | |
Location of El Dorado in Union County, Arkansas. | |
El Dorado, Arkansas | |
| Coordinates: 33°12′49″N 92°39′45″W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Union |
| Founded | 1843 |
| Established | May 5, 1870 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council |
| • Body | El Dorado City Council |
| • Mayor | Paul Choate |
| 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) |
| Highest elevation | 269 ft (82 m) |
| Lowest elevation | 249 ft (76 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • City | 17,755 |
| • Density | 1,095.98/sq mi (423.16/km2) |
| • Metro | 44,170 Arkansas census statistical areas |
| Demonym | El Doradoans |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes | 71730, 71731, 71768 |
| Area code | 870 |
| FIPS code | 05-21070 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0076861 |
| Highways | |
| Website | goeldorado |
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 Community 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.