El Dorado County
El Dorado County, California
Situated in one of the most beautiful parts of the country, El Dorado County, CA enjoys sunshine 75% of the year to make the most of the spectacular views of its well positioned real estate.
Located along the south coast of Lake Tahoe and home to the largest city on the lake, South Lake Tahoe, El Dorado County has been attracting visitors and permanent residents alike for nearly 150 years. Conveniently positioned in the north central area of California, El Dorado County borders the state of Nevada, giving visitors and residents easy access to the attractions of both states.
El Dorado County encompasses 1,788 square miles with a growing population of 176,841 in 2005, up from 156,299 in 2000. The 63% of the population resides in the urban areas while 37% live in the rural areas that take up most of the county. In fact, El Dorado County enjoys a very comfortable population density of only 99 people per square mile, with most of the cities in the county having 10,000 or less people.
The cities and communities that make up El Dorado County include its county seat Placerville, South Lake Tahoe its largest city, El Dorado Hills and Cameron Park which have more than 10,000 residents, Camino, Camp Sacramento, Coloma, Cool, Diamond Springs, El Dorado, Garden Valley, Georgetown, Grizzly Flats, Happy Valley, Meyers, Mt. Aukum, Outingdale, Phillips, Pilot Hill, Pollock Pines, Rescue, Shingle Springs, Somerset, Strawberry, Twin Bridges which all have less than 10,000 residents.
Many people are drawn to El Dorado County for its high quality of life and outdoor sports and amenities that are enjoyed year round. But El Dorado County isn’t just a good place to play, it’s also a great place to make a living. The El Dorado County per capita income is steadily increasing with the median household income of $51,484 putting it nearly $10,000 over the national average.
The strong infrastructure of the county which has been focused on strengthening the economy has helped lead to the increased wages as well as a steady population growth since 1990 and low unemployment rate that’s slightly under the national rate of 5%.
The housing market has seen significant appreciation with homes going from a median value of $191,500 in 2000 to $497,800 in 2005. Many will gladly pay prices above the national average for that kind of appreciation and what comes with the real estate. There are very few places in the world with the spectacular scenery, activities, and attraction of South Lake Tahoe that can be enjoyed all year round.
No matter what the season there is so much going on boredom takes effort. Residents and vacationers enjoy snow and water sports in and around the lake including everything from camping and hiking at one of the many parks to dog sledding and cruising down the 5.5 mile slope at Heavenly Mountain Resort.