What is now known as El Dorado County has been home to the Maidu, Nisenan, Washoe, and Miwok Indigenous American
 nations for centuries. The region became famous for being the site of the 1848 discovery that sparked the California Gold
 Rush. As a result, the name "El Dorado" was derived from the Spanish word for, "The Gilded One".  The County of El Dorado
 was one of California's original 27 counties created effective February 18, 1850 (the number has risen to 58 today).

 The final segments of the Pony Express mail route ran through El Dorado County until its replacement with the telegraph
 service in 1861; U.S. Route 50 follows the Pony Express route today.