Эльдорадо, Иллинойс: История и современность города

the township in McDonough County

Eldorado (,/ɛ//l//d//ə/'/r//eɪ//d//oʊ//, // //d//ə/) 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 was first platted on May 24, 1858, by a surveyor named Martin D. Gillett. The post office was established on December 8 of that same year. Just before the Civil War, the first businesses were started in the town. When the Leap Day Tornado of 2012 struck nearby Harrisburg, Eldorado immediately provided emergency assistance. Current and former residents often reflect with nostalgia growing up in Eldorado, and doing business in the downtown area. At the center of it is a five way intersection. A Ben Franklin store stood for decades on the corner of Fourth and Locust streets. The Dairy Queen was a popular hangout, until it relocated outside of the downtown in the 1990s. At one time there were over 20 grocery stores in Eldorado, most were small neighborhood stores. Eventually, these stores and downtown businesses began to disappear due to job loss, population decrease, and the move to businesses on the highways. The former city hall building is on the National Register of Historic Places. Eldorado has four official Historical Markers, with the most recent one unveiled on September 18th, 2021. Eldorado thrived for much of the late 1800s until the 1980s as a coal mining town, until several major mines shut down. Another major employer, Roundy's (formerly Scot Lad) closed in 2005, laying off 170 workers. Today, the railroad tracks have been paved over in favor of bike paths, and most of the downtown businesses are gone. Eldorado was known as a sundown town until the 1960s.

Eldorado is located at (37.814212, 88.440937) in Saline County. It is in the Southeastern region of Southern Illinois. The nearest major city is St. Louis, Missouri (129 miles). Residents do a lot of business in Evansville, Indiana (59 miles), and Paducah, Kentucky (62 miles). According to the 2010 census, Eldorado has a total area of 2.431 square miles (6 km2), of which 2.39 square miles (6 km2) (or 98.31%) is land and 0.041 square miles (0 km2) (or 1.69%) is water.

The current mayor is Rocky James (as of 2019). There is also an elected city council, city clerk, and city treasurer. Their offices are at city hall, located at 901 4th street.

The median home value in 2010 was $45,900 with 56.6% valued below $50,000. No homes were valued $500,000 or greater. There were 1,855 housing units in the city, with 87.1% occupied. Of the 81.7%, 69% are owner occupied, and 31% occupied by renters. Median rent rate was $619. The housing overall is aging, with 28.9% units built before 1939, and 12.9% of housing units were vacant.

Eldorado used to have the smallest daily newspaper in Illinois until recently when declining circulation and advertising revenue for the Eldorado Daily Journal forced its parent company to scale back publication to only three days per week. The Journal had been a daily paper since 1911. Local television stations include WSIL channel 3 (ABC), WPSD channel 6 (NBC), KFVS channel 12 (CBS), WSIU channel 8 (PBS), and KBSI channel 23 (FOX). Closest local radio station is WEBQ AM 1240 (Country), and WEBQ FM 102.3 (Adult Contemporary), based in nearby Harrisburg.

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. 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). 2019 Grant Loudy was elected School board Member. 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.

In 1925, Dr. J. V. Ferrell founded Ferrell Hospital, which exists today as a 52 bed facility operated by Southern Illinois Healthcare. Effective March 1, 2004, SIH entered into an agreement with Alliant Management Services to return the hospital to local ownership and governance. On April 1, 2005, Ferrell Hospital Community Foundation became a stand alone facility managed by Alliant Management Services. As Ferrell is a small hospital, services are routinely provided via other hospitals by transportation via ambulance for non critical issues, and Air Evac Lifeteam Air Ambulance (for transport to Evansville, IN hospitals Deaconess, or St. Mary's) for critical emergencies. As of 2019, it is undergoing a significant expansion. At one time, Eldorado supported an additional hospital, a 56 bed facility named Pearce Hospital (after another local physician). Pearce Hospital opened in 1949, and closed 40 years later, in 1989 due to financial issues and a dwindling patient load.

In downtown Eldorado there are several murals painted on the sides of old buildings. The artists were longtime residents Phyllis Finnie (1925 2019) and Zettie Shults (resident from 1963 to 2005). Town & Country Days is an annual festival held every third weekend in September. Just south of Eldorado are wonderful sightseeing opportunities at the Shawnee National Forest and Garden of the Gods. Cave in Rock is 32 miles southeast. Glen O. Jones Lake is also a short drive, just south of neighboring Equality, and a popular location for fishing.

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.

Eldorado is notable as being the location of George Harrison's first gig in America. On September 28, 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 called The Four Vests. 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. Around 75 people were entertained by Harrison at the VFW that evening.

The book “Murder in Little Egypt” by Darcy O’Brien was centered in Eldorado. The subject of the book, Dr. John Dale Cavaness, practiced medicine in Eldorado.