The Historic District of El Dorado provides us with “A significant way of preserving our history as we move towards the future.” El Dorado, Kansas was platted in 1868 and incorporated in 1870, with a population of approximately 13,000 people. El Dorado was home to one of the largest oil booms in history, when oil was discovered in 1915. By 1918 the El Dorado Oil Field was the largest single field producer of oil in the United States. We were responsible for 12.8% of the Nation’s oil production and 9% of the World’s oil production. It has been referred to by some as the oil field that won World War I. El Dorado also has a very rich history of recreation. On May 23, 1940 McDonald Stadium (as it is known today) was dedicated. The ball diamond rapidly became known around the state as one of the most complete and modern sports centers in Kansas. In 1943 Jim McDonald started a summer youth recreational program, which on June 4, 1962 the National Baseball Congress recognized El Dorado’s Little League Baseball Program as one of the best in the nation. In 1981 El Dorado Lake, located right on the edge of town was completed. It covers 8,000 acres with 2,000 acres of park and 4,000 acres of wildlife area. It attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and is considered one of the top state parks in America for boating, fishing and family fun. In 2012 BG Products Veterans Sports Complex was built. It seats 6,000 fans including luxury sky boxes and is the home of El Dorado High School and National Champion Butler Community College football and soccer programs. With the recent expansion of the local YMCA El Dorado has the highest ratio of YMCA facility square footage to population in the nation, currently serving 8,891 members with 220,442 visits in 2015. The Coutts Museum, the Kansas Oil Museum, and the World War II museum form the cultural center of the City. Over 16 sculptures make up the downtown Artscape along with impressive seasonal floral displays create a striking Main Street environment.