El Dorado, KS 11 Apartments for Rent

El Dorado, Kansas: In 1918, the El Dorado Oil Field was responsible for nearly 13 percent of national oil production and 9 percent of the world's production.

Here's the first thing you need to know about El Dorado. Locals pronounce the name El Do-RAY-do and not the more common way of El Do-RAH-do. And while it's pronounced a bit differently, El Dorado has a lot in common with the mythical city of gold that brought so many European explorers to the West. You won't find much yellow gold in Kansas' El Dorado, but you will find the black variety -- oil. El Dorado sits on atop one of the largest oil fields ever found in the U.S. Today, drilling continues and a large refinery and myriad oil-related businesses can be found in El Dorado.

Moving to El Dorado

Apartments are easy to find in El Dorado. An abundance of places to rent in El Dorado should make your search easy. There are newer complexes with studio apartments, duplexes for rent and everything in between. You'll need to ensure you've got a good credit history and can pay security deposits required by both landlords and utility systems.

There is little in the way of public transportation, so you'll need a car. But the average commute time for El Dorado residents is less than 15 minutes. And the city has a reasonable WalkScore of 52 meaning you can accomplish some errands on foot.

Living in El Dorado

You need to know a bit about the history of El Dorado if you're going to be moving there. The railroad first came to the area in the late 1800s, but the discovery of oil in 1915 at the El Dorado Oil Field changed the course of Kansas's history and how people searched for oil around the globe. The reason? The oil was found using scientific technology, not just wild speculation about where prospectors thought oil might be located. The oil field produced 29 million barrels of oil in 1918 and brought people to Butler County by the thousand. Kansas's El Dorado oil proved significant to the country's efforts in World War I as well as nearby Wichita's developing aircraft industry. Today, oil is still drilled and refined in El Dorado, but the economy has diversified significantly since the early 20th century.

Geographically speaking, El Dorado is located just east of Wichita and is located on the banks of the Walnut River. With a population of around 13,000, El Dorado is the county seat of Butler County. People here say they enjoy the "fine art of living well." And indeed they do. With plenty of commercial development and a thriving downtown, a highly lauded school system and plenty of recreational activities, El Dorado is the epitome of small town Americana. The city's even been recognized for having the best tasting water in Kansas. Ad there are plenty of housing choices, from single family homes in planned developments to premier apartments on the river.

In 2012, El Dorado High School received its fourth designation as an Apple Distinguished School for its implementation of the 1-to-1 Learning Initiative, a program that provides a laptop computer to all high school students. Middle school students also get a hand-held device to keep up with assignments and school work. And the good majority of the school district's students met or exceeded state standards in math and reading. El Dorado is also home to Butler Community College, which has an enrollment of more than 8,000 and a spot in national junior college athletics.

El Dorado has 12 neighborhood parks and playgrounds, sports complexes, a golf course and a baseball stadium. Just outside of town is El Dorado State Park, the state's largest park. Opportunities for outdoor recreation abound at the 4,000-acre park. You'll find a large reservoir for boating, fishing and swimming, cabins and campsites, an amphitheater where concerts are held regularly, archery range, pools and more.

El Dorado is located in a particularly attractive area of Kansas. In a state known for expansive prairie and wheat fields, El Dorado is situated on the outskirts of the Flint Hills. Rolling hills made of limestone and filled with tallgrass stretch over much of eastern Kansas. The area is sparsely developed and home to bison, the endangered prairie chicken and many cattle ranches. The Flint Hills Scenic Byway traverses the area.