The California county seeking to become its own state

Science · Published 20 October 2026 · Updated 22 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: El Dorado County is currently home to a secessionist movement aiming to break away from California to form a new state. While the leadership admits the move is unlikely to be approved by the state legislature, they promote a unique theory regarding the county's legal status.

Despite having a population of 191,185 as of the 2020 census—roughly one-third the size of Wyoming, the least populous current state—El Dorado County has actively pursued independence. The movement is led by figures like Sharon Durst, who previously supported the 'State of Jefferson' movement. This initiative highlights a deep-seated local desire for autonomy from the state government in Sacramento, which is located just 45 miles from the county seat, Placerville.

The movement relies on a specific, unproven theory to justify its goals: that the county is not technically a legitimate piece of California. Instead, proponents claim the land is 'other property' of Congress. While the leadership acknowledges that the U.S. Constitution requires state legislative approval for secession, the movement persists as a distinct political identity within the region.

This push for independence exists alongside a complex political history. For much of the 19th and early 20th centuries, El Dorado was a Democratic stronghold. It wasn't until 1952 that the county shifted toward its current status as a predominantly Republican area. The tension between local identity and state authority is further evidenced by past controversies, such as the 2012 meeting of the County Board of Supervisors regarding the United Nations' Agenda 21, which sparked significant local concern over land use and environmental initiatives.

Geographically, the county is a diverse landscape ranging from the historic Gold Country to the High Sierra and the Lake Tahoe Basin. This vast territory, which includes the Eldorado National Forest and the Desolation Wilderness, provides a rugged backdrop for a community that feels its interests are distinct from the broader California metropolitan expansion.

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