Independence, California
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Independence is an unincorporated,
census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counte ...
and the
county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...
of
Inyo County, California Inyo County () is a County (United States), county in the Eastern California, eastern central part of the U.S. state of California, located between the Sierra Nevada and the state of Nevada. In the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the po ...
. Independence is located south-southeast of
Bishop A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...
, at an elevation of 3930 feet (1198 m). The population of this census-designated place was 669 at the 2010 census, up from 574 at the 2000 census.


Geography

The small town of Independence is bisected by U.S. Route 395, the main north–south highway through the
Owens Valley Owens Valley (Mono language (California), Mono: ''Payahǖǖnadǖ'', meaning "place of flowing water") is an arid valley of the Owens River in eastern California in the United States. It is located to the east of the Sierra Nevada (U.S.), Sierra ...
. The Sierra Nevada mountains to the west lie within the John Muir Wilderness Area. Onion Valley, one of the principal entry routes to the
John Muir Wilderness The John Muir Wilderness is a wilderness area that extends along the crest of the Sierra Nevada of California for , in the Inyo National Forest, Inyo and Sierra National Forests. Established in 1964 by the Wilderness Act and named for naturalist ...
, is accessed via the Onion Valley road which heads directly west out of Independence. This trail takes hikers to Kings Canyon/ Sequoia National Parks which protect the Sierra Nevada west of the divide between the Owens Valley on the east and the rivers which drain into the San Joaquin Valley to the west. Independence is a popular resupply location for hikers trekking the 2,650 mile long
Pacific Crest Trail The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), officially designated as the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, is a long-distance hiking and equestrian trail closely aligned with the highest portion of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges, which lie ...
which extends from the Mexican border to Canada along the crest of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Ranges. The highest pass along the entire trail, 13,153 foot (4009 m) Forester Pass, is directly west of Independence. According to the
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, Independence covers an area of , over 99% of it land. The elevation of Independence is above sea level.


Climate

Independence, as well as most of the Owens Valley, has a high
cool arid climate The desert climate or arid climate (in the Köppen climate classification ''BWh'' and ''BWk'') is a dry climate sub-type in which there is a severe excess of evaporation over precipitation. The typically bald, rocky, or sandy surfaces in desert ...
(
Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Bernd Köppen (1951–2014), German pianist and composer * Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan * Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author ...
''BWk'') with hot summers and cool winters. January temperatures range from an average high of to an average low of . July temperatures range from an average high of to an average low of . The highest recorded temperature was in June 2017. The lowest recorded temperature was on January 9, 1937. There are an average of 97.7 afternoons annually with highs of or higher and an average of 88.1 mornings with lows of or less. Annual precipitation averages only . The most precipitation in one month was in January 1969. The most precipitation in 24 hours was on December 6, 1966. Snowfall varies greatly from year to year, averaging only .


History

Charles Putnam founded a trading post at the site in 1861. It became known as Putnam's, and later Little Pine from the Little Pine Creek. The site of Putnam's Cabin, across the street from the Inyo County Courthouse, is a
California Historical Landmark A California Historical Landmark (CHL) is a building, structure, site, or place in the U.S. state of California that has been determined to have statewide historical landmark significance. Criteria Historical significance is determined by meetin ...
# 223. Independence began as the US Army Camp Independence (two miles north of the current town) established by Lieutenant Colonel George S. Evans on July 4, 1862. Colonel Evans established the camp at the request of local settlers who feared hostilities from the local indigenous tribes. The camp was soon closed, but was re-established as Fort Independence when hostilities resumed in 1865. The fort was finally abandoned in 1877, and it is currently a reservation for the Fort Independence Indian Community of Paiute Indians. Independence became the seat of Inyo County in 1866 when its chief competitor for the honor, a mining camp called Kearsarge, disappeared under an
avalanche An avalanche is a rapid flow of snow down a Grade (slope), slope, such as a hill or mountain. Avalanches can be triggered spontaneously, by factors such as increased precipitation or snowpack weakening, or by external means such as humans, othe ...
.Inyo County Supervisor Jim Bilyeu quoted in The Los Angeles Times 15 July 2007 The first post office at Independence was established in 1866. United States Army General John K. Singlaub (1921 – 2022) was born in Independence.


Museums

The Eastern California Museum with extensive collections, exhibits, and programs; is located at 155 North Grant Street in Independence. The home of author Mary Austin, the author of '' The Land of Little Rain'', is preserved as a museum located at 235 Market Street in Independence.


Library

The Inyo County Free Library is in the Inyo County Courthouse.


Demographics

Independence first appeared as a
census designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counte ...
in the 2000 U.S. Census.


2020

The 2020 United States census reported that Independence had a population of 593. The population density was . The racial makeup of Independence was 395 (66.6%)
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 2 (0.3%)
African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 59 (9.9%) Native American, 4 (0.7%) Asian, 1 (0.2%)
Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...
, 28 (4.7%) from other races, and 104 (17.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 85 persons (14.3%). The census reported that 94.6% of the population lived in households and 32 people (5.4%) were institutionalized. There were 284 households, out of which 64 (22.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 100 (35.2%) were married-couple households, 12 (4.2%) were cohabiting couple households, 76 (26.8%) had a female householder with no partner present, and 96 (33.8%) had a male householder with no partner present. 109 households (38.4%) were one person, and 56 (19.7%) were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 1.98. There were 158
families Family (from ) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictability, structure, and safety as ...
(55.6% of all households). The age distribution was 96 people (16.2%) under the age of 18, 44 people (7.4%) aged 18 to 24, 103 people (17.4%) aged 25 to 44, 188 people (31.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 162 people (27.3%) who were 65years of age or older. The median age was 54.0years. For every 100 females, there were 101.7 males. There were 373 housing units at an average density of , of which 284 (76.1%) were occupied. Of these, 203 (71.5%) were owner-occupied, and 81 (28.5%) were occupied by renters.


Politics

In the state legislature, Independence is in , and . Independence is in .


Media

The film set for Burt and Heather's house played by Michael Gross and Reba McEntire, in the 1990 movie, ''Tremors'', directed by Ron Underwood, was built and filmed in the hills above Independence. KSRW-FM 92.5 broadcasts from Independence. Another radio station that use to broadcast from Independence was KINC/KNYO/KESR on 600 AM.


See also

* Big Pine volcanic field * Carson and Colorado Railway * Roadside Heritage - ''of the Eastern Sierra'' *
Owens Valley Owens Valley (Mono language (California), Mono: ''Payahǖǖnadǖ'', meaning "place of flowing water") is an arid valley of the Owens River in eastern California in the United States. It is located to the east of the Sierra Nevada (U.S.), Sierra ...
*
Manzanar Manzanar is the site of one of ten American concentration camps, where more than 120,000 Japanese Americans were incarcerated during World War II from March 1942 to November 1945. Although it had over 10,000 inmates at its peak, it was one ...
* Mount Whitney Fish Hatchery


References


External links


Official Eastern California Museum website
*
Attractions in and near IndependenceAnnual Community Events in Independence
{{authority control Census-designated places in Inyo County, California County seats in California Owens Valley Populated places in the Mojave Desert Census-designated places in California 1861 establishments in California Populated places established in 1861