Independence California Map

About Independence, California

Independence is a locality in Inyo County, California, United States. It is a small community with a population of 730. The population density is 69.5 people per km². Independence is located at 36.8027°N, 118.2001°W. It observes the Pacific Time (America/Los_Angeles) timezone. ZIP code: 93526.

Independence stands as a quiet sentinel against the formidable backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It lies 67.4 miles east of Heights, CA (from Heights, CA: bearing 88°T), and is situated 15.6 miles north-north-west of Lone Pine. The Owens Valley floor, a broad expanse of pale earth and scrub, stretches towards the jagged peaks, their snow-capped summits catching the sharp, high-desert light. Here, the air, thin and dry, carries the scent of dust and the distant, mineral tang of the mountains. Cacti, stoic and spiny, dot the landscape, their muted greens and browns blending with the subtle ochres and grays of the surrounding terrain. A persistent wind, a constant companion, whispers through the sparse vegetation, a low, elemental song that seems to echo the vast, empty spaces that define this place. The history of Independence is deeply intertwined with the arid promise of the Owens Valley, a place that has always demanded resilience from those who call it home. For generations, water rights and their contentious distribution have shaped the local economy, a delicate dance between agricultural needs and the demands of distant cities. The legacy of the Owens Valley Water Wars, a chapter etched into the region's memory, still influences the character of Independence. Today, its economy leans on the enduring agricultural roots, with cattle ranching and the cultivation of hardy crops like alfalfa, while the dramatic natural beauty of the nearby Alabama Hills and the entrance to the Inyo National Forest draw visitors seeking the raw, untamed spirit of the Eastern Sierra. The courthouse, a solid, unpretentious building, serves as a quiet hub, a reminder of the enduring, if often challenging, life that continues to unfold in Independence.

About This Independence Map Page

This page provides an embedded street and satellite map of Independence, California — switch between views using the small square in the bottom left-hand corner of the map. Coordinates: 36.80271, -118.200095. Live weather conditions are sourced directly from the National Weather Service, with current observations and a 7-day forecast also powered by Open-Meteo. Real-time local news and world news feeds keep the page current, while a Wikipedia summary or an editorially written description provides background on Independence and Inyo County.

Detailed location data for Independence includes the ZIP code (95245), telephone area code (408, 669, 760), county seat of Inyo County (Independence), and school district assignment (Owens Valley Unified School District). These are among the most commonly searched location details for any US city or town.

Location data is drawn from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and cross-verified against 2020 US Census records by coordinate proximity — ensuring the correct Independence is identified even where the name is shared across multiple counties or states. Population figures are sourced from the 2020 US Census.