Inyo County Visitors Guide - 11th Edition

INYO COUNTY • 11th Edition 23 County seat Independence Population 17,980 Land Area (sq. mi.) 10,142 Highest Elevation 14,492 ft. Lowest Elevation -282 ft. Distance between highest and lowest points 80 mi. Land in federal ownership 92% Land in state ownership 3.9% Land in City of Los Angeles ownership 3.9% Land in private ownership 1.7% A vErAgE C LImAtE Owens valley Summer High 98° Winter Low 22° Death valley Summer High 115° Winter Low 37° m AjOr H IgHWAyS U.S. 395 (south to north) – San Bernardino County to mono County U.S. 6 (west to east) – Bishop to Province, mass. CA-168 (west to east) – Big Pine to Nevada through Death valley CA-136 (west to east) – Lone Pine to Nevada through Death valley Just the facts about Inyo County Inyo County was named after the Inyo Mountains which in Paiute means “dwelling place of the Great Spirit.” Inyo County was established in 1866 from territory taken from Mono and Tulare counties. It was to have been called “Coso County” but that never occurred. Instead, Governor Low created “Inyo County” from the same land.