Independence

Independence is an administrative center in Inyo County at roughly 1200 feet elevation in eastern California, located between the Sierra Nevada and U.S. Route 395. The town offers basic services and shops that support both local residents and travelers passing through.

The town began in 1862 as Camp Independence, established by the U.S. Army, and later became Fort Independence until its closure in 1877. After the military withdrew, civilian settlers moved in and developed the area into an administrative and commercial center.

The Eastern California Museum displays objects and photographs that tell the story of Native American peoples and early settlement in the region. Visitors can learn about the cultures and lives of people who lived here long before the town was established.

The town sits directly on U.S. Route 395 and is easy to reach; a good place to stop for fuel or supplies. It serves as a key resupply point, especially for hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail looking to stock up on food and water.

Nearby are two of North America's most extreme locations: Mount Whitney is the highest point in the continental United States, while Badwater Basin is the lowest. These two spots are visible from each other and create an enormous elevation difference found nowhere else in the continent.