Inyo County, California

Inyo County is located in east-central California in the southwestern United States, on the east side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and south of Yosemite National Park. As of 2000 the county had a population of 17,945. The county seat is Independence.

Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48 states, is located in Inyo County. Badwater, in Death Valley National Park and the lowest point in the United States, is also located in the county.

History

Inyo County was formed in 1866 from parts of Mono and Tulare Counties.

The county derived its name from the Native American name for the mountains in its area. The meaning of the word inyo is "dwelling place of the great spirit."

Natural History

Inyo County is host to a number of natural superlatives. Among them are:

Mount Whitney, the highest point in the United States outside of Alaska
Badwater, in Death Valley, the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere
Methuselah, an ancient Bristlecone Pine, the oldest living thing on Earth
Owens Valley, the deepest valley on the American continents
Two mountain ranges exceeding 14,000 feet in elevation: The Sierra Nevada and the White Mountains
Fourteen of California's fifteen peaks which exceed 14,000 feet (a Fourteener) in elevation
The largest escarpment in the United States, rising from the floor of Death Valley to the top of Telescope Peak in the Panamint Range

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 10,227 square miles (26,488 km²), of which 10,203 mi² (26,426 km²) is land and 24 mi² (62 km²) is water.

Adjacent Counties

San Bernardino County, California - south
Kern County, California - southwest
Tulare County, California - west
Fresno County, California - west
Mono County, California - north
Esmeralda County, Nevada - northeast
Nye County, Nevada - east
Clark County, Nevada - southeast

Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 17,945 people, 7,703 households, and 4,937 families residing in the county. The population density was 1/km² (2/mi²). There were 9,042 housing units at an average density of 0/km² (1/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.06% White, 0.16% Black or African American, 10.04% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 4.60% from other races, and 4.15% from two or more races. 12.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,703 households out of which 27.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.80% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.90% were non-families. 31.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.40% under the age of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 23.40% from 25 to 44, 27.30% from 45 to 64, and 19.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 95.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,006, and the median income for a family was $44,970. Males had a median income of $37,270 versus $25,549 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,639. About 9.30% of families and 12.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.00% of those under age 18 and 8.30% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

External links

California counties | Inyo County, California