Independence, California
Encyclopedia
Independence is the county seat
of Inyo County, California
. Independence is located 41 miles (66 km) south-southeast of Bishop
, 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.
.
Many travelers, especially international travelers, often tour the western United States on an itinerary which includes Las Vegas, Death Valley National Park, The Owens Valley, Mount Whitney and Yosemite National Park. U.S. 395 is an important part of this oft traveled route. Independence lies along U.S. 395 at the foot of the most spectacular part of the Sierra Nevada roughly half way between Death Valley and Yosemite.
The City of Los Angeles, under the direction of William Mulholland
, purchased most of the private property in the Owens Valley during the first two decades of the 20th century and has restricted development ever since. The property was purchased to obtain the water rights that went with it, and the pure, crystal clean waters that flow down from the melting snows of the Sierra are diverted into an aqueduct that carries the water to Los Angeles. Because the City wants to maintain the pristine environment from which it gets its water the vast open areas of the valley floor of the Owens Valley are undeveloped and preserved much like they would be if they were managed as a National Park or game reserve.
The Owens Valley is special in many ways. It is the deepest valley in North America, with 14,000 foot peaks on either side. For example, it is about twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. The eastern escarpment of the Sierra Nevada is widely acknowledged as one of the most impressive and beautiful mountain ranges on Earth. And the Owens Valley is probably the least despoiled or developed of any such spectacularly scenic valley in the world.
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
, 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
which extends from the Mexican border to Canada along the crest of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Ranges. The highest point along the entire trail, 13,153 foot (4009 m) Forester Pass
, is directly west of Independence.
To the east the Owens valley is bounded by the Inyo Mountains in the south and the White Mountains to the north. White Mountain Peak, 14,245 feet in elevation, is the third highest peak in California and the highest mountain contained completely within the Great Basin. The lands east of the Inyo/White mountains crest are protected within Death Valley National Park, the largest U.S. National Park outside of Alaska.
An interesting feature of the Inyo Mountains is the Winnedumah-Paiute Monument, a natural granite obelisk which rises prominently from the ridge of the Inyo crest directly east of Independence. The Paiute word "Winnedumah" means something like "I will move from this place no more forever." The legend of Winnedumah relates the story of two brothers who are in a battle against the Shoshone tribe whose lands begin at the ridge of the Inyo Mountains and stretch eastward across the Death Valley country. One of the brothers was felled by the Shoshone and the other was so saddened by the death of his brother he vowed to never move from the spot of the tragedy and he became the granite monolith that rises so prominently from the ridge above Independence.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, Independence covers an area of 4.9 square miles (12.7 km²), over 99% of it land.
The elevation of Independence is 3925 feet (1,196.3 m) above sea level.
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. Col. Evans established the camp at the request of local settlers who feared Indian hostilities. 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 Native Americans.
Independence became the seat of Inyo County in the 1866 when its chief competitor for the site, a mining camp called Kearsarge
, disappeared under an avalanche
.
The first post office at Independence was established in 1866.
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.
was 137.4 people per square mile (53.0/km²). The racial makeup of Independence was 493 (73.7%) White, 6 (0.9%) African American, 98 (14.6%) Native American, 8 (1.2%) Asian, 1 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 28 (4.2%) from other races
, and 35 (5.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 93 persons (13.9%).
The Census reported that 603 people (90.1% of the population) lived in households, 8 (1.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 58 (8.7%) were institutionalized.
There were 301 households, out of which 57 (18.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 131 (43.5%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 20 (6.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 8 (2.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 13 (4.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 3 (1.0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 122 households (40.5%) were made up of individuals and 47 (15.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00. There were 159 families
(52.8% of all households); the average family size was 2.70.
The population was spread out with 100 people (14.9%) under the age of 18, 54 people (8.1%) aged 18 to 24, 117 people (17.5%) aged 25 to 44, 259 people (38.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 139 people (20.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51.1 years. For every 100 females there were 105.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.2 males.
There were 389 housing units at an average density of 79.9 per square mile (30.8/km²), of which 210 (69.8%) were owner-occupied, and 91 (30.2%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 5.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.1%. 410 people (61.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 193 people (28.8%) lived in rental housing units.
of 2000, there were 574 people, 272 households, and 161 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 143.6 people per square mile (55.4/km²). There were 342 housing units at an average density of 85.6 per square mile (33.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 88.9% White
, 3.5% Native American
, 0.7% Asian
, 0.9% Pacific Islander
, 3.3% from other races
, and 2.8% from two or more races. 7.1% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 272 households out of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples
living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.8% were non-families. 35.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.72.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 20.9% from 25 to 44, 30.8% from 45 to 64, and 21.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $37,500, and the median income for a family was $45,781. Males had a median income of $41,736 versus $29,688 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $20,535. About 4.2% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.
Independence is located in the 18th Senate
District, represented by Republican
Jean Fuller
, and in the 34th Assembly
District, represented by Republican Connie Conway
. Federally, Independence is located in California's 25th congressional district
, which has a Cook PVI
of R +7 and is represented by Republican Buck McKeon
.
.
The popular series of scenic interpretive DVDs which feature 360 degree panoramic photography which are offered for sale at National Parks and visitor centers throughout the Southwestern United States are published in Independence by Inyo Pro. They feature the scenic photography of Paul Fretheim, a world recognized innovator in the use of virtual reality photography in interpretive products.
There is also a 1996 Pepsi
commercial filmed in Independence, CA, in which five young adult grizzly bears "cry out for their most primal urgent need" and do the "P-E-P-S-I" dance to the tune of YMCA
.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Inyo County, California
Inyo County, California
-National protected areas:* Death Valley National Park * Inyo National Forest * Manzanar National Historic Site-Major highways:* U.S. Route 6* U.S. Route 395* State Route 127* State Route 136* State Route 168* State Route 178...
. Independence is located 41 miles (66 km) south-southeast of Bishop
Bishop, California
Bishop is a city in Inyo County, California, United States. Though Bishop is the only city and the largest populated place in Inyo County, the county seat is Independence. Bishop is located near the northern end of the Owens Valley, at an elevation of 4147 feet . The population was 3,879 at the...
, at an elevation of 3930 feet (1198 m). The population of this census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
was 669 at the 2010 census, up from 574 at the 2000 census.
Geography
The tiny village of Independence is bisected by U.S. Route 395, the main north-south highway through the Owens ValleyOwens Valley
Owens Valley is the arid valley of the Owens River in eastern California in the United States, to the east of the Sierra Nevada and west of the White Mountains and Inyo Mountains on the west edge of the Great Basin section...
.
Many travelers, especially international travelers, often tour the western United States on an itinerary which includes Las Vegas, Death Valley National Park, The Owens Valley, Mount Whitney and Yosemite National Park. U.S. 395 is an important part of this oft traveled route. Independence lies along U.S. 395 at the foot of the most spectacular part of the Sierra Nevada roughly half way between Death Valley and Yosemite.
The City of Los Angeles, under the direction of William Mulholland
William Mulholland
William Mulholland was the head of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, in Los Angeles. He was responsible for building the water aqueducts and dams that allowed the city to grow into one of the largest in the world. His methods of obtaining water for the city led to disputes collectively...
, purchased most of the private property in the Owens Valley during the first two decades of the 20th century and has restricted development ever since. The property was purchased to obtain the water rights that went with it, and the pure, crystal clean waters that flow down from the melting snows of the Sierra are diverted into an aqueduct that carries the water to Los Angeles. Because the City wants to maintain the pristine environment from which it gets its water the vast open areas of the valley floor of the Owens Valley are undeveloped and preserved much like they would be if they were managed as a National Park or game reserve.
The Owens Valley is special in many ways. It is the deepest valley in North America, with 14,000 foot peaks on either side. For example, it is about twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. The eastern escarpment of the Sierra Nevada is widely acknowledged as one of the most impressive and beautiful mountain ranges on Earth. And the Owens Valley is probably the least despoiled or developed of any such spectacularly scenic valley in the world.
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
John Muir Wilderness
The John Muir Wilderness is a wilderness area that extends along the crest of the Sierra Nevada of California, USA for , in the Inyo and Sierra National Forests. Established in 1964 by the Wilderness Act and named for naturalist John Muir, it contains...
, 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
Pacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail is a long-distance mountain hiking and equestrian trail on the Western Seaboard of the United States. The southern terminus is at the California border with Mexico...
which extends from the Mexican border to Canada along the crest of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Ranges. The highest point along the entire trail, 13,153 foot (4009 m) Forester Pass
Forester Pass
Forester Pass is a mountain pass in the Sierra Nevada. Located on the Kings-Kern Divide on the boundary between Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park, Forester Pass connects the drainages of Bubbs Creek and the Kern River...
, is directly west of Independence.
To the east the Owens valley is bounded by the Inyo Mountains in the south and the White Mountains to the north. White Mountain Peak, 14,245 feet in elevation, is the third highest peak in California and the highest mountain contained completely within the Great Basin. The lands east of the Inyo/White mountains crest are protected within Death Valley National Park, the largest U.S. National Park outside of Alaska.
An interesting feature of the Inyo Mountains is the Winnedumah-Paiute Monument, a natural granite obelisk which rises prominently from the ridge of the Inyo crest directly east of Independence. The Paiute word "Winnedumah" means something like "I will move from this place no more forever." The legend of Winnedumah relates the story of two brothers who are in a battle against the Shoshone tribe whose lands begin at the ridge of the Inyo Mountains and stretch eastward across the Death Valley country. One of the brothers was felled by the Shoshone and the other was so saddened by the death of his brother he vowed to never move from the spot of the tragedy and he became the granite monolith that rises so prominently from the ridge above Independence.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, Independence covers an area of 4.9 square miles (12.7 km²), over 99% of it land.
The elevation of Independence is 3925 feet (1,196.3 m) above sea level.
Climate
Independence, as well as most of the Owens Valley, has a high desert climate with hot summers and cold winters. January temperatures range from an average high of 54.0°F to an average low of 27.4°F. July temperatures range from an average high of 97.6°F to an average low of 63.9F°. The highest recorded temperature was 114 °F (45.6 °C) on July 7, 1989. The lowest recorded temperature was -5 F on January 9, 1937. There are an average of 97.7 days annually with highs of 90F° (32°C) or higher and an average of 88.1 days with lows of 32°F (0°C) or lower. Annual precipitation averages only 5.82 inches. The most precipitation in one month was 23.90 inches in February 1904. The most precipitation in 24 hours was 5.72 inches on December 6, 1966. Snowfall varies greatly from year to year, averaging only 5.2 inches. The most snow in one month was 112.0 inches in February 1904.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.Independence began as the US Army Camp Independence
Fort Independence (California)
Fort Independence, originally Camp Independence, was established on Oak Creek, north of nearby modern Independence, California on July 4, 1862 during the Owens Valley Indian War. The fort was abandoned at the end of hostilities with the Owens Valley Paiute, in December 1864. However it was...
(two miles north of the current town) established by Lieutenant Colonel George S. Evans
George S. Evans
George Spafford Evans , Texas Ranger, miner, businessman, County Clerk for Tuolumne County, Customs official and Senate Clerk for the State of California...
on July 4, 1862. Col. Evans established the camp at the request of local settlers who feared Indian hostilities. The camp was soon closed, but was re-established as Fort Independence
Fort Independence (California)
Fort Independence, originally Camp Independence, was established on Oak Creek, north of nearby modern Independence, California on July 4, 1862 during the Owens Valley Indian War. The fort was abandoned at the end of hostilities with the Owens Valley Paiute, in December 1864. However it was...
when hostilities resumed in 1865. The fort was finally abandoned in 1877, and it is currently a reservation for Native Americans.
Independence became the seat of Inyo County in the 1866 when its chief competitor for the site, a mining camp called Kearsarge
Kearsarge (ghost town), California
Kearsarge or Kearsarge City is a former settlement in Inyo County, California. It was located high up on the east slope of the Sierra Nevada mountains west of the modern-day town of Independence, California. Kearsarge was the name of the Mining District and the mining camp, located just below...
, disappeared under an avalanche
Avalanche
An avalanche is a sudden rapid flow of snow down a slope, occurring when either natural triggers or human activity causes a critical escalating transition from the slow equilibrium evolution of the snow pack. Typically occurring in mountainous terrain, an avalanche can mix air and water with the...
.
The first post office at Independence was established in 1866.
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
Mary Hunter Austin
Mary Hunter Austin was an American writer. One of the early nature writers of the American Southwest, her classic The Land of Little Rain describes the fauna, flora and people – as well as evoking the mysticism and spirituality – of the region between the High Sierra and the Mojave Desert of...
, the author of "The Land of Little Rain
The Land of Little Rain
The Land of Little Rain is a book written by American writer Mary Hunter Austin. First published in 1903, it contains a series of interrelated lyrical essays about the inhabitants of the American Southwest, both human and otherwise.-Publication history:...
", is preserved as a museum located at 235 Market Street in Independence.
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Independence had a population of 669. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 137.4 people per square mile (53.0/km²). The racial makeup of Independence was 493 (73.7%) White, 6 (0.9%) African American, 98 (14.6%) Native American, 8 (1.2%) Asian, 1 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 28 (4.2%) from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 35 (5.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 93 persons (13.9%).
The Census reported that 603 people (90.1% of the population) lived in households, 8 (1.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 58 (8.7%) were institutionalized.
There were 301 households, out of which 57 (18.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 131 (43.5%) were opposite-sex married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 20 (6.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 8 (2.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 13 (4.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....
, and 3 (1.0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 122 households (40.5%) were made up of individuals and 47 (15.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00. There were 159 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...
(52.8% of all households); the average family size was 2.70.
The population was spread out with 100 people (14.9%) under the age of 18, 54 people (8.1%) aged 18 to 24, 117 people (17.5%) aged 25 to 44, 259 people (38.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 139 people (20.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51.1 years. For every 100 females there were 105.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.2 males.
There were 389 housing units at an average density of 79.9 per square mile (30.8/km²), of which 210 (69.8%) were owner-occupied, and 91 (30.2%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 5.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.1%. 410 people (61.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 193 people (28.8%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 574 people, 272 households, and 161 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 143.6 people per square mile (55.4/km²). There were 342 housing units at an average density of 85.6 per square mile (33.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 88.9% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 3.5% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.7% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.9% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 3.3% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.8% from two or more races. 7.1% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 272 households out of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.8% were non-families. 35.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.72.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 20.9% from 25 to 44, 30.8% from 45 to 64, and 21.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $37,500, and the median income for a family was $45,781. Males had a median income of $41,736 versus $29,688 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $20,535. About 4.2% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
In the state legislatureCalifornia State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
Independence is located in the 18th Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
District, represented by Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Jean Fuller
Jean Fuller
Jean Fuller is a U.S. politician who serves in the California State Senate. A Republican, she was previously a member of the California Assembly and the Superintendent of Schools for the Bakersfield City School District....
, and in the 34th Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
District, represented by Republican Connie Conway
Connie Conway
Connie Conway is a Republican politician from California. She is currently in the California State Assembly and is the Assemblymember from the 34th district which takes in many parts of California's Central Valley and High Desert areas. Prior to serving in the Assembly, Conway served as a Tulare...
. Federally, Independence is located in California's 25th congressional district
California's 25th congressional district
California's 25th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California that covers part of Los Angeles County and extends out to broad stretches of interior California along the Nevada border. It includes the cities of Santa Clarita, Palmdale, Lancaster, and the...
, which has a Cook PVI
Cook Partisan Voting Index
The Cook Partisan Voting Index , sometimes referred to as simply the Partisan Voting Index , is a measurement of how strongly an American congressional district or state leans toward one political party compared to the nation as a whole...
of R +7 and is represented by Republican Buck McKeon
Howard McKeon
Howard Philip "Buck" McKeon is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education and career:...
.
Popular culture
Independence was the film location for the film Trial and Error starring Michael Richards and Jeff Daniels. It was also the shooting location for a brief scene of Gone in 60 Seconds. Independence also appeared in Daft Punk's ElectromaDaft Punk's Electroma
Daft Punk's Electroma is a 2007 film by French duo Daft Punk. The plot revolves around the quest of two robots to become human. The music featured in this film is not by Daft Punk, which is a first for the duo after their previous film and home video releases, D.A.F.T. and Interstella 5555...
.
The popular series of scenic interpretive DVDs which feature 360 degree panoramic photography which are offered for sale at National Parks and visitor centers throughout the Southwestern United States are published in Independence by Inyo Pro. They feature the scenic photography of Paul Fretheim, a world recognized innovator in the use of virtual reality photography in interpretive products.
There is also a 1996 Pepsi
Pepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
commercial filmed in Independence, CA, in which five young adult grizzly bears "cry out for their most primal urgent need" and do the "P-E-P-S-I" dance to the tune of YMCA
YMCA (song)
"Y.M.C.A." is a song recorded by American disco group Village People. It was released in 1978 as the only single from the album Cruisin. The song reached No. 2 on the U.S. charts in early 1979 and reached No.1 in the UK around the same time, becoming the group's biggest hit...
.
See also
- Roadside HeritageRoadside HeritageRoadside Heritage is a program designed to document and publicize the history, culture, and scientific background of the Eastern Sierra Nevada and the Owens Valley in the USA. It uses schoolchildren to interview scientists, Native Americans, and others and to record the interviews...
- of the Eastern Sierra - Owens ValleyOwens ValleyOwens Valley is the arid valley of the Owens River in eastern California in the United States, to the east of the Sierra Nevada and west of the White Mountains and Inyo Mountains on the west edge of the Great Basin section...
- ManzanarManzanarManzanar is most widely known as the site of one of ten camps where over 110,000 Japanese Americans were imprisoned during World War II. Located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada in California's Owens Valley between the towns of Lone Pine to the south and Independence to the north, it is...
- Mount Whitney Fish HatcheryMount Whitney Fish HatcheryThe Mount Whitney Fish Hatchery, located in Independence, California, in the United States, is an historic fish hatchery that has played an important role in the preservation of the golden trout, California's state fish.-Construction:...