1982 Map of Independence

About this map

The town of Independence serves as the focal point of this Eastern Sierra landscape, situated where the valley floor meets the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada. The proximity of the Los Angeles Aqueduct and the Owens River illustrates the region's complex water history, with the massive canal cutting a straight line across the alluvial fans. To the north, the Fort Independence Indian Reservation and the historic Mt Whitney Fish Hatchery mark long-standing land uses. Local history is deeply etched into the terrain through several burial grounds, including the Old Independence Cem, Indian Cem, and the primary Independence Cemetery. The map also reveals remnants of regional transportation, such as an Old Railroad Grade and the route of Onion Valley Road heading west into the mountains.