Loading map...

1994 Map of Independence

Name: 1994 Topographic Map of Independence
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1997
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1997

About this map

The high desert valley around Independence in the mid-1990s is defined by its complex relationship with water and historical land use. Dominating the landscape is the Los Angeles Aqueduct, which cuts a straight line through the valley floor, south of the Tulare Swamp. The town serves as a hub of civic and cultural life, containing both the Independence Cem and the nearby Fort Independence Indian Reservation, which includes an Indian Cem on Shabbell Lane.

Evidence of early 20th-century industry and conservation remains visible, from the Mt Whitney Fish Hatchery along Oak Creek to the Old Railroad Grade tracing the eastern side of the Owens River. This survey captures the region as it balanced its role as a county seat with the large-scale infrastructure required to export water, while maintaining traditional landmarks like Onion Valley Road and the Independence Airport.