California

Inyo

19,016
2020 population
1870
first census record
16
census records

About Inyo

Inyo, California, first appears in the United States federal census in 1870, when it recorded a population of 1,956. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 19,016.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 16 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Owens Valley War — Second Fight (1862), Owens Valley War — Mayfield Massacre (1862), Owens Valley Indian War — Battle of Bishop Creek, and 19 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202019,016
201018,546
200017,945
199018,281
198017,895
197015,571
196011,684
195011,658
19407,625
19306,555
19207,031
19106,974
19004,377
18903,544
18802,928
18701,956
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Inyo

Military engagements that took place in Inyo, California.

Owens Valley War — Second Fight (1862)
1862
Owens Valley War — Mayfield Massacre (1862)
1862
Owens Valley Indian War — Battle of Bishop Creek
1862
Owens Valley Indian War
1862
Owens Valley War — First Owens River Fight (April 1862)
1862
Owens Valley War 1862-1863
1862
Owens Valley War — Camp Independence Established (July 1862)
1862
Camp Independence Established — Owens Valley (1862)
1862
Paiute War – Owens Valley Campaigns
1862
Owen Valley War — Bishop Creek Fight
1862
Owens Valley War — Battle of Bishop Creek (April 6, 1862)
1862
Battle of Bishop Creek
1862
Battle of Mayfield's Ranch — Owens Valley
1862
Owens Valley War — Lone Pine Fight (1863)
1863
Manzanar Riot, California 1942
1942
Manzanar War Relocation Center
1942

Historic places in Inyo

National Register of Historic Places listings in Inyo, California.

Archeological Site CA-INY-134
Olancha
Saline Valley Salt Tram Historic Structure
Keeler
Eagle Borax Works
Furnace Creek
Fossil Falls Archeological District
Little Lake
Pawona Witu
Bishop
Manzanar War Relocation Center, National Historic Site
Independence
Inyo County Courthouse
Independence
Harmony Borax Works
Stovepipe Wells
Ryan Historic District
Death Valley
Coso Rock District
China Lake
Coso Rock Art District
China Lake
Leadfield
Death Valley
Coso Hot Springs
Little Lake
Reilly
Trona
Skidoo
Death Valley
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Other counties in California

Explore census history and historic records for more California counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Inyo County, California

This page charts the census history of Inyo County, California. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Inyo

When does Inyo first appear in the US census?
Inyo, California first appears in the federal census in 1870, with a recorded population of 1,956.
What is the population of Inyo?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Inyo had a recorded population of 19,016.
Were any battles fought in Inyo?
16 documented military engagements took place in Inyo, including Owens Valley War — Second Fight (1862), Owens Valley War — Mayfield Massacre (1862), Owens Valley Indian War — Battle of Bishop Creek.
How many historic places are in Inyo?
19 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Inyo, California.
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