Editing Independence, California (section)

==History==
[[File:Inyo County Court House.JPG|thumb|left|alt=photo of Inyo County Court House|The [[Inyo County Courthouse]] (designed by [[W. H. Weeks]], completed in 1921) in Independence]]
Charles Putnam founded a trading post at the site in 1861.<ref name=CGN /> It became known as '''Putnam's,''' and later '''Little Pine''' from the Little Pine Creek.<ref name=CGN /> The site of Putnam's Cabin, across the street from the Inyo County Courthouse, is a [[California Historical Landmarks|California Historical Landmark]] # 223.<ref>[https://www.californiahistoricallandmarks.com/landmarks/chl-223 californiahistoricallandmarks.com Landmarks chl-223]</ref><ref>[https://ohp.parks.ca.gov/ListedResources/Detail/223 California Parks, Putnam's Cabin]</ref>

Independence began as the US Army [[Fort Independence (California)|Camp Independence]] (two miles north of the current town) established by Lieutenant Colonel [[George S. Evans]] on July 4, 1862. Colonel Evans established the camp at the request of local settlers who feared  hostilities from the local indigenous tribes. The camp was soon closed, but was re-established as [[Fort Independence (California)|Fort Independence]] when hostilities resumed in 1865. The fort was finally abandoned in 1877, and it is currently a reservation for the [[Fort Independence Indian Community of Paiute Indians]].<ref name="California Historical Marker No. 349.">{{cite web|url=http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=2954|title=Camp Independence Marker|work=Historical Marker Database|id=California Historical Marker No. 349|access-date=2011-01-15}}</ref>

Independence became the seat of Inyo County in 1866 when its chief competitor for the honor, a mining camp called [[Kearsarge (ghost town), California|Kearsarge]], disappeared under an [[avalanche]].<ref name="'Scorched, but still standing,' Los Angeles Times 15 July 2007">Inyo County Supervisor Jim Bilyeu quoted in The Los Angeles Times 15 July 2007</ref>

The first post office at Independence was established in 1866.<ref name=CGN />

United States Army General [[John K. Singlaub]] (1921 &ndash; 2022) was born in Independence.<ref>[https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/100399 The Hall of Valor Project-John Kirk Singlaub]</ref>

===Museums===
The [[Eastern California Museum]] with extensive collections, exhibits, and programs; is located at 155 North Grant Street in Independence.<ref>[http://www.inyocounty.us/ecmuseum/  The Eastern California Museum website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718154414/http://www.inyocounty.us/ecmuseum/ |date=2011-07-18 }}, accessed 6/20/2010</ref><ref>[http://www.independence-ca.com/eastern-california-museum.shtml Independence, CA, Places of Interest, The Eastern California Museum] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091123105536/http://www.independence-ca.com/eastern-california-museum.shtml |date=2009-11-23 }}, accessed 6/20/2010</ref>

The home of author [[Mary Hunter Austin|Mary Austin]], the author of ''[[The Land of Little Rain]]'', is preserved as a museum located at 235 Market Street in Independence.

===Library===
The Inyo County Free Library is in the Inyo County Courthouse.<ref>[http://www.inyocounty.us/library/default.asp Inyo County Free Library]</ref>