Darwincalifornia, 2003
Darwin’s story
151 years in pictures
Census counts: 54 in 2000, 36 in 2020. The archive holds 14 old photos and papers going back to 2003 and 2 maps from 1950 on.
- 1875Darwin is settled
DarwinCA
Photo: Stammberger1973 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Is Darwin a good place to live?
Darwin’s median age is 66.3 years, above both the California town median (39 years) and the median of U.S. towns (40.5 years). Of the 848 California towns we compare, none has a higher share of homes lived in by their owners than Darwin. Darwin’s density of trails is 4.2 miles per square mile, where California’s towns sit at 1.0 and U.S. towns at 0.4. Darwin has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Darwin stand out
Where Darwin beats most towns.
Small town
61 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby attractions
All 16 attractions →Death Valley National Park and 3 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Darwin. Close and well known come first.
Big draw4 mi National ParkDeath Valley National Park1.3M visitors a year
Big draw39 mi National ParkSequoia National Park1.4M visitors a year
23 mi LakeOwens Lake
8 mi Canyon & gorgeRainbow CanyonSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Death Valley National Park: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Sequoia National Park: Alberto Carrasco Casado, CC BY 2.0 · Owens Lake: Picture prepared for Wikipedia by Adrian Pingstone in November 2003., Public domain · Rainbow Canyon: Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Getting set up
Moving to Darwin: who provides what
Darwin is unincorporated, so Inyo County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerSouthern California Edison31.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterDarwin Community Service DistrictNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4
Trash & county servicesInyo CountyInyo County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn California you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereInyo County Clerk-ElectionsInyo County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2025
ZIP code9352293522 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Darwin.
Natural hazards
High risk in Darwin, with avalanches at the top
The FEMA hazard score here in Darwin is 79 of 100. FEMA puts 37% of the town’s expected hazard losses down to avalanches, and 26% to heat waves.
79risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
AvalanchesHeat wavesInland flooding
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
93°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter35–53°
Spring45–69°
Summer65–91°
Fall50–73°
+1.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
93°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
$178Kmedian sale price
1
homes sold in July
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 857 acres
5.5 mi
of trails · 4.2 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Darwin
14pages on Darwin
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Darwin; the nearest are
Cerro Coso Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Ridgecrest48.7 mi$1,384 in-state tuitionCalifornia State University-BakersfieldUniversity or college · Public · Bakersfield106 mi$8,090 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Darwin residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.
About Darwin
Place in California, United States
Darwin is an unincorporated former mining community in Inyo County, California, United States. It is located 22 miles (35 km) southeast of Keeler. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Darwin as a census-designated place (CDP). The population was 36 at the 2020 census, down from 43 at the 2010 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 4,790 ft
- ZIP code
- 93522
Questions about Darwin
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Darwin, CA a good place to live?
Darwin has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.