Darwin Ghost Town
Inyo County, California36.2681, -117.5917
Can you visit?
Private land, lived-in town
Private or unlisted land · Streets public, lots private
- Nearest town
- 34 miLone Pine, CA
- Mild months
- Mar–Nov6 of 12
- Elevation
- 4,790 ft1,460 m
Darwin sits in Inyo County, California. People call it a ghost town, though 43 residents were counted in 2010. It lies at about 4,790 feet above sea level.
On the map
- BLM
- National Park Service
- City, county
- Military, DOE
- Private or unlisted
Star: Darwin. Dots: other ghost towns within 40 miles, colored by land manager. Squares: towns over 1,000 people. Rings are straight-line distance. Live map: © OpenFreeMap, OpenMapTiles, OpenStreetMap contributors.
The closest town with more than 1,000 people is Lone Pine, CA, about 34 miles northwest in a straight line. The nearest city over 50,000 is Porterville, CA, 82 miles away.
Ghost towns nearby
- Coso6.9 mi southwest
- Lookout City8.9 mi east
- Cerro Gordo22 mi northwest
- Cerro Gordo Mines22 mi northwest
- Keeler22 mi northwest
- Reilly22 mi southeast
- Haiwee23 mi west
- Dunmovin24 mi southwest
Distances are straight lines. Roads to ruins are often dirt, and a 20-mile hop can take an hour.
Who owns the land
Private or unlisted land
The town center is not on any public or protected parcel in PAD-US, the national map of public land. People still live here, so streets are open while buildings and lots belong to their owners. Ask before you step onto a property. Another parcel starts within a quarter mile: Ridgecrest Field Office. Ruins often spread across more than one owner.
The point is the town location from Wikidata, and the land record is from PAD-US 3.0 (USGS). Ruins can spread past that point, and land changes hands faster than the database. How we read PAD-US.
Weather by month
Mild months here run March to May, September to November, judging by NOAA normals from Haiwee. June to September bring 10 or more days at 90°F and up.
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from the Haiwee station (USC00043710), 22 miles away. The town sits about 1,000 feet higher than the station, so expect it to run cooler. About 6.1 inches of precipitation a year.
Facts
| Location | Inyo County, California |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 36.26806, -117.59167 |
| Elevation | 4,790 ft (1,460 m) |
| Census counts | 2010: 36 · 2010: 43 |
| Also known as | Darwin, CA |
| Sources | Wikidata Q2740723 · Wikipedia article |
Questions
Where is Darwin ghost town?
In Inyo County, California, at 36.2681, -117.5917. The closest town with more than 1,000 people is Lone Pine, CA, about 34 miles northwest in a straight line. The nearest city over 50,000 is Porterville, CA, 82 miles away.
Can you visit Darwin?
Private land, lived-in town. The town center is not on any public or protected parcel in PAD-US, the national map of public land. People still live here, so streets are open while buildings and lots belong to their owners. Ask before you step onto a property. Another parcel starts within a quarter mile: Ridgecrest Field Office. Ruins often spread across more than one owner.
When is the best time to visit Darwin?
Mild months here run March to May, September to November, judging by NOAA normals from Haiwee. June to September bring 10 or more days at 90°F and up.
Are there other ghost towns near Darwin?
Yes. Coso (6.9 mi), Lookout City (8.9 mi), Cerro Gordo (22 mi), Cerro Gordo Mines (22 mi).
