Fort Independence (California)

Fort Independence, originally Camp Independence, was established on Oak Creek, 3 mi north of nearby modern Independence, California, on July 4, 1862, during the Owens Valley Indian War. The fort was abandoned at the end of hostilities with the Owens Valley Paiute, in December 1864. However, it was reoccupied by the Nevada Volunteers in March 1865, due to renewed conflict with the local Paiute. The post was finally abandoned on July 5, 1877. The military reservation was transferred to the Interior Department for disposition on July 22, 1884. When the military left the valley, native people of the area held various allotments of land adjacent to the fort. The Fort Independence Reservation was officially established through executive orders Number 2264 and 2375 in 1915 and 1916. This provided the tribal members with 360 acre of land adjacent to Oak Creek in Independence California.