History of Bishop, California

Bishop, California is a city of 3,500 residents onBetween 1905 and 1907, William Mulholland,
the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada Mountainssuperintendent of the Water Department for the
in the Owens Valley. The Paiute Indians originallyCity of Los Angeles, purchased much of the land
inhabited the Bishop area until European-Americanin the Owens Valley under the guise of a local
settlers arrived in the mid 19th century. Despiteirrigation project. Water from the Owens River
being originally shown on maps as part of Mexico,began being diverted south to the city of Los
the Eastern Sierra Nevada region was notAngeles. The siphoning of water from the Owens
inhabited by Mexicans. The city of Bishop takes itsRiver caused the lower Owens River and Owens
name from one its first western settlers, SamuelLake to dry up completely. In 1913, construction
A. Bishop. It was originally started as a cattleof the Los Angeles Aqueduct was completed,
ranching settlement, due to the need for beef tocreating an efficient, reliable means of water
feed the mining boom in surrounding areas at thatdelivery to the city.
time. Settlers found the northern Owens ValleyToday, the City of Los Angeles receives 70% of
was perfect for raising livestock.its water from the Owens Valley and the Eastern
In 1861, Samuel Bishop settled in the area andSierra Nevada Mountains. The Los Angeles
owned a ranch along a creek, known as BishopDepartment of Water and Power (LADWP) own
Creek. He set up a market to sell beef to themuch of the land in and around Bishop. The
miners and business owners of miningLADWP offers visitors and locals alike many
communities. In 1862, the frontier settlementrecreational opportunities including fishing, hunting
known as Bishop Creek was established and inand camping (in designated areas) on city owned
1870 a post office opened. In 1903, the city ofproperty. Bishop is now the largest city in the
Bishop was incorporated.Owens Valley and Inyo County.