Lee Vining, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lee Vining, California
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Lee Vining lies at the base of the Sierra Nevada, on the shore of Mono Lake.
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Location in Mono County, California
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 Lee Vining, California
Location in California
Lee Vining, California
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Mono |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.208 sq mi (13.490 km2) |
| • Land | 5.206 sq mi (13.484 km2) |
| • Water | 0.002 sq mi (0.006 km2) 0.05% |
| Elevation | 6,874 ft (2,095 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 217 |
| • Density | 42/sq mi (16.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP Code |
93541
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| Area codes | 442/760 |
| GNIS feature IDs | 2583054 |
Lee Vining is a small community in Mono County, California. It's located on the southwest shore of Mono Lake. About 217 people lived here in 2020. Lee Vining is known for its beautiful natural surroundings. It is also close to famous national parks and other fun places.
Contents
History of Lee Vining
The town of Lee Vining was named after Leroy Vining. He started the town in 1852. It began as a place where people looked for gold and other valuable minerals.
How Lee Vining Got Its Name
In 1926, the town was planned out by Chris Mattly. He first called it "Lakeview." But there was already another town in California with that name. So, in 1953, the name "Lee Vining" was chosen. The town was also once called "Poverty Flat." This was because it was not a good place for farming.
Geography of Lee Vining
Lee Vining is in western Mono County. It sits at the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada mountains. U.S. Route 395 runs through the town. This highway connects Lee Vining to other places.
Location and Nearby Areas
- US 395 goes northwest to Bridgeport, which is the main town of Mono County.
- US 395 also goes southeast to Mammoth Lakes.
- California State Route 120 goes west from Lee Vining. It climbs up to Tioga Pass. This pass is the east entrance to Yosemite National Park.
The Lee Vining area covers about 5.2 square miles. Most of this area is land.
Climate in Lee Vining
Lee Vining has a special climate. It's between the mountains and the desert. This means it's warmer and drier than the mountains. But it's cooler and gets more snow than the desert.
Even though it gets only about 14 inches of rain each year, it gets a lot of snow. The town averages almost 6 feet of snow. Snow can even fall in April or May. Most rain and snow happen from December to March. But you can expect some rain any month of the year.
| Climate data for Lee Vining, California, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1988–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 66 (19) |
67 (19) |
75 (24) |
81 (27) |
89 (32) |
94 (34) |
96 (36) |
94 (34) |
94 (34) |
85 (29) |
75 (24) |
65 (18) |
96 (36) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 54.1 (12.3) |
56.8 (13.8) |
65.6 (18.7) |
73.9 (23.3) |
80.0 (26.7) |
87.6 (30.9) |
91.2 (32.9) |
89.5 (31.9) |
85.4 (29.7) |
77.4 (25.2) |
66.9 (19.4) |
57.6 (14.2) |
91.8 (33.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 40.9 (4.9) |
44.1 (6.7) |
51.0 (10.6) |
57.9 (14.4) |
66.2 (19.0) |
76.6 (24.8) |
84.2 (29.0) |
83.0 (28.3) |
76.0 (24.4) |
65.1 (18.4) |
52.9 (11.6) |
42.3 (5.7) |
61.7 (16.5) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 30.8 (−0.7) |
33.4 (0.8) |
39.3 (4.1) |
45.2 (7.3) |
52.9 (11.6) |
61.9 (16.6) |
69.0 (20.6) |
67.6 (19.8) |
60.7 (15.9) |
50.5 (10.3) |
40.3 (4.6) |
32.0 (0.0) |
48.6 (9.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 20.6 (−6.3) |
22.7 (−5.2) |
27.6 (−2.4) |
32.5 (0.3) |
39.6 (4.2) |
47.3 (8.5) |
53.8 (12.1) |
52.3 (11.3) |
45.5 (7.5) |
35.9 (2.2) |
27.8 (−2.3) |
21.7 (−5.7) |
35.6 (2.0) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 8.2 (−13.2) |
9.7 (−12.4) |
15.4 (−9.2) |
20.0 (−6.7) |
27.6 (−2.4) |
34.0 (1.1) |
46.5 (8.1) |
44.9 (7.2) |
35.4 (1.9) |
24.1 (−4.4) |
15.6 (−9.1) |
9.2 (−12.7) |
4.8 (−15.1) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −3 (−19) |
−8 (−22) |
8 (−13) |
12 (−11) |
20 (−7) |
27 (−3) |
36 (2) |
38 (3) |
28 (−2) |
15 (−9) |
6 (−14) |
−5 (−21) |
−8 (−22) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.66 (68) |
2.71 (69) |
1.82 (46) |
0.7 (18) |
0.73 (19) |
0.41 (10) |
0.51 (13) |
0.42 (11) |
0.31 (7.9) |
0.83 (21) |
1.44 (37) |
2.56 (65) |
15.10 (384) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 19.0 (48) |
16.1 (41) |
11.6 (29) |
3.3 (8.4) |
1.6 (4.1) |
0.2 (0.51) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
1.4 (3.6) |
4.7 (12) |
11.6 (29) |
69.5 (175.61) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 6.7 | 6.8 | 5.9 | 3.4 | 4.1 | 2.2 | 3.3 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 6.0 | 49.8 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 4.8 | 4.9 | 3.6 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 4.5 | 22.6 |
| Source 1: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service | |||||||||||||
Economy and Tourism
Lee Vining's economy mostly depends on tourism. Many visitors come here because it's the closest town to the east entrance of Yosemite National Park.
Popular Tourist Spots
- Mono Lake: A unique saltwater lake nearby.
- Bodie: A famous ghost town.
- Fishing spots: Great places to catch trout.
- Ski areas: June Mountain and Mammoth Mountain are popular for skiing.
- June Lake recreational area: Another fun spot for outdoor activities.
Most tourists visit in the summer. This is because the road through Yosemite (State Route 120) often closes in winter due to heavy snow. Lee Vining has a visitor information center open all year.
Things to See in Lee Vining
Lee Vining is located near the bottom of Lee Vining Canyon. California State Route 120 goes from town through the canyon. It then climbs up to Tioga Pass.
Local Landmarks and Activities
- Lee Vining Canyon is one of only two places in California for ice climbing.
- U.S. Route 395 also runs through the town. It connects to Los Angeles to the south and Reno, Nevada to the north.
- Gus Hess Park remembers an early miner from Lee Vining.
- The Upside-Down House is a special building in town. It was built by silent film actress Nellie Bly O'Bryan.
- The Whoa Nellie Deli is a well-known place to eat. It's famous for its unique location and food.
The Lee Vining Airport is also close to the town. The town's ZIP Code is 93541. The phone area codes are 442 and 760.
People of Lee Vining
In 2010, Lee Vining had a population of 222 people. Most people lived in homes. A small number lived in group housing.
Population Details
- About 56.8% of the people were White.
- About 11.3% were Native American.
- About 28.8% were from other races.
- About 43.2% of the people were of Hispanic or Latino background.
The population included people of all ages.
- About 25.2% were under 18 years old.
- About 7.7% were 65 years or older.
The average age in Lee Vining was 30.4 years.
Education in Lee Vining
Lee Vining is part of the Eastern Sierra Unified School District.
- There is an elementary school in Lee Vining.
- There is also a high school, Lee Vining High School.
- Lee Vining has a public library for everyone to use.
See also
In Spanish: Lee Vining para niños
