Lone Pine is a census designated place ( CDP ) in Inyo County , California , United States . Lone Pine is located south-southeast of Independence , at an elevation of 3,727 feet ( 1,136 m ) . The population was 2,035 at the 2010 census , up from 1,655 at the 2000 census . The town is located in the Owens Valley , near the Alabama Hills . From possible choices of urban , rural , and frontier , the Census Bureau identifies this area as " frontier " . The local hospital , Southern Inyo Hospital , offers standby emergency services . The town is named after a solitary pine tree that once existed at the mouth of Lone Pine Canyon . On March 26 , 1872 , the very large Lone Pine earthquake destroyed most of the town and killed 27 of its 250 to 300 residents
Lone Pine earthquake
1872 Lone Pine earthquake
Lone Pine, California