Bishop, California

Bishop, California
Downtown Bishop looking south along U.S. 395
Location of Bishop in Inyo County, California
Location in California
Coordinates: 37°22′00″N 118°23′45″W / 37.36667°N 118.39583°W / 37.36667; -118.39583
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountyInyo
IncorporatedMay 6, 1903
Named afterBishop Creek
Government
  MayorKaren Kong
Area
  City
1.91 sq mi (4.95 km2)
  Land1.86 sq mi (4.83 km2)
  Water0.05 sq mi (0.12 km2)  2.5%
Elevation
4,150 ft (1,260 m)
Population
 (2020)
  City
3,819
  Density2,048.82/sq mi (791.14/km2)
  Metro
14,500
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific)
  Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP codes
93514, 93515
Area codes442/760
FIPS code06-06798
GNIS feature IDs2409852
Websitewww.cityofbishop.com

Bishop (formerly Bishop Creek) is the only incorporated city in Inyo County, California, United States. It is located near the northern end of the Owens Valley within the Mojave Desert, at an elevation of 4,150 feet (1,260 m). The city was named after Bishop Creek, flowing out of the Sierra Nevada range; the creek was named after Samuel Addison Bishop, a settler in the Owens Valley. Bishop is a commercial and residential center, while many vacation destinations and tourist attractions in the Sierra Nevada are located nearby. The city covers approximately 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2), making it the county's largest community by population and land area.

The population of the city was 3,819 at the 2020 census, down from 3,879 at the 2010 census. The population of the built-up zone containing Bishop is much larger; more than 14,500 people live in a compact area which includes Bishop, West Bishop, Dixon Lane-Meadow Creek, and the Bishop Paiute Reservation. It is by far the largest settlement in Inyo County.

A number of western films were shot in Bishop, including movies starring John Wayne, Charlton Heston, and Joel McCrea.