Mammoth Lakes is located in Mono County, California. The population is 8,265 and is comprised of a diverse mix of ethnicities. About 55% of the population is white, while 43% are Hispanic. The remaining residents are Asian, African American, or multiracial. Over 68% of the population was born in the United States. The median household size is three.
The Mammoth Lakes area has two main economic engines: ski tourism and summer vacationers. While the city sees more summer visitors, the region also experiences wild swings in visitor numbers. The summer months are jam-packed with visitors, while the off-season months are relatively mellow. But despite the city's name, the Mammoth Lakes area is known for its diverse recreational opportunities, whether you enjoy snowboarding, ice skating, or sledding.
Located on the edge of a geological crater, Mammoth Lakes was a popular destination during the Gold Rush. Thousands of prospectors headed to the area and were quickly followed by cattlemen, merchants, and suppliers. Trails were widened and used as roads. After the gold rush ended in 1888, the area was abandoned and repopulated in the early 1900s.
In 2019, 39.4% of Mammoth Lakes' workers drove alone to work, while 30.7% relied on public transit, and 11% carpooled. The chart below illustrates the percentage of households using each mode of transportation in the city over time. The logarithmic scale on the y-axis helps identify fluctuations in smaller means of commuting.