The History of Mono Lake can be found online in a multitude of places, but it is worth your time to take a trip to Mono County and view it yourself. Mono Lake is situated in East-Central California right on the Nevada border. It is surrounded on three sides by the White Mountains and Sierra Nevadas. Millions of years of glacial and tectonic activity has molded this beautiful landscape.
For centuries the Mono Lake region was one of the premier areas for hunting deer, elk, and even bear. Hunters and trappers were able to get the most out of their trips because they could stay safe from bear attacks by staying near a water source. These water sources usually consisted of rivers and creeks that were fed by springs. If the hunter made a camp near a lake, he was assured of having the food and water he needed to stay alive. During this period the local population of Mono County consisted mostly of ranchers who needed water for their cattle.
When people began to settle down in the area around Mono Lake, they quickly discovered the benefits of owning land. The water that was being fed by springs soon ran dry and the ranchers were forced to use the land that had been taken out of production as a pasture. This led to more land for farming, and eventually to more water. The history of Mono County really begins to form as early settlers began to use the land for their water needs. Eventually the area became known as Mono Lake Ranch.