Darwin is an unincorporated mining community and Census-designated place in Inyo County, California, United States.

The town is named after Darwin French (1822–1902), a local rancher, miner, and explorer.

According to Erwin Gudde, French of Fort Tejon was with a party of prospectors in the area during the fall of 1850.

[4] Silver and lead discovery at the place led to the founding of a settlement in 1874.

When Death Valley became a National Monument in 1933, it was decided to buy the toll road to allow free access to the new park.

In April 2012, BBC News featured a video of local residents describing their wishes to replace dial-up Internet access with broadband.

[8] According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2), all of it land.

For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Darwin as a census-designated place (CDP).

There were 33% of families and 38% of the population living below the poverty line, including 100% of under eighteens and none of those over 64.

[13] Federally, Darwin is in California's 8th congressional district, represented by Democrat John Garamendi.