Monolith, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Monolith
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Cement plant at Monolith, California
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 Monolith
Location in California
Monolith
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Kern County |
| Elevation | 3,966 ft (1,209 m) |
Monolith (which used to be called Aqueduct) is a small, unincorporated community in the Tehachapi Valley. It is located in Kern County, California.
This community is about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) east of Tehachapi. It sits at an elevation of 3,966 feet (1,209 meters). Monolith is found in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains and near the eastern Tehachapi Pass.
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History of Monolith
Monolith has an interesting history tied to California's growth. It started as a place for workers building important projects.
From Aqueduct to Monolith
The area first got a post office in 1908. It was named Aqueduct back then. Just two years later, in 1910, its name changed to Monolith.
Building the Aqueduct
Aqueduct−Monolith began as a camp for people working at a special factory. This factory made cement, which is a key ingredient for concrete. The concrete was used to build structures for the Owens Valley aqueduct project. This huge aqueduct was designed to bring water from the Owens Valley to the growing city of Los Angeles.
Why the Name Monolith?
The name change to Monolith was suggested by William Mulholland. He was a very important engineer who helped design the Owens Valley Aqueduct. He chose the name because of a really big limestone deposit found nearby. Limestone is a rock used to make cement. A "monolith" often refers to a single, large block of stone.
Energy Storage Innovation
In 2014, something new and exciting happened in Monolith. Southern California Edison, a power company, built a large energy storage system. It was called the Tehachapi Energy Storage Project. This project used lithium-ion battery technology. When it was built, it was the biggest lithium-ion battery system in North America. It was also one of the largest in the entire world. This system helps store extra electricity and release it when needed.
