Tehachapi, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tehachapi, California
|
||
|---|---|---|
View of wind turbines with Tehachapi in the distance
|
||
|
||
| Nickname(s):
The Land of Four Seasons
|
||
Location of Tehachapi, California
|
||
 Tehachapi, California
Location in California
Tehachapi, California
Location in the United States
|
||
| Country |  United States |
|
| State |  California |
|
| County | Kern | |
| Region | Tehachapi Mountains | |
| Founded | 1876 | |
| Incorporated | August 13, 1909 | |
| Named for | Kawaiisu for "hard climb" | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Council-manager | |
| Area | ||
| • City | 10.25 sq mi (26.54 km2) | |
| • Land | 10.15 sq mi (26.29 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.10 sq mi (0.25 km2) 0.97% | |
| Elevation | 3,970 ft (1,210 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
|
||
| • City | 12,934 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
|
10,881 | |
| • Density | 1,281.87/sq mi (494.92/km2) | |
| • Urban | 17,298 | |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) | |
| ZIP Code |
93561
|
|
| Area code | 661 | |
| FIPS code | 06-78092 | |
| GNIS feature IDs | 1652798, 2412041 | |
| Reference #: | 643 | |
Tehachapi (pronounced t-uh-HACH-uh-pee) is a city in Kern County, California, United States. It's located in the Tehachapi Mountains, about 3,970 feet (1,210 meters) above sea level. The city sits between the San Joaquin Valley and the Mojave Desert.
Tehachapi is about 35 miles (56 km) east-southeast of Bakersfield. It is also 20 miles (32 km) west of Mojave. The city covers about 10 square miles (26 km2) and has a population of around 14,414 people.
The name Tehachapi comes from the Kawaiisu language. It means "hard climb." The area is famous for the nearby Tehachapi Loop, which is a cool railway track. It's also known for the Pacific Crest Trail and for being a great place for gliding, an aerial sport.
Contents
History of Tehachapi
The Kawaiisu people are a Native American tribe. Their home for thousands of years was the Tehachapi Valley. They also lived in parts of the southern Sierra Nevada and the Mojave Desert during different seasons.
The name Tehachapi likely comes from the Kawaiisu word tihachipia, meaning "hard climb." Over time, the name has been spelled in different ways, like Tehachapai and Tehichipa.
The first settlement in the Tehachapi Valley was called Williamsburg. It was founded in the 1860s. This area, now known as 'Old Town', was an important stop. It connected the San Joaquin Valley with Southern California. Today, it is a California Historical Landmark because it's the oldest settlement in the valley.
In 1869, a post office was set up near Oak Creek. It was called 'Tehichipa'. Later, in 1875, a new community named Greenwich was founded.
Railroad and Growth
The Southern Pacific Railroad line was finished in July 1876. This railway went through the Tehachapi Pass. It was the final link connecting San Francisco and Los Angeles. A telegraph office near the tracks became the first building in what is now downtown Tehachapi. This spot grew into the Tehachapi Railroad Depot.
The depot was the oldest building in downtown Tehachapi. Sadly, it burned down in 2008. It has since been rebuilt using the original plans. The new depot opened on June 5, 2010.
The new railroad town was first called Tehachapi Summit. People from Williamsburg and Greenwich moved to this new town. In 1893, the postal name was changed to 'Tehachapi'. The town officially became a city on August 13, 1909.
1952 Kern County Earthquake
Tehachapi experienced a strong earthquake in 1952. It had a magnitude of 7.3. This was the largest earthquake in Southern California in the 20th century. Twelve people died, and buildings and train tracks were badly damaged.
Geography and Climate
Earthquake Faults
Downtown Tehachapi is about 15 miles (24 km) from the White Wolf Fault. It's also about 6 miles (10 km) from the Garlock Fault. The famous San Andreas Fault is about 30 miles (48 km) away.
Tehachapi's Climate
Tehachapi has a hot-summer mediterranean climate. This means it has hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters.
The city is known for having four distinct seasons. The wet season usually runs from November to May. However, thunderstorms can happen in the summer, especially near the mountain peaks.
- Average temperatures in July range from 58°F (14°C) to 88°F (31°C).
- In January, temperatures range from 29°F (-2°C) to 52°F (11°C).
- Tehachapi typically gets 15 to 20 inches (38 to 51 cm) of snow each winter.
The area is often windy because of the Tehachapi Pass. This pass forces air up from the San Joaquin Valley into the mountains. Strong winds can make winter temperatures feel much colder.
The highest temperature ever recorded was 105°F (41°C) on July 27, 1934. The lowest was -4°F (-20°C) on January 14, 1932, and December 21, 1967.
| Climate data for Tehachapi, California (Elevation 3,970ft) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 75 (24) |
78 (26) |
81 (27) |
89 (32) |
97 (36) |
104 (40) |
105 (41) |
104 (40) |
102 (39) |
96 (36) |
85 (29) |
81 (27) |
105 (41) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 65 (18) |
66 (19) |
72 (22) |
78 (26) |
86 (30) |
93 (34) |
97 (36) |
95 (35) |
92 (33) |
96 (36) |
73 (23) |
66 (19) |
98 (37) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 51.3 (10.7) |
54.0 (12.2) |
56.0 (13.3) |
62.6 (17.0) |
70.6 (21.4) |
79.7 (26.5) |
87.1 (30.6) |
86.3 (30.2) |
80.4 (26.9) |
70.8 (21.6) |
58.6 (14.8) |
52.0 (11.1) |
67.4 (19.7) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 40.7 (4.8) |
43.1 (6.2) |
45.2 (7.3) |
50.2 (10.1) |
56.7 (13.7) |
65.8 (18.8) |
71.9 (22.2) |
71.0 (21.7) |
65.2 (18.4) |
56.3 (13.5) |
46.7 (8.2) |
41.1 (5.1) |
54.5 (12.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 30.3 (−0.9) |
32.2 (0.1) |
34.5 (1.4) |
37.9 (3.3) |
43.8 (6.6) |
51.8 (11.0) |
56.9 (13.8) |
55.9 (13.3) |
49.8 (9.9) |
42.0 (5.6) |
34.7 (1.5) |
30.4 (−0.9) |
41.7 (5.4) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 18 (−8) |
19 (−7) |
23 (−5) |
27 (−3) |
33 (1) |
40 (4) |
49 (9) |
48 (9) |
40 (4) |
31 (−1) |
23 (−5) |
17 (−8) |
14 (−10) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −4 (−20) |
4 (−16) |
9 (−13) |
17 (−8) |
26 (−3) |
29 (−2) |
36 (2) |
32 (0) |
22 (−6) |
17 (−8) |
6 (−14) |
−4 (−20) |
−4 (−20) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.95 (50) |
1.98 (50) |
1.94 (49) |
0.88 (22) |
0.47 (12) |
0.11 (2.8) |
0.10 (2.5) |
0.25 (6.4) |
0.32 (8.1) |
0.52 (13) |
1.22 (31) |
1.70 (43) |
11.44 (289.8) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 3.4 (8.6) |
4.4 (11) |
3.9 (9.9) |
1.0 (2.5) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
1.6 (4.1) |
3.3 (8.4) |
17.7 (44.75) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 7 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 2.5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6.5 | 44 |
| Source: The Western Regional Climate Center | |||||||||||||
People of Tehachapi
The population of Tehachapi was 14,414 in 2010. This was an increase from 10,957 people in 2000.
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 255 | — | |
| 1910 | 385 | — | |
| 1920 | 458 | 19.0% | |
| 1930 | 736 | 60.7% | |
| 1940 | 1,264 | 71.7% | |
| 1950 | 1,685 | 33.3% | |
| 1960 | 3,161 | 87.6% | |
| 1970 | 4,211 | 33.2% | |
| 1980 | 4,126 | −2.0% | |
| 1990 | 5,791 | 40.4% | |
| 2000 | 10,957 | 89.2% | |
| 2010 | 14,414 | 31.6% | |
| 2020 | 12,939 | −10.2% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 10,888 | −24.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population in 2010
In 2010, Tehachapi had 14,414 people. The city had about 1,445 people per square mile (558 people per km2).
- About 65.4% of the people were White.
- About 9.0% were African American.
- About 1.4% were Native American.
- About 1.7% were Asian.
- About 18.9% were from other races.
- About 3.5% were from two or more races.
- About 37.9% of the people were Hispanic or Latino.
There were 3,121 households in Tehachapi. About 38.4% of these households had children under 18. The average household had 2.72 people.
The population was spread out by age:
- 18.0% were under 18 years old.
- 10.7% were 18 to 24 years old.
- 40.9% were 25 to 44 years old.
- 21.6% were 45 to 64 years old.
- 8.8% were 65 years or older.
The average age in Tehachapi was 34.4 years.
Economy and Jobs
Tehachapi has always been an agricultural area. Farmers grow apples, peaches, grains, vegetables, and hay.
Wine grapes were grown here until Prohibition. Now, the Tehachapi Mountains American Viticultural Area was approved in 2020. This area covers about 58,000 acres (23,000 hectares) for growing wine grapes.
About half of Tehachapi's water comes from local rainfall. The other half comes from the California Aqueduct.
The California Correctional Institution, a large prison, is located in the area. Edwards Air Force Base is also about 40 miles (64 km) to the east.
Tehachapi is a major center for wind energy. In 2019, there were 4,531 wind turbines. They produced 3,200 megawatts of electricity. Amazon decided to get wind energy from Tehachapi to help reach its goal of being carbon-neutral by 2040.
In 2019, a Walmart store opened in Tehachapi. This created up to 200 full and part-time jobs for the community.
Fun Things to Do
The Tehachapi area has many interesting places to visit:
- The Tehachapi Loop: A famous railway track that loops over itself. It's popular for people who love trains.
- Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm: A large area with many wind turbines.
- Tehachapi Depot Museum: A museum about the city's railroad history.
- Tehachapi Museum: Learn about the local history of the area.
- Tomo-Kahni State Historic Park and Tomi-Kahni Resource Center: Learn about the Kawaiisu people.
- Gliding: The area has great air conditions for this sport, where people fly in gliders without an engine.
- Pacific Crest Trail: A famous long-distance hiking trail that passes through Tehachapi.
- National Chavez Center: About 10 miles (16 km) west, this center shares the story of Cesar Chavez.
Cycling Adventures
Tehachapi has a growing community for mountain biking and road cycling.
- The Tehachapi Gran Fondo is a big cycling event in September. It was named "Best Century" by Cycle CA magazine twice.
- The event offers different distances. The longest is about 100 miles (160 km) with 7,000 feet (2,100 meters) of climbing. Riders go through wind farms, farms, orchards, and mountains.
- The Tehachapi Mountain Trails Association (TMTA) builds and cares for trails. These trails are used by walkers, hikers, bikers, and horseback riders.
Music and Theater
Tehachapi has two local orchestras:
- The Tehachapi Symphony Orchestra was started in 1997. It performs 5 free classical concerts each year.
- The Tehachapi Pops Orchestra (T-Pops) was started in 2006. It plays popular and jazz music. T-Pops performs 5 to 6 concerts each year. Most are free.
The Tehachapi Community Theater performs plays in the historic BeeKay Theater.
Local News
Tehachapi has local newspapers to keep residents informed. These include the Tehachapi News, which has been around since 1899, and The Loop.
Getting Around Tehachapi
The Tehachapi Park and Ride facility offers free parking. From here, you can connect to Kern Transit and Amtrak Thruway buses.
- Kern Transit Route 100 goes from Lancaster to Bakersfield.
- The Amtrak Thruway bus connects to Oxnard and Santa Barbara.
The Tehachapi Municipal Airport is about one mile east of the Park and Ride.
|
See also
In Spanish: Tehachapi para niños
