Tehachapi T-hatcha-P
If your on the road, tell us about your trip.
An unusual name, for an unusual place. Although this area was inhabited by Native American’s as late as the mid-1800s, and it sounds like an authentic Indian name, in actuality the name Tehachapi was coined during the state’s first land survey to describe this general area which had been denoted on existing maps of the time as Tahachapa. Years later the Southern Pacific Railroad liked the revised designation, and in 1876 assigned it to its 7 x 10 ft. "Summit Station" telegraph shack.
In its early days the area was comprised mostly of small farms that supplied meats, hay, and produce to railroad crews up and down the line. In time the town evolved into a thriving farming community on its own. Sometime in the early 1900’s a high grade cement was discovered bringing in another source of revenue further diversifying the town’s financial base. In 1909 the city of Tehachapi was incorporated, and a few years later electricity came to town, just like the big city. Then in 1932 another major boost came to the region when the, California Intuition for Women (now, California State Prison Tehachapi) was opened and became a major employer for the area.
Today along with agricultural, the prison and cement plant, we have a budding tourist business and as late the wind industry has taken quite an intrest in our valley. As for the railroad, sadly a train hasn’t even made a stop here for many many years. Still the nose of a 50’s style locomotive is featured on the town’s logo as a nostalgic tribute to a bygone era.
So if you ask what makes Tehachapi so exceptional? It's the people. They are warm, friendly, welcoming souls who like to live at a quiet pace. Because of its altitude, at the southern tip of the Sierra Nevada's, it enjoys both pleasant summers and mild winters. Around here we like to say that, “If it's not absolutely beautiful outside... then it must be perfect”. In the end, between its being such a warmhearted community, its temperate weather, and its picturesque rolling hills we think of Tehachapi as our special gem in the mountain.
Love always, jacknfran