| City of Tehachapi | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Looking northwest along Route 58 in Tehachapi after a light dusting of snow | |
| Nickname(s): The Land of Four Seasons | |
| Location of Tehachapi, California | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Kern |
| Region | Tehachapi Mountains |
| Founded | 1876 |
| Incorporated | 1909 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Ed Grimes |
| • Senate | Roy Ashburn (R) |
| • Assembly | Jean Fuller (R) |
| • U. S. Congress | Kevin McCarthy (R) |
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 9.971 sq mi (25.823 km2) |
| • Land | 9.874 sq mi (25.573 km2) |
| • Water | 0.097 sq mi (0.25 km2) 0.97% |
| Elevation[2] | 3,970 ft (1,210 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 14,414 |
| • Density | 1,445.6/sq mi (558.2/km2) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) |
| • Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) |
| ZIP code | 93561 |
| Area code(s) | 661 |
| FIPS code | 06-78092 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1652798 |
| Website | City of Tehachapi |
The City of Tehachapi — /təˈhætʃəpi/ — is a city, incorporated in 1909, located in Kern County, central California. Tehachapi is located in the Tehachapi Mountains, at an elevation of 3,970 feet (1,210 m) [2] above and between the San Joaquin Valley and Mojave Desert.
Tehachapi is located 35 miles (56 km) east-southeast of Bakersfield [3], and west of Mojave. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.0 square miles (26 km2), of which, over 99% is land
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The Tehachapi area is known for the nearby Tehachapi Loop (a popular railfan site), Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm, The Indian Point Ostrich Ranch, the Tomo-Kahni State Historic Park and Tomi-Kahni Resource Center (Native American) [4], and excellent air conditions for gliding. Ten miles to the west at Keene, is the National Chavez Center, established to share the legacy of Cesar Chavez.
The California Correctional Institution maximum security prison, also known as Tehachapi State Prison, is in the area; as is proximity to Edwards Air Force Base.
The Kawaiisu people (also Nuwu ['people' in Kawaiisu], or Nuooah) are the Native American tribe whose homeland was the Tehachapi Valley, and seasonally the southern Sierra Nevada and Mojave Desert, for thousands of years.
One possibility for the origin of the name Tehachapi comes from the Kawaiisu language. It may be derived from the word for "hard climb" or tihachipia, according to the Tomi-Kahni Resource Center.[5] The settlement has been formerly known and spelled as: Tehachapai [2]; Tehachapa [2]; Tehachepi [2]; Tehachipi [2]; and Summit Station [3].
Construction of the original Southern Pacific-SP railroad depot was the beginning of the downtown core. It is now on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) - and was the oldest building in downtown Tehachapi until it burned in June 2008. The building had been in the final stages of becoming a museum.[6] It is since been rebuilt using the original plans with only minor modifications to meet modern building codes. The new depot was dedicated on June 5, 2010.[7]
On July 21, 1952 Tehachapi was devastated by a magnitude 7.5 (Richter scale) earthquake (USGS, SCEC) on the little known White Wolf Fault.
The population was 14,414 at the 2010 census, up from 10,957 at the 2000 census.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 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% | |
The 2010 United States Census[8] reported that Tehachapi had a population of 14,414. The population density was 1,445.7 people per square mile (558.2/km²).
The racial makeup of Tehachapi was 9,426 (65.4%) White, 1,297 (9.0%) African American, 206 (1.4%) Native American, 238 (1.7%) Asian, 21 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 2,725 (18.9%) from other races, and 501 (3.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5,466 persons (37.9%).
The Census reported that 8,487 people (58.9% of the population) lived in households, 6 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 5,921 (41.1%) were institutionalized.
There were 3,121 households, out of which 1,199 (38.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,504 (48.2%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 418 (13.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 181 (5.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 194 (6.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 18 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 879 households (28.2%) were made up of individuals and 428 (13.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72. There were 2,103 families (67.4% of all households); the average family size was 3.34.
The population was spread out with 2,599 people (18.0%) under the age of 18, 1,542 people (10.7%) aged 18 to 24, 5,891 people (40.9%) aged 25 to 44, 3,115 people (21.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,267 people (8.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.4 years. For every 100 females there were 234.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 283.0 males.
There were 3,539 housing units at an average density of 354.9 per square mile (137.0/km²), of which 1,841 (59.0%) were owner-occupied, and 1,280 (41.0%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 12.2%. 4,913 people (34.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 3,574 people (24.8%) lived in rental housing units.
As of the census[9] of 2000, there are 10,957 people, 2,533 households, and 1,709 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,144.0 people per square mile (441.6/km²). There are 2,914 housing units at an average density of 304.2 per square mile (117.4/km²).
The racial makeup of the city is 57.17% White, 13.80% Black or African American, 1.35% Native American, 0.74% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 23.82% from other races, and 2.97% from two or more races. 32.70% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 2,533 households out of which 35.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.5% are married couples living together, 14.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% are non-families. 28.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 13.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.59 and the average family size is 3.19.
In the city the population is spread out with 18.5% under the age of 18, 12.9% from 18 to 24, 42.7% from 25 to 44, 16.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 33 years. For every 100 females there are 224.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 270.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $29,208, and the median income for a family is $40,030. Males have a median income of $50,446 versus $26,023 for females. The per capita income for the city is $18,220. 20.4% of the population and 17.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 24.5% of those under the age of 18 and 15.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Tehachapi is known for its four-season climate. It can be sunny and relatively warm in the morning, cloudy and windy by noon, and snowing by nightfall. The wet season is generally November through May, although thunderstorms are likely during the summer. Average temperatures range from 88 °F (30.6 °C)/58 °F (13.9 °C) in July to 52 °F (10.6 °C)/29 °F (-1.1 °C) in January. The area typically collects 15-20 inches of snow each winter. There are an average of 31.1 days with highs of 91 °F (32 °C) or higher and an average of 94.8 days with lows of 31 °F (0 °C) or lower annually.
The highest recorded temperature was 106 °F (41 °C) on July 27, 1934. The lowest recorded temperature was −5 °F (−21 °C) on January 14, 1932, and December 3, 1958. Annual precipitation averages 11.08 inches (281 mm) and there is measurable precipitation on average of 42 days annually. The wettest year was 1983 with 27.77 inches (705 mm) and the driest year was 1989 with 4.30 inches (109 mm). The most precipitation in one month was 11.59 inches (294 mm) in March 1983. The most precipitation in 24 hours was 3.40 inches (86 mm) on March 1, 1983. The snowiest year was 1967 when 62.0 inches (1,570 mm) fell. The most snow in one month was 44.0 inches (1,120 mm) in January 1933.[10]
Downtown Tehachapi is 15 miles (24 km) from the White Wolf Fault, 6 miles (10 km) from the Garlock Fault and 30 miles (50 km) from the San Andreas Fault. The 1857 Fort Tejon earthquake on the San Andreas Fault had an estimated magnitude of 7.9 but there is no record of the local effects of this quake.[11] The Garlock Fault last ruptured approximately 500 years ago.
Tehachapi is best known for the 7.3 1952 Kern County earthquake on the White Wolf Fault in 1952. At the time, the earthquake was the largest in Southern California in the twentieth century and the largest since the 1872 Lone Pine earthquake. It was felt as far away as Reno, Nevada. Twelve people died in the quake and severe damage was done to buildings and rail lines in the area.[12]
Tehachapi boasts two local orchestras. The Tehachapi Community Orchestra, founded in 1998 by Gayel Pitchford produces 5 free-to-the public concerts each year, with familiar selections from the classical canon. This orchestra and its founder's vision were profiled in the Sept/Oct 2005 issue of Symphony magazine.
The Tehachapi Pops Orchestra, founded in 2006 by Deborah Hand, plays an eclectic blend of popular and jazz music, as well as original compositions.[13]
As of 2010[update], a local theater group, the Tehachapi Community Theater, performs in the recently restored downtown BeeKay theater.[14]
The city has several local news publications, including: The Loop [15]; and the The Tehachapi News - a weekly newspaper published in the city. [16]
Two FM radio stations broadcast from Tehachapi, however they originate in neighboring towns and feature no local Tehachapi programming:
As of 2010[update], an effort is underway by the Tehacahapi Media Foundation to initiate a local web-based radio station.[17]