Tehachapi, California
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Tehachapi (IPA: Template:IPA) is a city incorporated in 1909 located in its namesake Tehachapi Mountains between Bakersfield and Mojave in Kern County, California. The area is known for its Tehachapi Loop and for its electricity generating wind turbines. A California state prison has long been located in the area. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 10,957. As of 2006 the total population is estimated at 30,000 including surrounding areas.
The area in and around the city is also known for its apple orchards, though these have decreased in the last few decades. Its four seasons climate and rural ambiance has of late attracted retirees to the city. Retired actor Jack Palance of City Slickers fame lives in the area.
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Area history
Tehachapi was preceded by a settlement a few miles west of it called Williamsburg or "Tehichipa" which was in existence in the 1870's. After the Southern Pacific (SP) railroad (now merged into the Union Pacific) established its line through the mountains in 1876 Williamsburg saw its business taken away by the SP's newer location, eventually called Tehachapi Summit. Later its name was shortened to simply Tehachapi. The original SP railroad depot, still standing, helped start the beginning of the downtown core. It is now on the National Register of Historic Places and is the oldest building built in downtown Tehachapi.
The lime-rich Monolith cement works northeast of the city, still in operation, helped build such engineering works as the 1913 Los Angeles Aqueduct—its first project—as well as supplying cement for constructing the massive Hoover Dam dedicated to use in 1936.
The Dust Bowl migrants—known regionally here as Okies and made famous by John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath came through the area on their way to the southern San Joaquin Valley, especially in and around Bakersfield, at the time of the 1930s Great Depression.
Tehachapi was near the epicenter of a magnitude 7.5 (Richter scale) earthquake on the little known White Wolf fault on July 21, 1952. Unreinforced brick buildings resulted in major building destruction at that time, but have now long since been outlawed in California building codes.
The origin of the city's name is in dispute. Possibilities include Native American words expressing:
- sweetwater and acorns (from the area's many oak trees)
- windy place
Geography
Image:CAMap-doton-Tehachapi.pngTehachapi is located at 35°7'43" North, 118°26'56" West (35.128558, -118.448899)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 24.8 km² (9.6 mi²). 24.8 km² (9.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.10% is water.
Weather
Tehachapi is known for its four-season climate, which can be considered special in California. Average temperatures range from 98 °F (37 °C) in July (with overnight lows of 70 °F or 21 °C) to 56 °F (14 °C) in December (with overnight lows of 38 °F or 4 °C). The area often collects 2 to 6 inches (5 to 15 cm) of snow several times each winter.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 10,957 people, 2,533 households, and 1,709 families residing in the city. The population density was 441.6/km² (1,144.0/mi²). There were 2,914 housing units at an average density of 117.4/km² (304.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 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 were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,533 households out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.5% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the city the population was 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 were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 224.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 270.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,208, and the median income for a family was $40,030. Males had a median income of $50,446 versus $26,023 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,220. 20.4% of the population and 17.4% of families were below the poverty line. 24.5% of those under the age of 18 and 15.5% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.