Tehachapi Real Estate Listings of Houses and Homes for Sale in Kern County, California

Tehachapi

For those still longing for the “good life,” Tehachapi is known for safe and affordable living in California. It is located in its namesake, the Tehachapi Mountains, between Bakersfield and Mojave in Kern County, California. The area is known for its world famous Tehachapi Loop (a railroad spiral and a tremendous feat of engineering in its day) and for its electricity generating wind turbines. A California state prison has long been located in the area, which has been a constant source of jobs and one of the drivers of a dependably strong local economy. 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 season climate and rural ambiance also attracts retirees to the city.

Like most of California, Tehachapi features wonderful weather, however, it is more suited to those that enjoy a taste of the four seasons. On average, there is about 10 inches of snow per year, though winters remain much more temperate than most of the rest of the United States. The summers feature warm weather and abundant sunshine.

The Tehachapi Unified School District prides itself on offering excellent and diverse educational programs. The district operates three elementary schools, one middle school, an alternative education school and one comprehensive high school. In 1999, the community passed a $24 million bond to construct a new state-of-the-art high school, which opened in August 2003.

There are more than 4,600 wind turbines in the Tehachapi area. The Tehachapi Wind Resource area is the largest wind energy producer in the world. Kern County produces as much wind energy as the rest of the United States combined. The Tehachapi Wind Resource area produces more wind energy than Germany or Denmark or Japan, other regions with high interest in the production of electrical power from wind energy. These wind turbines collectively generate 1.4 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, which is enough to continuously and simultaneously create light for approximately two million fluorescent lamps. Thousands of people from around the world have visited Tehachapi's wind power plants for a vision of the future. Hikers can enjoy visiting several wind energy "farms" which are situated on the Pacific Crest Trail, accessible about seven miles east of Tehachapi.

The City of Tehachapi was preceded by a settlement a few miles west of it called Williamsburg or "Tehichipa" which was in existence in the 1870s. After the Southern Pacific railroad established its line through the mountains in 1876, Williamsburg saw its business taken away by a newer location, eventually called Tehachapi Summit. Later its name was shortened to simply Tehachapi. The original 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 in Downtown Tehachapi.

While less than 120 miles northeast of Los Angeles, Tehachapi maintains a distinctively rural atmosphere. Ranches with horses as well as homes on large acreage are common in the areas surrounding the city of Tehachapi. In addition, a number of flora and fauna reside in the area and include the California poppy (state flower), quail (state bird), Mojave green rattlesnake, mountain lion, bobcat, deer, and wild boar to name just a few.

There is an abundance of nearby parks & recreation including Tehachapi Mountain Park, and the Mourning Cloak Ranch and Botanical Gardens, containing over 2,200 species of plants on 20 acres of hillside. At an elevation of 7986, Woody’s Peak overlooks the Tehachapi Mountain Park, which features hiking and nature awareness on the Nuooah Nature Trail. The park also features camping, equestrian trail riding wonderful views around every corner.

Tehachapi Valley Recreation & Parks District features several great city parks offering picnic space, swimming and plenty of tree-lined trails. The parks district also sponsors great programs ranging from Youth Sports to Adult Programs such as Jazzercise and Water Color classes.