Tehachapi in Kern County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Early Settlements in The Tehachapi Area

Oak Creek, Williamsburg, Greenwich, Tehachapi

Photographed By Denise Boose, July 4, 2019

1. Early Settlements in The Tehachapi Area Marker

Inscription.

Early Settlements in The Tehachapi Area. Oak Creek, Williamsburg, Greenwich, Tehachapi. Green Street was named for Peter D. Greene, who came to the Tehachapi Area in 1856, when he set up camp in Mormon Gulch near Tehachapi where he prospected for gold (named after a company of Mormons who had previously prospected for gold there.) He moved to Los Angeles in the early 1860s but returned to the area in 1864 to continue mining. He was also involved in stock raising and based his operations at Oak Creek where a Tomlinson Stage Company's station had existed for a number of years., In 1868 Greene applied for a post office to be located at Oak Creek Stage Station, to be called "Tehichipa," and was appointed its postmaster when approved in 1869. This was the only post office in the entire Tehachapi area at that time. In 1875 Greene had founded the community Greenwich, three miles east of Williamsburg. The Tehichipa post office was moved to Williamsburg in 1877 but was discontinued in 1885 when Greene moved his Greenwich post office to the new population center of the railroad town known as Tehachapi Summit, named as such when the Southern Pacific Railroad arrived in the Tehachapi Valley in July 1876. The tracks had bypassed Greenwich and instead built its depot one mile east. The postal name was changed to "Tehachpi" in 1893., The original town of Williamsburg, also called Tehichipa, was likewise by-passed by the railroad and many residents literally moved their houses and business to the new town, just like those of Greenwich., A newspaper reported, "a healthy condition of progress was made by 1888 at the new town site of Tehachapi Summit. Judge Greene noted that the area he had seen grown from a wilderness had become one of the most prosperous sections of the state. Its exports largely exceed its imports and as consequence the people are becoming exceedingly prosperous. . This historical marker was erected by Main Street Tehachapi, Tehachapi Heritage League and The City of Tehachapi. It is in Tehachapi in Kern County California

Green Street was named for Peter D. Greene, who came to the Tehachapi Area in 1856, when he set up camp in Mormon Gulch near Tehachapi where he prospected for gold (named after a company of Mormons who had previously prospected for gold there.) He moved to Los Angeles in the early 1860s but returned to the area in 1864 to continue mining. He was also involved in stock raising and based his operations at Oak Creek where a Tomlinson Stage Company's station had existed for a number of years.

In 1868 Greene applied for a post office to be located at Oak Creek Stage Station, to be called "Tehichipa," and was appointed its postmaster when approved in 1869. This was the only post office in the entire Tehachapi area at that time. In 1875 Greene had founded the community Greenwich, three miles east of Williamsburg. The Tehichipa post office was moved to Williamsburg in 1877 but was discontinued in 1885 when Greene moved his Greenwich post office to the new population center of the railroad town known as Tehachapi Summit, named as such when the Southern Pacific Railroad arrived in the Tehachapi Valley in July 1876. The tracks had bypassed

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Greenwich and instead built its depot one mile east. The postal name was changed to "Tehachpi" in 1893.

The original town of Williamsburg, also called Tehichipa, was likewise by-passed by the railroad and many residents literally moved their houses and business to the new town, just like those of Greenwich.

A newspaper reported, "a healthy condition of progress was made by 1888 at the new town site of Tehachapi Summit. Judge Greene noted that the area he had seen grown from a wilderness had become one of the most prosperous sections of the state. Its exports largely exceed its imports and as consequence the people are becoming exceedingly prosperous.

Erected by Main Street Tehachapi, Tehachapi Heritage League and The City of Tehachapi.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1876.

Location. 35° 7.873′ N, 118° 26.867′ W. Marker is in Tehachapi, California, in Kern County. Marker is on Green Street, on the left when traveling north. Located in front of the old Union Bank, which is being remodeled into a Winery business. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 113 S Green St, Tehachapi CA 93561, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this

Photographed By Denise Boose, July 4, 2019

2. Early Settlements in The Tehachapi Area Marker

marker. Tehachapi Airport and Gliderport (a few steps from this marker); The Women's Prison in Tehachapi - 1932 (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of Bank of Tehachapi (within shouting distance of this marker); The Railroad and the Tehachapi Loop (within shouting distance of this marker); People of the Mountains (within shouting distance of this marker); Hitching Post Theatre (within shouting distance of this marker); Monolith (within shouting distance of this marker); What a Shock! The 1952 Earthquake (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tehachapi.

Early Settlements in The Tehachapi Area Marker: Inset image. Click for full size.

3. Early Settlements in The Tehachapi Area Marker: Inset

Credits. This page was last revised on October 26, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2019, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 313 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 5, 2019, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.