Kawaiisu indians were the first people to live here. They called themselves the "Nu-oo-ah, "the people". The people called it Tah-ee-chay-pah, “the land of many acorns and good waters.” Locals couldn’t pronounce it, so they called it Tihichipa. The first non Indian explorers were in 1776 Spanish Padre Garces, then 1806 Padre Jose Marea. Jedediah Smith passed thru here in 1827, so others like Capt John Fremont and Kit Carson in 1844 could make their expeditions thru here. It was in 1853 Robert Williamson a government engineer decided the route through Summit Station (Tehachapi Pass) was best for the railroad. That didn’t get completed till 1876 once that last tunnel was completed.
In 1860 the first community was established and named Williamsburg after the first resident James Williams. It served mainly a trading center for all the local ranchers. Yet, Williamsburg was abandoned around 1875 when the most of the buildings were relocated to the Summit Station and a new site was established and renamed Tehachapi because of railroad timetable. (quoted from Yaqui at Vitual Tourist)
