Grapevine, California
Encyclopedia
Grapevine is an unincorporated community
in Kern County
, California
. At an elevation of 1499 feet (457 m), the community is located at the foot of a road grade known as The Grapevine through the Grapevine Canyon to Tejon Pass
in the Tehachapi Mountains
at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley
along Interstate 5 (formerly U.S. Route 99). The village consists mainly of roadside services. The village and grade are named, not for the once-winding road known as the Grapevine that used to climb the steep mountain canyon, but for the canyon it passed through with its wild grapes that still grow along the original road. Its Spanish name was La Cañada de las Uvas. The grade of the Grapevine was infamous for its high accident rate before the road was straightened and widened. There are escape ramps branching off both sides of the downward part of the road for heavy trucks whose brakes fail on this very long, steep and now straight grade. The road is still occasionally closed due to heavy snowfall during winter storms. It has also been closed for fire. As the Grapevine is the major route between Northern
and Southern California
, any closure is a major disruption to traffic along the West Coast.
To the south of the settlement is the Grapevine Canyon, through which I-5 and the Grapevine Creek run, the latter beginning in the Castac Valley at Lebec.
In 1951, Charlie Ryan
wrote and performed a popular song known as "Hot Rod Lincoln
", about a kid who races his souped-up Lincoln against a Cadillac up the Grapevine Hill. While he never drove up the Grapevine, this song was inspired by his own experience racing (and getting arrested for it) his buddy between Coeur D'Alene
and Lewiston
, Idaho
.
The ZIP Code is 93203, and the community is inside area code 661
. A post office operated at Grapevine from 1923 to 1960.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Kern County
Kern County, California
Spreading across the southern end of the California Central Valley, Kern County is the fifth-largest county by population in California. Its economy is heavily linked to agriculture and to petroleum extraction, and there is a strong aviation and space presence. Politically, it has generally...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. At an elevation of 1499 feet (457 m), the community is located at the foot of a road grade known as The Grapevine through the Grapevine Canyon to Tejon Pass
Tejon Pass
The Tejon Pass is a mountain pass at the southwest end of the Tehachapi Mountains linking Southern to Central California.-Geography:The apex of the pass is near the northwesternmost corner of Los Angeles County, north of Gorman...
in the Tehachapi Mountains
Tehachapi Mountains
The Tehachapi Mountains , regionally also called The Tehachapis, are a mountain range in the Transverse Ranges system of California in the Western United States...
at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley
San Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley is the area of the Central Valley of California that lies south of the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta in Stockton...
along Interstate 5 (formerly U.S. Route 99). The village consists mainly of roadside services. The village and grade are named, not for the once-winding road known as the Grapevine that used to climb the steep mountain canyon, but for the canyon it passed through with its wild grapes that still grow along the original road. Its Spanish name was La Cañada de las Uvas. The grade of the Grapevine was infamous for its high accident rate before the road was straightened and widened. There are escape ramps branching off both sides of the downward part of the road for heavy trucks whose brakes fail on this very long, steep and now straight grade. The road is still occasionally closed due to heavy snowfall during winter storms. It has also been closed for fire. As the Grapevine is the major route between Northern
Northern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
and Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, any closure is a major disruption to traffic along the West Coast.
To the south of the settlement is the Grapevine Canyon, through which I-5 and the Grapevine Creek run, the latter beginning in the Castac Valley at Lebec.
In 1951, Charlie Ryan
Charlie Ryan
Charles "Charlie" Ryan was an American singer and songwriter, best known for co-writing and first recording the rockabilly hit single "Hot Rod Lincoln".-Biography:...
wrote and performed a popular song known as "Hot Rod Lincoln
Hot Rod Lincoln
"Hot Rod Lincoln" was recorded in 1955, as an answer song to "Hot Rod Race", a 1951 hit for Arkie Shibley and his Mountain Dew Boys. Hot Rod Race tells the story of a late-model Ford and Mercury who end up racing along the highway, neither driver gaining an advantage, and staying "neck and neck"...
", about a kid who races his souped-up Lincoln against a Cadillac up the Grapevine Hill. While he never drove up the Grapevine, this song was inspired by his own experience racing (and getting arrested for it) his buddy between Coeur D'Alene
Coeur d'Alene
Coeur d'Alene may refer to a people and related place names in the northwestern United States:* Coeur d'Alene Tribe, a First Nations/Native American tribe** Coeur d'Alene language** Coeur d'Alene Reservation** Coeur d'Alene v. Idaho, a U.S...
and Lewiston
Lewiston
Lewiston is the name of some places in the United States of America:*Lewiston, Alabama*Lewiston, California*Lewiston, Georgia*Lewiston, Idaho*Lewiston, Illinois*Lewiston, Maine*Lewiston, Michigan*Lewiston, Minnesota*Lewiston, Nebraska...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
.
The ZIP Code is 93203, and the community is inside area code 661
Area code 661
North American area code 661 covers the majority of California's Kern County, as well as part of Los Angeles County, Santa Barbara County, and Tulare County...
. A post office operated at Grapevine from 1923 to 1960.
External links
- The Mountain Enterprise local newspaper serving readers of Grapevine and some other small communities