Tecopa, California

Tecopa is a census-designated place in the Mojave Desert, in Inyo County, California, United States. Tecopa is located 9mi south-southeast of Shoshone, at an elevation of. The population was 150 at the 2010 census, up from 99 at the 2000 census.One of Tecopa's popular features is its natural hot springs. Adjacent to the county-owned campground are gender-segregated, no-clothing-mandatory, indoor hot pools for soaking. Access is included in camping fees. Privately owned resorts and campgrounds have their own gender policies.Tecopa was named after the Paiute leader Chief Tecopa.There are no automotive services in Tecopa.Shoshone is the closest town, 12 miles north.GeographyAccording to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 18.7sqmi, of which, 18.6sqmi of it is land and 0.1sqmi of it (0.37%) is water.HistoryThe Old Spanish Trail and the later wagon road called the Old Mormon Road or Salt Lake Road, passed from Resting Springs, east of the modern site of Tecopa, 7 miles to Willow Spring on the east bank of the canyon of the Amargosa River (then called Saleratus Creek), below Tecopa and above the mouth of China Ranch Wash. In 1859, THE PRAIRIE TRAVELER, a popular handbook for overland travelers at that time described it: "The spring is on the left of the road, and flows into Saleratus Creek. Animals must not be allowed to drink the Saleratus water." There the trail turned to follow the river south to Salt Springs.