Get to know Bakersfield, CA

The city of Bakersfield is the seat of Kern County.  It is known as the birthplace of the music genre Bakersfield sound.  A handful of pioneers  built cabins in the area in 1860, calling it Kern Island.  These were swept away by floods in 1862.  The following year, Thomas Baker, a lawyer and former colonel in the Ohio militia, came to the area because of the gold rush.  The area became known as Baker’s field and was a popular stop for travelers.  The city was incorporated in 1873 and became the county seat the next year.  The city unincorporated for 22 years beginning in 1876, before reincorporating in 1898.  Oil and agriculture are the cities major industries.  The major employers include the County of Kern, The Giumarra Companies, Grimmway Farms, and Bolthouse Farms.  Notable residents have included former Chief Justice Earl Warren and Merle Haggard.

Quick Facts

Population: 373,627

Median Household Income: $61,039

Median Property Value: $237,600