Kern County, California

County in California, United States

County in California, United States

Kern County

County

Images, from top down, left to right: Downtown Bakersfield, Cesar E. Chavez National Monument, Fort Tejon barracks, an F-35 landing at Edwards Air Force Base, the Midway-Sunset Oil Field

Seal

Interactive map of Kern County

Location in the state of California

Coordinates: 35°20′N 118°43′W﻿ / ﻿35.34°N 118.72°W﻿ / 35.34; -118.72
Country| United States
State| California
Incorporated| April 2, 1866; 159 years ago (1866-04-02)
Named after| Kern River and Edward Kern
County seat| Bakersfield
Largest city| Bakersfield (population)
California City (area)
Incorporated cities| 11
Government

• Type| Council–Administration
• Body| Board of Supervisors
• Chair| Leticia Perez
• Vice Chair| David Couch
• Board of Supervisors[1]|

Supervisors

* Phillip Peters
* Chris Parlier
* Jeff Flores
* David Couch
* Leticia Perez

• Chief Administrative Officer[2]| Ryan J. Alsop
Area

• Total

| 8,163 sq mi (21,140 km2)
• Land| 8,132 sq mi (21,060 km2)
• Water| 31 sq mi (80 km2)
Highest elevation

[3]

| 8,755 ft (2,669 m)
Lowest elevation

[3]

| 206 ft (63 m)
Population

(2020 Census)[4]

• Total

| 909,235

• Estimate

(2024)

| 922,529
• Density| 110/sq mi (43/km2)
GDP

[5]

• Total| $57.541 billion (2022)
Time zone| UTC−8 (Pacific Time Zone)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−7 (Pacific Daylight Time)
Area code| 661, 760
FIPS code| 06-029
GNIS feature ID| 2054176
Congressional districts| 20th, 22nd, 23rd
Website| kerncounty.com

Kern County is a county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 909,235.[4] Its county seat is Bakersfield.[6]

Kern County comprises the Bakersfield, California, metropolitan statistical area. The county spans the southern end of the Central Valley. Covering 8,161.42 square miles (21,138.0 km2), it ranges west to the southern slope of the Coast Ranges, and east beyond the southern slope of the eastern Sierra Nevada into the Mojave Desert, at the city of Ridgecrest. Its northernmost city is Delano, and its southern reach extends to just beyond Frazier Park, and the northern extremity of the parallel Antelope Valley.

The county's economy is heavily linked to agriculture and petroleum extraction. Also, a strong aviation, space, and military industry is present, such as Edwards Air Force Base, the China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station, and the Mojave Air and Space Port.

With a population that is 54.9% Hispanic as of 2020, Kern is California's third-most populous majority-Hispanic county and the sixth-largest nationwide.[7]

## History

[edit]

### Indigenous Era

[edit]

Native Americans lived in this region for hundreds of years: Chumash, tribes grouped together under the settler name Yokuts, and others.[8]

### Spanish era

[edit]

Spain claimed the area in 1769. Entering from Grapevine Canyon to the south in 1772, Commander Don Pedro Fages became the first European known to set foot in the area.

The Battle of San Emigdio took place in Kern County in March 1824. The Chumash Native Americans of Mission Santa Barbara rebelled against the Mexican government and its taking over mission property and ejecting the natives. The battle occurred in the canyon where San Emigdio Creek flows down San Emigdio Mountain and the Blue Ridge, south of Bakersfield near today's Highway 166. Mexican forces from Monterey were commanded by Carlos Carrillo and the conflict was a low-casualty encounter, with only four Native Americans being killed and no Mexicans. The surviving Native Americans were pacified and brought back to Santa Barbara in June 1824 after a pursuit and negotiation, in which many were allowed to keep their arms for the return march over the mountains.[9]

### American era

[edit]

The Havilah Court Building was restored in the 1970s and now serves as a museum: Photo circa 2007.

In the beginning, what was to become Kern County was dominated by mining in the mountains and in the desert. In 1855, the California legislature attempted to form a county in the area by giving the southeastern territory of Tulare County on the west of the Sierra Nevada Mountains to Buena Vista County. it was never officially organized prior to 1859, though, when the enabling legislation expired. The south of Tulare County was later organized as Kern County in 1866, with additions from Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties. Its first county seat was the mining town of Havilah, in the mountains east of Bakersfield and north of Tehachapi.[10]

Settlers considered the flat land of the valley inhospitable and impassable at the time due to swamps, lakes, tule reeds, and diseases such as malaria. This changed when residents started draining land for farming and constructing canals, most dug by hired Chinese laborers. Within 10 years, the valley surpassed the mining areas as the economic power of the county, and as a result, the county seat was moved from Havilah to Bakersfield in 1874.[citation needed]

In 1899, the discovery well of the Kern River Oil Field was dug by hand,[11] and soon the towns of Oil City, Oil Center, and Oildale came into existence.[11]

#### Etymology

[edit]

The county derives its name from the Kern River, which was named for Edward Kern, cartographer for General John C. Frémont's 1845 expedition, which crossed Walker Pass. The Kern River was originally named Rio Bravo de San Felipe by Father Francisco Garcés when he explored the area in 1776.

#### Earthquakes

[edit]

Main articles: 1952 Kern County earthquake and 2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes

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|

Throughout recorded history, severe earthquakes have struck Kern County, including the 1857 Fort Tejon earthquake.

On July 21, 1952, an earthquake occurred with the epicenter about 23 miles (37 km) south of Bakersfield. It measured 7.3 on the moment magnitude scale and killed 12 people. In addition to the deaths, it was responsible for hundreds of injuries and more than $60 million in property damage. The main shock was felt over much of California and as far away as Phoenix, Arizona, and Reno, Nevada. The earthquake occurred on the White Wolf Fault and was the strongest to occur in California since the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Tehachapi suffered the greatest damage and loss of life from the earthquake, though its effects were widely felt throughout central and southern California. The event had a significant aftershock sequence that persisted into July and August, with the strongest coming on August 22, an M5.8 event with a maximum perceived intensity of VIII (severe) and resulted in two additional deaths and an additional $10 million in property damage. Repercussions of the sequence of earthquakes were still being felt in the heavily damaged downtown area of Bakersfield well into the 1990s, as city leaders attempted to improve safety of the surviving unreinforced masonry buildings.

Following the event, a field survey was conducted along the fault zone, with the goal of estimating the peak ground acceleration of the shock based on visually evaluating rock formations and other indicators. Ground disturbances that were created by the earthquakes were also surveyed, both in the valley and in the foothills, with both vertical and horizontal displacements present in the epicenter area. The motion records that were acquired from the event were significant, and a reconnaissance report was recognized for its coverage of the event, and its setting a standard for similar engineering or scientific papers.

#### Abuse trials

[edit]

Between 1983 and 1986, several ritual sex ring child-abuse cases occurred in Kern County, resulting in numerous long prison sentences, all of which were overturned—some of them decades later, because the prosecutors had coerced false testimonies from the purported child victims.[12] The details of these false accusations are covered extensively in the 2008 documentary Witch Hunt, narrated by Sean Penn.[13]

## Geography

[edit]

Map of Kern County

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 8,163 square miles (21,140 km2), of which 31 square miles (80 km2) (0.4%) is covered by water.[14] It is the third-largest county by area in California. The tallest peak in the county is Sawmill Mountain with an elevation of 8822 ft. Its area is nearly the size of the state of New Hampshire; it extends:

* East beyond the southern slope of the Sierra Nevada range into the Mojave Desert, and includes parts of the Indian Wells Valley and Antelope Valley
* West from the Sierra across the floor of the San Joaquin Valley to the eastern edge of the Temblor Range, part of the Coast Ranges
* South over the ridge of the Tehachapi Mountains

### Air quality

[edit]

Particulate pollution in Kern County varies with the seasons.

Kern County suffers from severe air pollution. Particulates cause poor visibility, especially in the winter. Western Kern County lies in the San Joaquin Valley and the topography traps pollutants. Although the topography is not as unfavorable in eastern Kern County, it is a non-attainment area for particulates.[15] Air pollution caused by particulates is "in the unhealthy range an average of 40 days a year, according to the American Lung Association's 2018 State of the Air Report.[16]

### Vegetation

[edit]

Chaparral comprises a considerable portion of the natural area within Kern County; the species diversity within these chaparral habitats, however, is considerably less than in many other regions of California.[17] Whitethorn is a prominent example of chaparral species on the rocky slopes of the Sierra Nevada and the Inner Coastal Ranges.[18] California buckeye is a notable tree found in both chaparral and forests and whose southern range terminates in Kern County.[19]

### National protected areas

[edit]

* Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge
* Carrizo Plain National Monument (part)
* César E. Chávez National Monument
* Giant Sequoia National Monument (part)
* Kern National Wildlife Refuge
* Los Padres National Forest (part)
* Sequoia National Forest (part)

## Demographics

[edit]

See also: List of populated places in Kern County, California

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1870| 2,925| | —
1880| 5,601| | 91.5%
1890| 9,808| | 75.1%
1900| 16,480| | 68.0%
1910| 37,715| | 128.9%
1920| 54,843| | 45.4%
1930| 82,570| | 50.6%
1940| 135,124| | 63.6%
1950| 228,309| | 69.0%
1960| 291,984| | 27.9%
1970| 329,162| | 12.7%
1980| 403,089| | 22.5%
1990| 543,477| | 34.8%
2000| 661,645| | 21.7%
2010| 839,631| | 26.9%
2020| 909,235| | 8.3%
2024 (est.)| 922,529| [20]| 1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[21]
1790–1960[22] 1900–1990[23]
1990–2000[24] 2010[25] 2020[4]

According to the 2020 United States census, Kern County's population was 909,235.[4] It was the 11th-largest county by population in California.[26] The center of population of California is located in Kern County, in the town of Buttonwillow.[27]

### 2020 census

[edit]

Kern County, California – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1990[28] | Pop 2000[29] | Pop 2010[25] | Pop 2020[30] | % 1990  | % 2000  | % 2010  | % 2020

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

White alone (NH)  | 340,892  | 327,190  | 323,794  | 279,600  | 62.72%  | 49.45%  | 38.56%  | 30.75%
Black or African American alone (NH)  | 28,851  | 37,845  | 45,377  | 46,776  | 5.31%  | 5.72%  | 5.40%  | 5.14%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)  | 5,620  | 5,885  | 5,893  | 5,197  | 1.03%  | 0.89%  | 0.70%  | 0.57%
Asian alone (NH)  | 14,879  | 21,177  | 33,100  | 44,257  | 2.74%  | 3.20%  | 3.94%  | 4.87%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)  | N/A  | 728  | 995  | 1,127  | N/A  | 0.11%  | 0.12%  | 0.12%
Other race alone (NH)  | 1,240  | 989  | 1,472  | 4,557  | 0.23%  | 0.15%  | 0.18%  | 0.50%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)  | N/A  | 13,795  | 15,967  | 28,563  | N/A  | 2.08%  | 1.90%  | 3.14%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)  | 151,995  | 254,036  | 413,033  | 499,158  | 27.97%  | 38.39%  | 49.19%  | 54.90%
Total | 543,477 | 661,645 | 839,631 | 909,235 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00%

According to the 2020 United States census:[31]

* Hispanic (54.9%)
* White non-Hispanic (30.8%)
* Black (5.5%)
* Asian (5.1%)
* Two or more races (16.1%)
* Indigenous (2.0%)
* Some other race (30.2%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics may be counted in any race.)

### 2011

[edit]

Population, race, and income

Total population[32] | 829,254
White[32] | 572,420  | 69.0%
Black or African American[32] | 47,008  | 5.7%
American Indian or Alaska Native[32] | 9,132  | 1.1%
Asian[32] | 33,179  | 4.0%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander[32] | 914  | 0.1%
Some other race[32] | 136,534  | 16.5%
Two or more races[32] | 30,067  | 3.6%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)[33] | 402,444  | 48.5%
Per capita income[34] | $20,167
Median household income[35] | $48,021
Median family income[36] | $52,041

#### Places by population, race, and income

[edit]

Places by population and race

Place  | Type[37] | Population[32] | White[32] | Other[32]
[note 1] | Asian[32] | Black or African
American[32] | Native American[32]
[note 2] | Hispanic or Latino
(of any race)[33]
Arvin | City | 18,809 | 65.9% | 32.0% | 0.6% | 0.4% | 1.1% | 91.0%
Bakersfield | City | 339,761 | 62.9% | 21.9% | 5.9% | 8.2% | 1.1% | 44.5%
Bear Valley Springs | CDP | 5,273 | 90.5% | 7.1% | 1.8% | 0.4% | 0.1% | 8.9%
Bodfish | CDP | 1,982 | 91.2% | 1.7% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 7.2% | 4.8%
Boron | CDP | 2,323 | 84.1% | 5.4% | 0.0% | 10.2% | 0.3% | 14.9%
Buttonwillow | CDP | 1,449 | 76.3% | 20.9% | 0.1% | 2.6% | 0.0% | 76.6%
California City | City | 13,684 | 64.8% | 15.9% | 2.7% | 16.4% | 0.2% | 24.4%
Cherokee Strip | CDP | 316 | 86.4% | 13.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 78.5%
China Lake Acres | CDP | 1,423 | 82.4% | 13.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 4.4% | 10.3%
Delano | City | 52,342 | 62.8% | 16.8% | 13.4% | 5.8% | 1.2% | 72.6%
Derby Acres | CDP | 360 | 90.8% | 5.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 4.2% | 5.0%
Dustin Acres | CDP | 590 | 73.4% | 26.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 26.9%
Edmundson Acres | CDP | 306 | 43.8% | 49.3% | 0.0% | 3.9% | 2.9% | 84.0%
Edwards AFB | CDP | 2,373 | 68.2% | 8.2% | 6.1% | 16.8% | 0.7% | 17.9%
Fellows | CDP | 118 | 89.8% | 4.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5.9% | 4.2%
Ford City | CDP | 4,013 | 70.9% | 27.3% | 0.5% | 0.0% | 1.3% | 41.5%
Frazier Park | CDP | 2,467 | 91.9% | 7.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.1% | 13.5%
Fuller Acres | CDP | 912 | 43.0% | 53.8% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3.2% | 84.9%
Golden Hills | CDP | 8,106 | 89.7% | 8.4% | 1.4% | 0.3% | 0.2% | 18.4%
Greenacres | CDP | 5,875 | 83.5% | 14.4% | 1.6% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 20.9%
Greenfield | CDP | 3,628 | 82.4% | 16.2% | 0.0% | 1.4% | 0.0% | 59.8%
Inyokern | CDP | 1,321 | 81.1% | 6.8% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 12.1% | 8.6%
Johannesburg | CDP | 179 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0%
Keene | CDP | 340 | 89.7% | 1.2% | 0.0% | 9.1% | 0.0% | 9.1%
Kernville | CDP | 1,595 | 85.3% | 6.1% | 0.4% | 2.4% | 5.8% | 10.2%
Lake Isabella | CDP | 2,960 | 96.0% | 2.3% | 0.0% | 1.7% | 0.0% | 18.8%
Lake of the Woods | CDP | 814 | 78.9% | 10.3% | 5.8% | 0.0% | 5.0% | 12.5%
Lamont | CDP | 15,883 | 66.8% | 30.9% | 1.3% | 0.2% | 0.9% | 94.9%
Lebec | CDP | 1,676 | 80.0% | 17.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2.6% | 30.9%
Lost Hills | CDP | 2,075 | 97.1% | 2.9% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 98.5%
McFarland | City | 12,530 | 82.1% | 14.1% | 0.8% | 2.4% | 0.6% | 89.2%
McKittrick | CDP | 113 | 90.3% | 8.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.8% | 39.8%
Maricopa | City | 1,280 | 85.1% | 12.2% | 1.1% | 0.9% | 0.8% | 27.3%
Mettler | CDP | 145 | 86.9% | 13.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 94.5%
Mexican Colony | CDP | 127 | 66.1% | 33.9% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 92.1%
Mojave | CDP | 3,987 | 57.3% | 34.5% | 0.7% | 6.6% | 0.8% | 49.6%
Mountain Mesa | CDP | 964 | 83.2% | 13.5% | 0.0% | 3.3% | 0.0% | 4.7%
North Edwards | CDP | 1,107 | 74.7% | 5.4% | 0.0% | 19.0% | 0.9% | 11.3%
Oildale | CDP | 32,253 | 86.1% | 10.2% | 0.6% | 1.4% | 1.7% | 19.2%
Onyx | CDP | 155 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0%
Pine Mountain Club | CDP | 1,541 | 95.7% | 2.4% | 0.0% | 1.0% | 0.9% | 15.0%
Randsburg | CDP | 26 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0%
Ridgecrest | City | 27,587 | 77.7% | 11.2% | 4.1% | 5.6% | 1.4% | 14.6%
Rosamond | CDP | 17,997 | 62.8% | 22.6% | 3.3% | 9.7% | 1.6% | 37.8%
Rosedale | CDP | 14,765 | 88.1% | 7.5% | 1.5% | 1.3% | 1.6% | 21.8%
Shafter | City | 16,709 | 76.7% | 20.7% | 0.1% | 0.6% | 1.9% | 80.0%
Smith Corner | CDP | 275 | 86.2% | 13.8% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 85.8%
South Taft | CDP | 2,279 | 85.7% | 9.3% | 0.5% | 2.1% | 2.4% | 46.0%
Squirrel Mountain Valley | CDP | 635 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 6.0%
Stallion Springs | CDP | 3,244 | 90.7% | 9.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 7.8%
Taft | City | 9,413 | 86.7% | 8.5% | 2.3% | 1.6% | 0.9% | 31.5%
Taft Heights | CDP | 1,873 | 88.3% | 5.2% | 2.2% | 0.7% | 3.6% | 5.1%
Tehachapi | City | 14,332 | 82.4% | 7.3% | 0.7% | 7.9% | 1.6% | 32.8%
Tupman | CDP | 102 | 73.5% | 20.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5.9% | 11.8%
Valley Acres | CDP | 651 | 99.2% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 23.5%
Wasco | City | 25,457 | 77.1% | 11.6% | 1.4% | 8.9% | 1.0% | 74.0%
Weedpatch | CDP | 2,391 | 57.8% | 35.5% | 2.7% | 0.4% | 3.6% | 90.8%
Weldon | CDP | 2,383 | 82.6% | 3.8% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 13.5% | 8.4%
Wofford Heights | CDP | 2,284 | 96.9% | 2.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.6% | 2.1%
Places by population and income

Place  | Type[37] | Population[38] | Per capita income[34] | Median household income[35] | Median family income[36]
Arvin | City | 18,809 | $9,241 | $29,740 | $30,012
Bakersfield | City | 339,761 | $23,141 | $54,656 | $60,665
Bear Valley Springs | CDP | 5,273 | $39,533 | $78,635 | $103,561
Bodfish | CDP | 1,982 | $18,752 | $21,789 | $28,576
Boron | CDP | 2,323 | $19,582 | $36,687 | $43,636
Buttonwillow | CDP | 1,449 | $10,629 | $33,333 | $30,431
California City | City | 13,684 | $21,161 | $53,768 | $56,615
Cherokee Strip | CDP | 316 | $7,612 | $43,977 | $28,750
China Lake Acres | CDP | 1,423 | $27,002 | $38,643 | $61,889
Delano | City | 52,342 | $10,957 | $37,810 | $39,098
Derby Acres | CDP | 360 | $23,443 | $49,000 | $60,893
Dustin Acres | CDP | 590 | $22,121 | $46,786 | $67,841
Edmundson Acres | CDP | 306 | $13,075 | $36,354 | $37,396
Edwards AFB | CDP | 2,373 | $26,411 | $77,629 | $65,568
Fellows | CDP | 118 | $24,495 | $61,500 | $70,833
Ford City | CDP | 4,013 | $13,491 | $25,102 | $33,214
Frazier Park | CDP | 2,467 | $22,679 | $55,997 | $55,963
Fuller Acres | CDP | 912 | $10,369 | $33,438 | $28,333
Golden Hills | CDP | 8,106 | $27,070 | $54,830 | $57,130
Greenacres | CDP | 5,875 | $28,706 | $65,250 | $62,375
Greenfield | CDP | 3,628 | $24,126 | $48,250 | $64,375
Inyokern | CDP | 1,321 | $29,212 | $38,750 | $69,259
Johannesburg | CDP | 179 | $12,498 | $31,146 | $35,313
Keene | CDP | 340 | $62,428 | $106,000 | $105,875
Kernville | CDP | 1,595 | $37,788 | $63,083 | $72,571
Lake Isabella | CDP | 2,960 | $16,624 | $20,833 | $38,462
Lake of the Woods | CDP | 814 | $23,726 | $53,750 | $82,616
Lamont | CDP | 15,883 | $10,332 | $35,168 | $35,741
Lebec | CDP | 1,676 | $16,456 | $61,020 | $61,034
Lost Hills | CDP | 2,075 | $8,664 | $30,043 | $25,980
McFarland | City | 12,530 | $9,285 | $35,615 | $35,821
McKittrick | CDP | 113 | $22,587 | $57,708 | $51,250
Maricopa | City | 1,280 | $15,062 | $34,167 | $39,196
Mettler | CDP | 145 | $11,373 | $32,273 | $12,143
Mexican Colony | CDP | 127 | $15,861 | $24,904 | $65,132
Mojave | CDP | 3,987 | $16,290 | $30,547 | $33,833
Mountain Mesa | CDP | 964 | $16,310 | $50,378 | $51,541
North Edwards | CDP | 1,107 | $20,928 | $34,472 | $34,231
Oildale | CDP | 32,253 | $18,121 | $34,760 | $41,043
Onyx | CDP | 155 | $23,312 | $35,833 | $33,646
Pine Mountain Club | CDP | 1,541 | $31,530 | $44,924 | $52,279
Randsburg | CDP | 26 | $12,162 | $27,778 | [39]
Ridgecrest | City | 27,587 | $28,181 | $59,830 | $65,321
Rosamond | CDP | 17,997 | $20,558 | $56,974 | $61,144
Rosedale | CDP | 14,765 | $40,803 | $103,882 | $109,823
Shafter | City | 16,709 | $13,482 | $38,591 | $39,908
Smith Corner | CDP | 275 | $13,076 | $27,298 | $27,298
South Taft | CDP | 2,279 | $11,524 | $39,375 | $41,985
Squirrel Mountain Valley | CDP | 635 | $39,920 | $71,964 | $104,973
Stallion Springs | CDP | 3,244 | $31,564 | $59,808 | $63,147
Taft | City | 9,413 | $16,198 | $46,136 | $51,686
Taft Heights | CDP | 1,873 | $16,440 | $37,465 | $43,899
Tehachapi | City | 14,332 | $15,571 | $46,250 | $55,742
Tupman | CDP | 102 | $14,328 | $43,125 | $46,250
Valley Acres | CDP | 651 | $21,635 | $56,000 | $82,212
Wasco | City | 25,457 | $11,498 | $40,295 | $43,059
Weedpatch | CDP | 2,391 | $8,620 | $28,105 | $29,082
Weldon | CDP | 2,383 | $21,101 | $37,891 | $48,958
Wofford Heights | CDP | 2,284 | $19,011 | $29,821 | $37,946

### 2010

[edit]

The 2010 United States census reported that Kern County had a population of 839,631. The racial makeup of Kern County was 499,766 (59.5%) White, 48,921 (5.8%) African American, 12,676 (1.5%) Native American, 34,846 (4.2%) Asian, 1,252 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 204,314 (24.3%) from other races, and 37,856 (4.5%) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 413,033 persons (49.2%); 43.4% of Kern County residents are of Mexican heritage, 1.0% Salvadoran, 0.5% Colombian, and 0.4% Guatemalan.[40]

### 2000

[edit]

According to the 2000 United States census[41] of 2000, 661,645 people, 208,652 households, and 156,489 families resided in the county. The population density was 81 people per square mile (31 people/km2). The 231,564 housing units had an average density of 28 units per square mile (11 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 61.6% White, 6.0% Black or African American, 3.4% Asian, 1.5% Native American, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 23.2% from other races, and 4.1% from two or more races. About 38.4% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race; 8.4% were of German, 7.2% American, and 5.7% Irish ancestry, according to the census, and 66.8% spoke English, 29.1% Spanish, and 1.0% Tagalog as their first language.

Of the 208,652 households, 42.2% had children under 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were not families. About 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.50.[42]

In the county, the age distribution was 31.9% under 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 105.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.3 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,446, and for a family was $39,403. Males had a median income of $38,097 versus $25,876 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,760. About 16.8% of families and 20.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.8% of those under 18 and 10.5% of those 65 or over.

## Arts and culture

[edit]

Kern County is associated with the Bakersfield sound. The Buck Owens Crystal Palace is located in Bakersfield.[43]

## Metropolitan statistical area

[edit]

The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Kern County as the Bakersfield, CA metropolitan statistical area.[44] The United States Census Bureau ranked the Bakersfield, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area as the 63rd most populous metropolitan statistical area and the 68th most populous primary statistical area of the United States as of July 1, 2012.[45][46]

## Government, policing, and politics

[edit]

### Government

[edit]

Kern County is a California Constitution-defined general-law county and is governed by an elected board of supervisors. The board consists of five members, elected by districts, who serve four-year, staggered terms. The county government provides countywide services such as elections and voter registration, some law enforcement, jails, vital records, property records, tax collection, public health, and social services. In addition, the county serves as the local government for all unincorporated areas.

### Safety

[edit]

#### Fire

[edit]

Logo of the Kern County Fire Department

The Kern County Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency response services for the unincorporated areas of the county, as well as the cities of Arvin, Delano, Maricopa, McFarland, Ridgecrest, Shafter, Taft, Tehachapi and Wasco.[47]

Bakersfield has its own fire department, the Bakersfield Fire Department.

#### Sheriff

[edit]

The Kern County Sheriff provides court protection, jail administration, and coroner services for the entire county of around 900,000 in population. It provides patrol and detective services for the unincorporated areas of the county and by contract to certain municipalities. The main sheriff's office and station is at Bakersfield, with 15 sheriff substations for the widespread county.

#### Municipal police

[edit]

Municipal police departments in the county are Bakersfield, population 384,000; Delano, 54,000; Ridgecrest, 29,000; Wasco, 28,000; Arvin, 21,000; Shafter, 20,000; McFarland, 15,000; California City, 14,671; Tehachapi, 13,000; Taft, 9,327; and Maricopa (sheriff contract city), 1,200.

### Politics and voter registration

[edit]

Population and registered voters

Total population[32] | 909,235
Registered voters[48][note 3] | 426,481  | 46.9%
Democratic[48] | 148,701  | 34.9%
Republican[48] | 154,612  | 36.3%
Democratic–Republican spread[48] | -5,911 | -1.4%
American Independent[48] | 18,938  | 3.3%
Green[48] | 1,343  | 0.2%
Libertarian[48] | 5,510  | 0.6%
Peace and Freedom[48] | 3,073  | 0.3%
Americans Elect[48] | 12  | 0.0%
Other[48] | 6,947  | 0.1%
No party preference[48] | 87,357  | 18.8%

#### Cities by population and voter registration

[edit]

Cities by population and voter registration

City  | Population[32] | Registered voters[48]
[note 3] | Democratic[48] | Republican[48] | D–R spread[48] | Other[48] | No party preference[48]
Arvin | 19,495 | 30.1% | 55.6% | 13.2% | +42.4% | 6.8% | 24.4%
Bakersfield | 403,455 | 50.9% | 36.6% | 34.5% | +2.1% | 8.0% | 20.9%
California City | 14,973 | 44.1% | 35.9% | 32.2% | +3.7% | 10.4% | 21.5%
Delano | 51,428 | 32.7% | 53.6% | 16.6% | +37.0% | 7.0% | 22.8%
Maricopa | 1,100 | 44.5% | 13.7% | 62.2% | -48.5% | 10.4% | 13.7%
McFarland | 14,161 | 28.0% | 52.3% | 17.7% | +36.6% | 6.2% | 23.8%
Ridgecrest | 27,959 | 56.7% | 23.6% | 45.1% | -21.5% | 10.3% | 21.0%
Shafter | 19,953 | 44.8% | 40.7% | 31.2% | +9.5% | 6.9% | 21.2%
Taft | 8,546 | 39.4% | 14.9% | 58.4% | -43.5% | 9.6% | 17.1%
Tehachapi | 12,939 | 38.9% | 22.4% | 46.4% | -24.0% | 10.4% | 20.8%
Wasco | 25,457 | 30.4% | 45.3% | 23.5% | +21.8% | 7.6% | 23.6%

### Federal

[edit]

Kern is a strongly Republican county in Presidential and congressional elections. The last Democratic candidate for president to win a majority in the county was Lyndon Johnson in 1964. The county is also a Republican stronghold at the state level, with Jerry Brown being the last Democrat to win the county in a gubernatorial election in 1978. Kern remains the only county in Southern California that consistently votes Republican in recent elections. While Republican margins in the county had been shrinking, with Donald Trump's 10.2% margin of victory in 2020 being the smallest since Gerald Ford's 6.7% majority in 1976, Trump regained his margins in 2024 and even surpassed previous performances, with his 21% margin being the best since George Bush in 2004. Some constituencies in Kern County in particular some of the most widely contested in California, and the United States as of the early 2020s,[49][50] with the 2022 race for the 22nd US House district being close, and the 26th Senate District having one of the tightest margins in electoral history, with incumbent Democrat Melissa Hurtado retaining her seat by 13 votes.[51]

Democratic strength is concentrated in the small agricultural towns in the San Joaquin Valley portion of the county, such as Arvin, Delano, McFarland, Shafter, and Wasco. Unincorporated communities close to agricultural areas, such as Lamont and Lost Hills, are Democratic strongholds. The eastern and southern parts of Bakersfield, along with unincorporated East Bakersfield, have also become reliably Democratic. Republican strength is found in the foothill, mountain, and high desert communities of the county. The cities of Maricopa, Ridgecrest, Taft, and Tehachapi are Republican strongholds. Along with the northern parts of Bakersfield, the wealthy unincorporated area of Rosedale and working-class Oildale are also seen as being strongly Republican. Cities including California City and the western areas of Bakersfield are seen as competitive in most elections. Bakersfield as a whole is seen as being competitive with a Republican lean. The rest of the unincorporated areas of Kern County is seen as strongly Republican.

United States presidential election results for Kern County, California[52] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 167,879  | 59.26% | 108,241  | 38.21%  | 7,164  | 2.53%
2020 | 164,484  | 53.88% | 133,366  | 43.68%  | 7,442  | 2.44%
2016 | 129,584  | 53.07% | 98,689  | 40.42%  | 15,890  | 6.51%
2012 | 126,618  | 56.99% | 89,495  | 40.28%  | 6,076  | 2.73%
2008 | 134,793  | 57.65% | 93,457  | 39.97%  | 5,558  | 2.38%
2004 | 140,417  | 66.49% | 68,603  | 32.49%  | 2,154  | 1.02%
2000 | 110,663  | 60.70% | 66,003  | 36.20%  | 5,642  | 3.09%
1996 | 92,151  | 53.77% | 62,658  | 36.56%  | 16,582  | 9.67%
1992 | 80,762  | 45.05% | 60,510  | 33.75%  | 37,991  | 21.19%
1988 | 90,550  | 61.48% | 55,083  | 37.40%  | 1,660  | 1.13%
1984 | 94,776  | 65.03% | 49,567  | 34.01%  | 1,401  | 0.96%
1980 | 72,842  | 59.65% | 41,097  | 33.65%  | 8,182  | 6.70%
1976 | 58,023  | 52.29% | 50,567  | 45.57%  | 2,371  | 2.14%
1972 | 71,686  | 60.14% | 41,937  | 35.18%  | 5,570  | 4.67%
1968 | 53,990  | 46.61% | 49,284  | 42.55%  | 12,558  | 10.84%
1964 | 45,014  | 41.18%  | 64,174  | 58.71% | 120  | 0.11%
1960 | 52,800  | 50.43% | 51,440  | 49.13%  | 465  | 0.44%
1956 | 46,220  | 51.31% | 43,533  | 48.33%  | 322  | 0.36%
1952 | 46,497  | 55.13% | 37,240  | 44.16%  | 602  | 0.71%
1948 | 24,464  | 41.60%  | 33,029  | 56.16% | 1,318  | 2.24%
1944 | 20,730  | 43.96%  | 26,205  | 55.56% | 226  | 0.48%
1940 | 19,445  | 37.30%  | 32,202  | 61.78% | 479  | 0.92%
1936 | 8,345  | 24.20%  | 25,726  | 74.61% | 408  | 1.18%
1932 | 7,011  | 25.11%  | 19,634  | 70.32% | 1,275  | 4.57%
1928 | 14,692  | 62.67% | 8,541  | 36.43%  | 212  | 0.90%
1924 | 8,646  | 46.08% | 3,159  | 16.84%  | 6,958  | 37.08%
1920 | 7,079  | 49.01% | 6,095  | 42.20%  | 1,270  | 8.79%
1916 | 5,611  | 35.11%  | 9,566  | 59.86% | 804  | 5.03%
1912 | 67  | 0.62%  | 5,569  | 51.73% | 5,129  | 47.65%
1908 | 2,270  | 45.60% | 2,215  | 44.50%  | 493  | 9.90%
1904 | 2,359  | 51.61% | 1,724  | 37.72%  | 488  | 10.68%
1900 | 1,692  | 45.17%  | 1,960  | 52.32% | 94  | 2.51%
1896 | 1,430  | 43.80%  | 1,763  | 54.00% | 72  | 2.21%
1892 | 992  | 39.47%  | 1,266  | 50.38% | 255  | 10.15%
1888 | 910  | 41.46%  | 1,229  | 55.99% | 56  | 2.55%
1884 | 598  | 42.02%  | 798  | 56.08% | 27  | 1.90%
1880 | 463  | 40.94%  | 661  | 58.44% | 7  | 0.62%

In the United States House of Representatives, Kern County is split between California's 20th congressional district, represented by Republican Vince Fong, California's 22nd congressional district, represented by Republican David Valadao, and California's 23rd congressional district, represented by Republican Jay Obernolte.

### State

[edit]

In the State Assembly, Kern County is split between the following four Assembly districts:

* the 26th Assembly district, represented by Democrat Patrick Ahrens
* the 32nd Assembly district, represented by Republican Stan Ellis
* the 34th Assembly district, represented by Republican Tom Lackey, and
* the 36th Assembly district, represented by Republican Jeff Gonzalez.[53]

In the State Senate, Kern County is split between the 14th senatorial district, represented by Democrat Anna Caballero, and the 16th senatorial district, represented by Democrat Melissa Hurtado.[54]

On November 4, 2008, Kern County voted 75.29% in favor of Proposition 8, which amended the California Constitution to ban same-sex marriages.[55]

### County

[edit]

Kern County is governed by a five-member Board of Supervisors. Jeff Flores of District 3 currently serves as chairman. As of August 2, 2024, they are:[56]

* District 1, Philip Peters.
* District 2, Vacant.
* District 3, Jeff Flores.
* District 4, David Couch.
* District 5, Leticia Perez.

## Crime and public safety

[edit]

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Fire protection within the county is provided by the Kern County Fire Department. Law enforcement within the county is provided by the Kern County Sheriff's Department.

### Fire

[edit]

Main article: Kern County Fire Department

The Kern County Fire Department (KCFD) is an agency that provides fire protection and emergency medical services for the county of Kern, California, USA. Over 625 permanent employees and 100 extra help employees protect an area which spans over 8,000 square miles (21,000 km2). KCFD provides fire protection services for over 500,000 citizens living in the unincorporated areas of Kern County and the cities of Arvin, Delano, Maricopa, McFarland, Ridgecrest, Shafter, Taft, Tehachapi and Wasco. This agency is contracted to provide dispatch services for the California City Fire Department. Over 546 uniformed firefighters are stationed in 46 fire stations throughout the county.

### Sheriff's Office

[edit]

Main article: Kern County Sheriff's Department

The Kern County Sheriff's Department is the agency responsible for law enforcement within the county of Kern. The department provides law enforcement within the county, maintains the jails used by both the county and municipal cities, and provides search and rescue. The department contains over 1,200 sworn deputies and civilian employees. Its jurisdiction contains all of the unincorporated areas of Kern County, approximately 8,000 square miles (21,000 km2). The department headquarters is located at 1350 Norris Road in Bakersfield. There are 15 additional substations located throughout the county. The metro patrol area is divided into four regions: north, south, east, and west.

In 2009, the district attorney claimed "the highest per capita prison commitment rate of any major California county." Kern County contains multiple state and federal prisons, including two private prisons. The county is among the most prolific with the death penalty, assigning death penalty sentences in 26 cases since 1976. In 2015 Kern County policemen from all departments killed more people per capita than any other American county. Because of the very harsh local criminal justice system, Kern County has been dubbed "the most punitive authoritarian jurisdiction on the west coast" and "Oklahoma of the west".[57] In 2015, it was revealed that the Kern County Sheriff's office engaged in a longstanding program of attempted cash payoffs to women who had accused deputies of sexual assault. In the same year, a civil lawsuit filed by a survivor of a sexual assault committed by Kern County Sheriff's deputy Gabriel Lopez was settled for $1 million.[58]

Kern County had the most deaths per capita in the US by police shooting per an article published in The Guardian on December 1, 2015.[59] In 2015 to the date of publication of the article, there have been 13 deaths by police shootings in a county of less than 875,000 population, or 0.016 per thousand persons. By comparison, during the same period of time in New York City, a population 10 times the size with a police force more than 20 times the size, there were 9 such deaths.[60]

The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense.

Population and crime rates

Population[32] | 829,254
Violent crime[61] | 4,892 | 5.90
Homicide[61] | 75 | 0.09
Forcible rape[61] | 205 | 0.25
Robbery[61] | 1,331 | 1.61
Aggravated assault[61] | 3,281 | 3.96
Property crime[61] | 20,147 | 24.30
Burglary[61] | 9,413 | 11.35
Larceny-theft[61][62] | 17,034 | 20.54
Motor vehicle theft[61] | 4,998 | 6.03
Arson[61] | 593 | 0.72

### Cities by population and crime rates

[edit]

Cities by population and crime rates

City  | Population[63] | Violent crimes[63] | Violent crime rate
per 1,000 persons  | Property crimes[63] | Property crime rate
per 1,000 persons
Arvin | 19,761 | 165 | 8.35 | 671 | 33.96
Bakersfield | 355,696 | 1,929 | 5.42 | 17,754 | 49.91
Bear Valley | 5,282 | 1 | 0.19 | 92 | 17.42
California City | 14,460 | 90 | 6.22 | 517 | 35.75
Delano | 54,318 | 274 | 5.04 | 1,437 | 26.46
McFarland | 13,010 | 57 | 4.38 | 218 | 16.76
Ridgecrest | 28,273 | 108 | 3.82 | 602 | 21.29
Shafter | 17,391 | 49 | 2.82 | 576 | 33.12
Stallion Springs | 2,540 | 6 | 2.36 | 9 | 3.54
Taft | 9,552 | 54 | 5.65 | 365 | 38.21
Tehachapi | 14,766 | 59 | 4.00 | 472 | 31.97

## Economy

[edit]

The county has a large agricultural base and is a significant producer of oil, natural gas, hydro-electric power, Biomass, solar power, and wind power. Kern is noted for minerals, including gold, borate, and kernite. The largest open pit mine in California, which mines borax, is at Boron.[64] As of October 1, 2016, Kern County contains nearly 25% of California's in-state renewable energy production, including 1,785 MW of solar power and 3,310 MW of wind power.[65] Kern County is home to the Tehachapi Energy Storage Project, which was commissioned in 2014.[66]

### Aerospace and military

[edit]

Department of Defense facilities include Edwards Air Force Base and China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station. As home to Edwards Air Force Base the Air Force's main flight test facility, Kern has been the site of many milestones, including the first supersonic flight and the first landing of the Space Shuttle. The base has brought prosperity to the railroad towns of Mojave and Rosamond.[67] Kern County is also the home of the first inland spaceport in the United States, the Mojave Spaceport.[68]

### Agriculture

[edit]

This has long been one of the county's biggest industries.[69] Between 2012 and 2013 the produced value of ag products increased 6%, to a total of $6.8 billion.[69] Grape is 31%, almond is 17%, milk is 13%, citrus is 11%, cattle \+ calves and pistachio are both 7%, carrots are only 6% (but that's 80% of carrots for the entire United States), hay is 4%, and cotton and potatoes are both 2%, of that.[69] This is one of the highest-producing locations in the United States for vegetables, and also for watermelons.[70] Vegetables are estimated to total $320 million every year.[70] There are about 1,938 farms, at an average size of 1,202 acres (486 ha) (however 41% are smaller than 50 acres (20 ha)), being the primary employment of 63% of operators.[69]

Major producer of almonds[71] with production greater than 100 million pounds (45,000 t; 50,000 short tons) annually.[69] That is third of all the counties, 16% of the state's production.[69] (See also almond in California.)

Pistachio is another important employer here.[72] The Michailides & Avenot group finds severe boscalid resistance in isolates of Alternaria alternata pathogenic on pistachio here.[72] They find extensive such resistance in a swathe from the center down into the central southern part of the state, but especially here.[72] (See also Pistachio in California and boscalid in California.)

The Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter (Homalodisca vitripennis) is a major insect pest in this county, including in this county's citrus groves.[73] (See also Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter in California.)

### Petroleum

[edit]

As of 2015[update], Kern is California's top oil-producing county, with 78% of the state's 56,653 active oil wells and 71% of oil production.[74][75] The county produced 144.5 million barrels of oil in 2015, accounting for about 4% of overall U.S. oil production.[74][76]

#### Discovery and development

[edit]

Oil development began with the 1894 discovery of the Midway-Sunset Oil Field, now the third-largest in the United States, in the southwestern portion of Kern County near Maricopa. The 1899 discovery along the Kern River was a breakthrough in oil production.[11] Oil was refined here even before the establishment of the county.[11] The Buena Vista Petroleum Company was organized and incorporated in 1864.[11] Soon thereafter a refinery was built that operated until April 1867 when work ceased because of high freight charges.[11]

The 1910 Lakeview Gusher was the largest recorded oil strike in U.S. history. The well spewed approximately nine million barrels for 18 months before workers finally were able to cap it.[77]

Other big oil fields in southwestern Kern County discovered early in the 20th century include the Buena Vista, the South Belridge and the Cymric fields. The latter is the fastest-growing field in California in terms of barrels produced per year.[78] Later large fields include the Kern River Oil Field, the fifth-largest in the U.S., the adjacent Kern Front Oil Field, the Mount Poso Oil Field in the lower foothills of the Sierra north-northeast of Bakersfield and the Fruitvale Oil Field, which underlies much of the city of Bakersfield, along and north of the Kern River.[79][80]

On July 22, 2009, Occidental Petroleum announced it had discovered the equivalent of 150 million to 250 million barrels of oil in Kern County, which the company called the largest oil discovery in California in 35 years. The find added about 10 percent to California's known reserves. Occidental's Ray Irani said it is likely that more oil would be found in the areas outside the initial six wells that tapped the discovery. Occidental has not revealed the exact location of the find, two-thirds of which is natural gas. BNET, an industry web publication, said the find would add to the company's 708 million barrels of proven reserves in California.[citation needed]

#### Petroleum today

[edit]

The county today contributes more than three-quarters of all the oil produced onshore in California.[78] Some of the large oil fields in Kern County which are still active include:

* Buena Vista Oil Field
* Cymric Oil Field
* Edison Oil Field
* Elk Hills Oil Field
* Fruitvale Oil Field
* Kern Front Oil Field
* Kern River Oil Field
* Lost Hills Oil Field
* McKittrick Oil Field
* Midway-Sunset Oil Field
* Mountain View Oil Field
* Mount Poso Oil Field
* North Belridge Oil Field
* Round Mountain Oil Field
* South Belridge Oil Field

## Transportation

[edit]

Main article: Transportation in Kern County

### Major highways

[edit]

* I-5
* US 395
* SR 14 – former US 6
* SR 33
* SR 41
* SR 43
* SR 46
* SR 58
* SR 65
* SR 99 – former US 99

SR 99 Bus. (Bakersfield)
* SR 119
* SR 115
* SR 166
* SR 178
* SR 184
* SR 202
* SR 204
* SR 223

### Public transportation

[edit]

* Arvin Transit is the local municipal bus operator in and around Arvin.
* Delano Area Rapid Transit is the local municipal bus operator in Delano.
* Golden Empire Transit is the local bus operator in and near Bakersfield.
* Kern Transit provides countywide intercity bus service, including connections to Lancaster.
* Taft Area Transit is the local municipal bus operator in and around Taft.
* Kern County is also served by Greyhound and Orange Belt Stages buses and Amtrak trains, based at Bakersfield station.

### Airports

[edit]

Main article: List of airports in Kern County, California

Meadows Field is the only airport in the county served by scheduled commercial passenger flights.

* California City Municipal Airport, California City. (FAA: L71)
* Delano Municipal Airport, Delano. (IATA: DLO)
* Inyokern Airport, Inyokern. (IATA: IYK)
* Kern Valley Airport, Kernville. (FAA: L05)
* Lost Hills Airport, Lost Hills. (FAA: L84)
* Meadows Field, Bakersfield, an international and general aviation airport. (IATA: BFL)
* Mojave Airport, Mojave. (IATA: MHV)
* Shafter Airport (Minter Field), Shafter. (IATA: MIT)
* Taft Airport, Taft. (FAA: L17)
* Tehachapi Municipal Airport, Tehachapi. (IATA: TSP)
* Wasco Airport, Wasco. (FAA: L19)

## Recreation

[edit]

Outdoor recreational activities include horseback riding, water skiing (Lake Isabella, Lake Buena Vista, Lake Ming, and private ski ranches). Off-roading and other motorsports take place at Jawbone Canyon, California City, Randsburg, Willow Springs, Buttonwillow, Bakersfield Speedway, Famoso Raceway, and the half-mile Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway. Hunting, paintball, white-water rafting, kayaking (Kern River), snow skiing (Shirley Meadows and Mount Pinos), shooting ranges (5 Dogs Range), hiking, biking (trails, paths, and roads), camping and fishing are also part of the recreational culture.

## Media

[edit]

### Magazines

[edit]

* Bakersfield Life Magazine, Kern County
* Bakersfield Magazine, Kern County
* Kern County Family Magazine, Kern County

### Newspapers

[edit]

* The Bakersfield Californian, Kern County
* Mountain Enterprise, southwest Kern mountains area
* Mojave Desert News, California City and east Kern desert area
* The Daily Independent, Ridgecrest, China Lake, and The Indian Wells Valley
* The Kern Valley Sun, Kern Valley area
* Kern River Courier, Kern Valley area
* Tehachapi News, Tehachapi
* Taft Midway Driller, Taft
* Taft Independent, Taft
* The Delano Record, Delano

### TV stations

[edit]

Kern County is served by stations based in Bakersfield, including:

* KBAK-TV (CBS)
* KBFX-TV (FOX)
* KERO-TV (ABC)
* KGET-TV (NBC/CW)

California City, Ridgecrest, and other areas in the Mojave Desert regions of eastern Kern County may instead receive Los Angeles stations.

## Communities

[edit]

Population reported at 2010 United States census

The County | Total
Population | White | African
American | Native
American | Asian | Pacific
Islander | other
races | two or
more races | Hispanic
or Latino
(of any race)
Kern County | 839,631 | 499,766 | 48,921 | 12,676 | 34,846 | 1,252 | 204,314 | 37,856 | 413,033
Incorporated
city | Total
Population | White | African
American | Native
American | Asian | Pacific
Islander | other
races | two or
more races | Hispanic
or Latino
(of any race)
Arvin | 19,304 | 10,247 | 192 | 240 | 155 | 6 | 7,655 | 809 | 17,892
Bakersfield | 347,483 | 197,349 | 28,368 | 5,102 | 21,432 | 478 | 77,686 | 17,068 | 158,205
California City | 14,120 | 9,188 | 2,150 | 132 | 367 | 59 | 1,431 | 793 | 5,385
Delano | 53,041 | 19,304 | 4,191 | 501 | 6,757 | 30 | 20,307 | 1,951 | 37,913
Maricopa | 1,154 | 958 | 1 | 27 | 16 | 2 | 112 | 38 | 232
McFarland | 12,707 | 5,433 | 236 | 171 | 84 | 6 | 6,330 | 447 | 11,625
Ridgecrest | 27,616 | 21,387 | 1,113 | 341 | 1,209 | 143 | 1,836 | 1,587 | 4,941
Shafter | 16,988 | 8,150 | 219 | 198 | 111 | 19 | 7,645 | 646 | 13,634
Taft | 9,327 | 7,388 | 396 | 118 | 93 | 65 | 1,023 | 244 | 3,353
Tehachapi | 14,414 | 9,426 | 1,297 | 206 | 238 | 21 | 2,725 | 501 | 5,466
Wasco | 25,545 | 12,579 | 1,951 | 283 | 180 | 12 | 9,714 | 826 | 19,585
Census-designated
place | Total
Population | White | African
American | Native
American | Asian | Pacific
Islander | other
races | two or
more races | Hispanic
or Latino
(of any race)
Bear Valley Springs | 5,172 | 4,776 | 74 | 46 | 57 | 3 | 89 | 127 | 399
Bodfish | 1,956 | 1,758 | 4 | 50 | 13 | 3 | 49 | 79 | 189
Boron | 2,253 | 1,746 | 162 | 49 | 47 | 4 | 141 | 104 | 406
Buttonwillow | 1,508 | 534 | 36 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 890 | 27 | 1,183
Cherokee Strip | 227 | 84 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 117 | 22 | 187
China Lake Acres | 1,876 | 1,601 | 35 | 29 | 16 | 7 | 84 | 104 | 265
Derby Acres | 322 | 289 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 9 | 36
Dustin Acres | 652 | 539 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 71 | 28 | 129
Edmundson Acres | 279 | 108 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 143 | 19 | 225
Edwards Air Force Base | 2,063 | 1,518 | 165 | 16 | 99 | 10 | 96 | 159 | 355
Fellows | 106 | 94 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 11
Ford City | 4,278 | 2,735 | 28 | 153 | 36 | 32 | 1,113 | 181 | 1,971
Frazier Park | 2,691 | 2,297 | 16 | 31 | 22 | 3 | 212 | 110 | 528
Fuller Acres | 991 | 607 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 329 | 29 | 768
Golden Hills | 8,656 | 7,235 | 129 | 124 | 120 | 15 | 670 | 363 | 1,674
Greenacres | 5,566 | 4,612 | 49 | 116 | 70 | 8 | 511 | 200 | 1,119
Greenfield | 3,991 | 2,512 | 71 | 63 | 45 | 1 | 1,112 | 187 | 2,263
Inyokern | 1,099 | 930 | 14 | 24 | 25 | 2 | 49 | 55 | 116
Johannesburg | 172 | 152 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8
Keene | 431 | 385 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 10 | 47
Kernville | 1,395 | 1,257 | 1 | 19 | 7 | 0 | 33 | 78 | 82
Lake Isabella | 3,466 | 3,069 | 6 | 96 | 18 | 7 | 73 | 197 | 339
Lake of the Woods | 917 | 820 | 3 | 18 | 11 | 0 | 34 | 31 | 123
Lamont | 15,120 | 6,677 | 130 | 230 | 72 | 9 | 7,351 | 651 | 14,293
Lebec | 1,468 | 1,152 | 14 | 46 | 17 | 0 | 148 | 91 | 395
Lost Hills | 2,412 | 132 | 5 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 2,232 | 24 | 2,354
McKittrick | 115 | 101 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 9
Mettler | 136 | 74 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 19 | 109
Mexican Colony | 281 | 162 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 93 | 11 | 227
Mojave | 4,238 | 2,381 | 638 | 54 | 53 | 19 | 867 | 226 | 1,592
Mountain Mesa | 777 | 687 | 7 | 16 | 6 | 2 | 27 | 32 | 77
North Edwards | 1,058 | 847 | 43 | 26 | 20 | 1 | 60 | 61 | 179
Oildale | 32,684 | 27,463 | 255 | 590 | 316 | 30 | 2,635 | 1,395 | 6,301
Onyx | 475 | 406 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 40 | 30
Pine Mountain Club | 2,315 | 2,079 | 29 | 25 | 45 | 0 | 58 | 79 | 231
Randsburg | 69 | 62 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2
Rosamond | 18,150 | 11,294 | 1,476 | 221 | 658 | 66 | 3,258 | 1,177 | 6,230
Rosedale | 14,058 | 11,695 | 208 | 159 | 389 | 24 | 997 | 586 | 2,495
Smith Corner | 524 | 227 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 263 | 16 | 440
South Taft | 2,169 | 1,404 | 21 | 55 | 5 | 11 | 596 | 77 | 931
Squirrel Mountain Valley | 547 | 509 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 13 | 22
Stallion Springs | 2,488 | 2,239 | 30 | 26 | 32 | 7 | 79 | 75 | 285
Taft Heights | 1,949 | 1,602 | 15 | 35 | 11 | 0 | 220 | 66 | 441
Tupman | 161 | 149 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 12
Valley Acres | 527 | 428 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 45 | 121
Weedpatch | 2,658 | 1,212 | 8 | 78 | 14 | 0 | 1,237 | 109 | 2,484
Weldon | 2,642 | 2,375 | 5 | 82 | 11 | 1 | 53 | 115 | 217
Wofford Heights | 2,200 | 2,037 | 6 | 41 | 10 | 1 | 26 | 79 | 156
Other
unincorporated areas | Total
Population | White | African
American | Native
American | Asian | Pacific
Islander | other
races | two or
more races | Hispanic
or Latino
(of any race)
All others not CDPs (combined)  | 138,644 | 81,305 | 5,079 | 2,730 | 1,907 | 141 | 41,670 | 5,812 | 82,746

### Cities

[edit]

* Arvin
* Bakersfield (county seat)
* California City
* Delano
* Maricopa
* McFarland
* Ridgecrest
* Shafter
* Taft
* Tehachapi
* Wasco

### Census-designated places

[edit]

* Alta Sierra
* Bakersfield Country Club
* Bear Valley Springs
* Bodfish
* Boron
* Buttonwillow
* Casa Loma
* Cherokee Strip
* China Lake Acres
* Derby Acres
* Di Giorgio
* Dustin Acres
* East Bakersfield
* Edison
* Edmundson Acres
* Edwards AFB
* El Adobe
* Fellows
* Ford City
* Frazier Park
* Fuller Acres
* Glennville
* Golden Hills
* Greenacres
* Greenfield
* Inyokern
* Johannesburg
* Keene
* Kernville
* Lake Isabella
* Lake of the Woods
* Lamont
* Lebec
* Lost Hills
* McKittrick
* Mettler
* Mexican Colony
* Mojave
* Mountain Mesa
* Mountain Meadows
* North Edwards
* Oildale
* Olde Stockdale
* Old River
* Onyx
* Pine Mountain Club
* Pumpkin Center
* Randsburg
* Rosamond
* Rosedale
* Smith Corner
* South Taft
* Squirrel Mountain Valley
* Stallion Springs
* Stebbins
* Tarina
* Taft Heights
* Tupman
* Valley Acres
* Weedpatch
* Weldon
* Wofford Heights
* Woody

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Actis
* Aerial Acres
* Bealville
* Bena
* Caliente
* Canebrake
* Cantil
* Cawelo
* Claraville
* Edwards
* Famoso
* Grapevine
* Gypsite
* Havilah
* Indian Wells
* Keyesville
* Loraine
* Midoil
* Miracle Hot Springs
* Missouri Triangle
* Monolith
* Old Garlock
* Old West Ranch[81][82][83]
* Panama
* Pentland
* Pond
* Reward
* Rio Bravo
* Riverkern
* Sageland
* Saltdale
* Sand Canyon
* South Lake
* Spicer City
* Twin Oaks
* Wheeler Ridge
* Willow Springs
* Wonder Acres

### Former places

[edit]

* Adobe Station
* Glenburn

### Population ranking

[edit]

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Kern County.[84]

† county seat

Rank  | City/Town/etc.  | Municipal type  | Population (2020 Census)

|
|
|

1  | † Bakersfield | City  | 403,455
2  | Delano | City  | 51,428
3  | Oildale | CDP  | 36,135
4  | Ridgecrest | City  | 27,959
5  | Wasco | City  | 27,047
6  | Rosamond | CDP  | 20,961
7  | Shafter | City  | 19,953
8  | Arvin | City  | 19,495
9  | Rosedale | CDP  | 18,639
10  | California City | City  | 14,973
11  | McFarland | City  | 14,161
12  | Lamont | CDP  | 14,049
13  | Tehachapi | City  | 12,939
14  | Golden Hills | CDP  | 9,578
15  | Taft | City  | 8,546
16  | Bear Valley Springs | CDP  | 5,592
17  | Greenacres | CDP  | 5,496
18  | Mojave | CDP  | 4,699
19  | Ford City | CDP  | 4,348
20  | Lake Isabella | CDP  | 3,573
21  | Greenfield | CDP  | 3,447
22  | Stallion Springs | CDP  | 3,139
23  | Frazier Park | CDP  | 2,592
24  | Pine Mountain Club | CDP  | 2,422
25  | Lost Hills | CDP  | 2,370
26  | Weldon | CDP  | 2,303
27  | Wofford Heights | CDP  | 2,213
28  | Weedpatch | CDP  | 2,206
29  | Edwards AFB | CDP  | 2,135
30  | South Taft | CDP  | 2,100
31  | Boron | CDP  | 2,086
32  | Bodfish | CDP  | 2,008
33  | Taft Heights | CDP  | 1,999
34  | China Lake Acres | CDP  | 1,757
35  | Kernville | CDP  | 1,549
36  | Buttonwillow | CDP  | 1,337
37  | Lebec | CDP  | 1,239
38  | North Edwards | CDP  | 1,054
39  | Maricopa | City  | 1,026
40  | Inyokern | CDP  | 988
41  | Fuller Acres | CDP  | 917
42  | Mountain Mesa | CDP  | 823
43  | Lake of the Woods | CDP  | 790
44  | Squirrel Mountain Valley | CDP  | 760
45  | Dustin Acres | CDP  | 677
46  | Smith Corner | CDP  | 594
47  | Valley Acres | CDP  | 504
48  | Keene | CDP  | 469
49  | Onyx | CDP  | 457
50  | Derby Acres | CDP  | 301
51  | Edmundson Acres | CDP  | 296
52  | Mexican Colony | CDP  | 283
53  | Cherokee Strip | CDP  | 206
54  | Tupman | CDP  | 177
55  | Johannesburg | CDP  | 113
56  | McKittrick | CDP  | 102
57  | Mettler | CDP  | 90
58  | Fellows | CDP  | 52
59  | Randsburg | CDP  | 45

## Education

[edit]

School districts include:[85]

Unified:

* El Tejon Unified School District
* Maricopa Unified School District
* McFarland Unified School District
* Mojave Unified School District
* Muroc Joint Unified School District
* Sierra Sands Unified School District
* Southern Kern Unified School District
* Tehachapi Unified School District

Secondary:

* Delano Joint Union High School District
* Kern High School District
* Taft Union High School District
* Wasco Union High School District

Elementary:

* Arvin Union School District
* Bakersfield City School District
* Beardsley Elementary School District
* Belridge Elementary School District
* Blake Elementary School District
* Buttonwillow Union Elementary School District
* Caliente Union Elementary School District
* Delano Union Elementary School District
* Di Giorgio Elementary School District
* Edison Elementary School District
* Elk Hills Elementary School District
* Fairfax Elementary School District
* Fruitvale Elementary School District
* General Shafter Elementary School District
* Greenfield Union School District
* Kernville Union Elementary School District
* Lakeside Union School District
* Lamont Elementary School District
* Linns Valley-Poso Flat Union School District
* Lost Hills Union Elementary School District
* Maple Elementary School District
* McKittrick Elementary School District
* Midway Elementary School District
* Norris Elementary School District
* Panama-Buena Vista School District
* Pond Union Elementary School District
* Richland Union School District
* Rio Bravo-Greeley Union Elementary School District
* Rosedale Union Elementary School District
* Semitropic Elementary School District
* South Fork Union School District
* Standard Elementary School District
* Taft City School District
* Vineland Elementary School District
* Wasco Union Elementary School District

## In popular culture

[edit]

The 2015 Disney film McFarland, USA, starring Kevin Costner, is based on the cross-country team in the city of McFarland, California, which is located in northern Kern County.

## See also

[edit]

* California portal

* List of museums in the San Joaquin Valley
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Kern County, California
* 2024 Kern County wildfires

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Other = Some other race + Two or more races
2. ^ Native American = Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander + American Indian or Alaska Native
3. ^ a b Percentage of registered voters with respect to total population. Percentages of party members with respect to registered voters follow.

## References

[edit]

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4. ^ a b c d "QuickFacts Kern county, California". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
5. ^ "Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Kern County, CA". Federal Reserve Economic Data. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
6. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
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8. ^ "Native Land Digital Map". Native-Land.ca. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
9. ^ Hubert Howe Bancroft, History of California. The History Company, Publishers. San Francisco, 1886. pp. 532–536.
10. ^ 1865-1866 Calif. Stats., Chap. 569, § 3
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12. ^ Truth In Justice Archived April 13, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. Accessed January 28, 2008.
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15. ^ Particulate Matter (PM-10) Nonattainment Area/State/County Report, September 16, 2010 [1]
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27. ^ "California Center of Population".
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30. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Kern County, California". United States Census Bureau.
31. ^ "2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". Retrieved February 13, 2022.
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35. ^ a b U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19013. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
36. ^ a b U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19113. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
37. ^ a b U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
38. ^ U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B01003. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
39. ^ Data unavailable
40. ^ "2010 Census P.L. 94-171 Summary File Data". United States Census Bureau.
41. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
42. ^ "Volume I: Report – Chapter 3.12" (PDF). cms8.fra.dot.gov. Retrieved February 3, 2020.[dead link]
43. ^ "Home". Buck Owens. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
44. ^ "OMB Bulletin No. 13-01: Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas" (PDF). United States Office of Management and Budget. February 28, 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 21, 2017. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
45. ^ "Table 1. Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". 2012 Population Estimates. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. March 2013. Archived from the original (CSV) on April 1, 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
46. ^ "Table 2. Annual Estimates of the Population of Combined Statistical Areas: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". 2012 Population Estimates. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. March 2013. Archived from the original (CSV) on May 17, 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
47. ^ "Stations List". Kern County Fire Department. Archived from the original on March 17, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
48. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q California Secretary of State. February 10, 2013 — Report of Registration Archived July 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
49. ^ "Kern County isn't as 'red' as you might think it is". KERO 23 ABC News Bakersfield. November 7, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
50. ^ Hoeven, Emily (October 21, 2022). "Inside California's overlooked political powerhouse". CalMatters. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
51. ^ Patrick, Lacey (January 20, 2023). "Hurtado secures her victory in senate district 16 election". The Sun-Gazette Newspaper. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
52. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
53. ^ "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
54. ^ "Senators". State of California. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
55. ^ "Statement of Vote: 2008 General Election" (PDF). California Secretary of State. December 13, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 6, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
56. ^ "Board of Supervisors | Kern County, CA". www.kerncounty.com. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
57. ^ Bslko, Radley (December 3, 2015). "America's killingest counties". Washington Post. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
58. ^ Laughland, Oliver (May 9, 2016). "California's Kern County settles for $1m over sexual assault by sheriff's deputy". The Guardian. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
59. ^ Swaine, Jon; Laughland, Oliver; Ryan, Mae; team, Guardian US interactive (December 1, 2015). "The County: the story of America's deadliest police". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
60. ^ Swaine, Jon; Laughland, Oliver; Ryan, Mae; Team, Guardian US Interactive (December 2015). "The County: the story of America's deadliest police". The Guardian. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
61. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice, State of California. Table 11: Crimes – 2009 Archived December 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
62. ^ Only larceny-theft cases involving property over $400 in value are reported as property crimes.
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## Further reading

[edit]

* Hoover, Mildred Brooke; Douglas E. Kyle (1990). Historic Spots in California. Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-0-8047-1734-2.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kern County, California.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Kern County.

* Official website
* Keysville Massacre, April 19, 1863—original report from officer in charge

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Kern County, California

| Kings | Tulare | Inyo

|
|

|  |
San Luis Obispo |

Kern

| San Bernardino
|  |
Santa Barbara | Ventura
and Los Angeles |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Kern County, California, United States

County seat: Bakersfield

Cities|

* Arvin
* Bakersfield
* California City
* Delano
* Maricopa
* McFarland
* Ridgecrest
* Shafter
* Taft
* Tehachapi
* Wasco

Kern County map

CDPs|

* Alta Sierra
* Bakersfield Country Club
* Bear Valley Springs
* Benton Park
* Bodfish
* Boron
* Buttonwillow
* Casa Loma
* Cherokee Strip
* China Lake Acres
* Choctaw Valley
* Cottonwood
* Derby Acres
* Di Giorgio
* Dustin Acres
* East Bakersfield
* East Niles
* Edison
* Edmundson Acres
* Edwards AFB
* El Adobe
* Fairfax
* Fellows
* Ford City
* Frazier Park
* Fuller Acres
* Glennville
* Goodmanville
* Golden Hills
* Greenacres
* Greenfield
* Hillcrest
* Inyokern
* Johannesburg
* Keene
* Kernville
* La Cresta
* Lake Isabella
* Lake of the Woods
* Lakeside
* Lamont
* Lebec
* Lost Hills
* McKittrick
* Mettler
* Mexican Colony
* Mojave
* Mountain Meadows
* Mountain Mesa
* North Edwards
* Oildale
* Old River
* Old Stine
* Olde Stockdale
* Onyx
* Pine Mountain Club
* Potomac Park
* Pumpkin Center
* Randsburg
* Rexland Acres
* Ridgecrest Heights
* Rivergrove
* Rosamond
* Rosedale
* Smith Corner
* South Taft
* Squirrel Mountain Valley
* Stallion Springs
* Stebbins
* Taft Heights
* Tarina
* Tupman
* Valley Acres
* Weedpatch
* Weldon
* Wofford Heights
* Woody

Unincorporated
communities|

* Actis
* Aerial Acres
* Bealville
* Bena
* Blackwells Corner
* Caliente
* Canebrake
* Cantil
* Cawelo
* China Lake
* Claraville
* Desert Lake
* Edwards
* Famoso
* Fruitvale
* Grapevine
* Gypsite
* Havilah
* Indian Wells
* Keyesville
* Lerdo
* Loraine
* Midoil
* Minter Village
* Miracle Hot Springs
* Missouri Triangle
* Monolith
* North Shafter
* Oil City
* Old Town
* Panama
* Pentland
* Pond
* Reward
* Rio Bravo
* Riverkern
* Saltdale
* Sand Canyon
* South Lake
* Spicer City
* Thomas Lane
* Twin Oaks
* Wheeler Ridge
* Willow Springs

Former
settlements|

* Asphalto
* Desert Spring
* Freeman Junction
* Garlock
* Gold Town
* Isabella
* Joe Walker Town
* Joyfull
* Kern River Slough
* Kernville
* Lavers' Crossing
* Leliter
* Martensdale
* Mountain House
* Muroc
* North Muroc
* Olig
* Petersburg
* Quartzburg
* Reefer City
* Rio Bravo
* Sageland
* San Miguel de los Noches
* Scovern Hot Springs
* Tehichipa

Other|

* Buena Vista County, California

* California portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

San Joaquin Valley

Counties|

* Fresno
* Kern
* Kings
* Madera
* Merced
* San Joaquin
* Stanislaus
* Tulare

Major cities|

* Fresno
* Bakersfield
* Stockton

Cities and towns
100k–250k|

* Clovis
* Modesto
* Visalia

Cities and towns
25k–99k|

* Atwater
* Ceres
* Delano
* Hanford
* Lathrop
* Lemoore
* Lodi
* Los Banos
* Madera
* Manteca
* Merced
* Oildale
* Porterville
* Ridgecrest
* Sanger
* Tracy
* Tulare
* Turlock
* Wasco

Cities and towns
10k–25k|

* Arvin
* Avenal
* California City
* Chowchilla
* Coalinga
* Corcoran
* Delhi
* Dinuba
* Exeter
* Farmersville
* Garden Acres
* Kerman
* Kingsburg
* Lamont
* Lindsay
* Livingston
* McFarland
* Mendota
* Mountain House
* Newman
* Oakdale
* Parlier
* Patterson
* Reedley
* Ripon
* Riverbank
* Rosamond
* Rosedale
* Salida
* Selma
* Shafter
* Tehachapi
* Winton

* v
* t
* e

State of California

Sacramento (capital)

Topics|

* Culture
* food
* music
* languages
* California sound
* sports
* California Dream
* Crime
* Demographics
* Earthquakes
* Economy
* agriculture
* Education
* Education, history of
* Environment
* Geography
* climate
* ecology
* flora
* fauna
* Government
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* congressional delegations
* elections
* People
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* state historic landmarks
* Symbols
* Transportation
* Water
* Index of articles

Regions|

* Antelope Valley
* Big Sur
* California Coast Ranges
* Cascade Range
* Central California
* Central Coast
* Central Valley
* Channel Islands
* Coachella Valley
* Coastal California
* Conejo Valley
* Cucamonga Valley
* Death Valley
* East Bay (SF Bay Area)
* East County (SD)
* Eastern California
* Emerald Triangle
* Gold Country
* Great Basin
* Greater San Bernardino
* Inland Empire
* Klamath Basin
* Lake Tahoe
* Greater Los Angeles
* Los Angeles Basin
* Lost Coast
* Mojave Desert
* Mountain Empire
* North Bay (SF)
* North Coast
* North County (SD)
* Northern California
* Orange Coast
* Owens Valley
* Oxnard Plain
* Peninsular Ranges
* Pomona Valley
* Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta
* Sacramento Valley
* Saddleback Valley
* Salinas Valley
* San Fernando Valley
* San Francisco Bay Area
* San Francisco Peninsula
* San Gabriel Valley
* San Joaquin Valley
* Santa Clara Valley
* Santa Clara River Valley
* Santa Clarita Valley
* Santa Ynez Valley
* Shasta Cascade
* Sierra Nevada
* Silicon Valley
* South Bay (LA)
* South Bay (SD)
* South Bay (SF)
* South Coast
* Southern Border Region
* Southern California
* Transverse Ranges
* Tri-Valley
* Victor Valley
* Wine Country

Metro regions|

* Fresno–Madera
* Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
* Sacramento–Roseville
* Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario
* San Diego–Tijuana
* San Jose–San Francisco–Oakland

Counties|

* Alameda
* Alpine
* Amador
* Butte
* Calaveras
* Colusa
* Contra Costa
* Del Norte
* El Dorado
* Fresno
* Glenn
* Humboldt
* Imperial
* Inyo
* Kern
* Kings
* Lake
* Lassen
* Los Angeles
* Madera
* Marin
* Mariposa
* Mendocino
* Merced
* Modoc
* Mono
* Monterey
* Napa
* Nevada
* Orange
* Placer
* Plumas
* Riverside
* Sacramento
* San Benito
* San Bernardino
* San Diego
* San Francisco
* San Joaquin
* San Luis Obispo
* San Mateo
* Santa Barbara
* Santa Clara
* Santa Cruz
* Shasta
* Sierra
* Siskiyou
* Solano
* Sonoma
* Stanislaus
* Sutter
* Tehama
* Trinity
* Tulare
* Tuolumne
* Ventura
* Yolo
* Yuba

Most populous
cities|

* Los Angeles
* San Diego
* San Jose
* San Francisco
* Fresno
* Sacramento
* Long Beach
* Oakland
* Bakersfield
* Anaheim

California portal

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* FAST
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States
* Spain
* Israel

Geographic|

* MusicBrainz area

Other|

* IdRef
* NARA

*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
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