Kern County, California
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Kern County, California | ||
|---|---|---|
County | ||
| County of Kern | ||
     Images, from top down, left to right: Downtown Bakersfield, Cesar E. Chavez National Monument, Fort Tejon barracks, a fighter jet landing at Edwards Air Force Base, the Midway-Sunset Oil Field | ||
| ||
 Location in the state of California | ||
| Coordinates: 35°20′N 118°43′W / 35.34°N 118.72°W / 35.34; -118.72Coordinates: 35°20′N 118°43′W / 35.34°N 118.72°W / 35.34; -118.72 | ||
| Country | United States | |
| State | California | |
| Incorporated | 1866 | |
| Named for | Kern River and Edward Kern | |
County seat (and largest city) | Bakersfield | |
| 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 [1] | 8,755 ft (2,669 m) | |
| Lowest elevation [1] | 206 ft (63 m) | |
| Population (April 1, 2010)[2] | ||
| • Total | 839,631 | |
| • Estimate (2017)[3] | 893,119 | |
| • Density | 100/sq mi (40/km2) | |
| 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 | |
| Primary Airport | Meadows Field Airport | |
| Secondary Airports | Inyokern Airport Mojave Air and Space Port Bakersfield Municipal Airport California City Municipal Airport Delano Municipal Airport Elk Hills-Buttonwillow Airport Kern Valley Airport Lost Hills Airport Mountain Valley Airport Poso Airport Rosamond Skypark Airport Shafter Airport Taft Airport Tehachapi Municipal Airport Wasco Airport | |
| Interstates |  | |
| U.S. Highways |  Former Routes | |
| State Routes |                 | |
| County Routes |  | |
| Commuter Rail |   (planned) | |
| Website | www.co.kern.ca.us | |
Kern County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 839,631.[2] Its county seat is Bakersfield.[4]
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 expands just beyond Lebec to Grapevine and the northern tip of the parallel Antelope Valley.
The county's economy is heavily linked to agriculture and to petroleum extraction. There is also a strong aviation, space, and military presence, such as Edwards Air Force Base, the China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station, and the Mojave Air and Space Port. It is one of the fastest-growing areas in the United States in terms of population growth, but suffers from significant water supply issues and poor air quality.[5][6]
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Contents
1 History
1.1 Spanish era
1.2 American era
1.2.1 Etymology
1.2.2 Earthquakes
1.2.3 Abuse trials
1.2.4 Music and Film
2 Geography
2.1 Vegetation
2.2 National protected areas
3 Demographics
3.1 2011
3.1.1 Places by population, race, and income
3.2 2010
3.3 2000
3.4 Racial and ethnic identity
4 Metropolitan statistical area
5 Government, policing, and politics
5.1 Government
5.2 Policing
5.2.1 Sheriff
5.2.2 Municipal police
5.3 Politics and voter registration
5.3.1 Cities by population and voter registration
5.4 Federal
5.5 State
5.6 County
6 Crime and public safety
6.1 Fire
6.2 Sheriff's Office
6.3 Cities by population and crime rates
7 Economy
7.1 General
7.2 Agriculture
7.3 Defense and aerospace
7.4 Petroleum
7.4.1 Discovery and development
7.4.2 Petroleum today
7.5 Aviation and space
7.6 Air pollution
8 Transportation
8.1 Major highways
8.2 Public transportation
8.3 Airports
9 Recreation
10 Media
10.1 Magazines
10.2 Newspapers
10.3 TV stations
11 Communities
11.1 Cities
11.2 Census-designated places
11.3 Unincorporated communities
11.4 Former places
11.5 Population ranking
12 See also
13 Notes
14 References
15 Further reading
16 External links
History
Spanish era
The area was claimed by the Spanish in 1769. In 1772 Commander Don Pedro Fages became the first European to enter it, from the south by way of the Grapevine Canyon.
Kern County was the site of the Battle of San Emigdio, in March 1824, between the Chumash Indians of Mission Santa Barbara who rebelled against the Mexican government's taking over mission property and ejecting the natives. This battle with Mexican forces from Monterey under the command of Carlos Carrillo took place at the canyon where San Emigdio Creek flows down San Emigdio Mountain and the Blue Ridge south of Bakersfield near today's Highway 166. It was a low-casualty encounter, with only four Indians killed, and no Mexicans; the surviving Indians 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.[7]
American era
The Havilah Court building was restored in the 1970s and now serves as a museum. Photo circa 2007.
In the beginning, the area that became Kern County was dominated by mining in the mountains and in the desert. In 1855 an attempt to form a county in the area was made when the California legislature took the southeastern territory of Tulare County on the west of the Sierra Nevada Mountains for Buena Vista County, but it was never officially organized prior to 1859, 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 in the mining town of Havilah, in the mountains between Bakersfield and Tehachapi.[8]
The flatlands were considered inhospitable and impassable at the time due to swamps, lakes, tule reeds and diseases such as malaria. This changed when settlers started draining lands for farming and constructing canals, most dug by hand by hired Chinese laborers. Within 10 years the valley surpassed the mining areas as the economic center of the county, and the county seat was moved as a result from Havilah to Bakersfield in 1874.[citation needed]
The discovery well of the Kern River Oil Field was dug by hand in 1899.[9] Soon the towns of Oil City, Oil Center and Oildale came into existence.[9]
Etymology
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
Severe earthquakes have struck Kern County within historical times, 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 non-reinforced 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 precarious 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 strong motion records that were acquired from the event were significant, and a reconnaissance report was recognized for its coverage of the event, and how it set a standard for those types of engineering or scientific papers.
Abuse trials
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.[10] The details of these false accusations are covered extensively in the 2008 documentary Witch Hunt, narrated by Sean Penn.[11]
Music and Film
Kern county is considered to be a hotbed of country music, specifically the Bakersfield sound. The Buck Owens Crystal Palace is located in Bakersfield.
The 2015 Disney film McFarland, USA, starring Kevin Costner, is based on the cross-country team in the town of McFarland, California, which is located in northern Kern County.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 8,163 square miles (21,140 km2), of which 8,132 square miles (21,060 km2) is land and 31 square miles (80 km2) (0.4%) is water.[12] It is the third-largest county by area in California. 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.
Vegetation
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.[13]Whitethorn is a prominent example of chaparral species on the rocky slopes of the Sierra Nevada as well as the Inner Coastal Ranges.[14]California Buckeye is a notable tree found in both chaparral and forests and whose southern range terminates in Kern County.[15]
National protected areas
- 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
According to the 2010 United States Census, Kern County's population was 839,631.[2] It was the eleventh-largest county by population in California.[16] The center of population of California is located in Kern County, in the town of Buttonwillow [2].
2011
| Population, race, and income | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total population[17] | 829,254 | ||||
| White[17] | 572,420 | 69.0% | |||
| Black or African American[17] | 47,008 | 5.7% | |||
| American Indian or Alaska Native[17] | 9,132 | 1.1% | |||
| Asian[17] | 33,179 | 4.0% | |||
| Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander[17] | 914 | 0.1% | |||
| Some other race[17] | 136,534 | 16.5% | |||
| Two or more races[17] | 30,067 | 3.6% | |||
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race)[18] | 402,444 | 48.5% | |||
| Per capita income[19] | $20,167 | ||||
| Median household income[20] | $48,021 | ||||
| Median family income[21] | $52,041 | ||||
Places by population, race, and income
| Places by population and race | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place | Type[22] | Population[17] | White[17] | Other[17] [note 1] | Asian[17] | Black or African American[17] | Native American[17] [note 2] | Hispanic or Latino (of any race)[18] |
| 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[22] | Population[23] | Per capita income[19] | Median household income[20] | Median family income[21] |
| 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 | [24] |
| 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
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 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% | |
| Est. 2017 | 893,119 | [3] | 6.4% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[25] 1790–1960[26] 1900–1990[27] 1990–2000[28] 2010–2015[2] | |||
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. Hispanic or Latino 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.[29]
2000
According to the 2000 United States Census[30] of 2000, there were 661,645 people, 208,652 households, and 156,489 families residing in the county. The population density was 81 people per square mile (31/km²). There were 231,564 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile (11/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. 38.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 8.4% were of German, 7.2% American and 5.7% Irish ancestry, according to the census. 66.8% spoke English, 29.1% Spanish and 1.0% Tagalog as their first language.
There were 208,652 households out of which 42.2% had children under the age of 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 non-families. 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.50.[citation needed]
In the county, the age distribution of the population shows 31.9% under the age of 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 years of age 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 the median income 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 age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.
Racial and ethnic identity
[31]
- White Non-Hispanic (49.5%)
- Hispanic (38.4%)
- Other race (23.2%)
- Black (6.0%)
- Two or more races (4.1%)
- American Indian (2.6%)
(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics may be counted in any race.)
Metropolitan statistical area
The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Kern County as the Bakersfield, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area.[32] 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.[33][34]
Government, policing, and politics
Government
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.
Policing
Sheriff
The Kern County Sheriff provides court protection, jail administration, and coroner services for the entire county of 800,000 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. There are 15 sheriff substations for the widespread county.
Municipal police
Municipal police departments in the county are: Bakersfield, population 370,000; Ridgecrest, 30,000; Delano, 54,000; Wasco (sheriff contract city), 27,000; Shafter, 20,000; McFarland, 15,000; Arvin, 19,000; Tehachapi, 15,000; Maricopa (sheriff contract city), 1,500.
Politics and voter registration
| Population and registered voters | ||
|---|---|---|
| Total population[17] | 829,254 | |
| Registered voters[35][note 3] | 332,711 | 40.1% |
| Democratic[35] | 118,536 | 35.6% |
| Republican[35] | 136,666 | 41.1% |
| Democratic–Republican spread[35] | -18,130 | -5.5% |
| Independent[35] | 10,937 | 3.3% |
| Green[35] | 831 | 0.2% |
| Libertarian[35] | 1,947 | 0.6% |
| Peace and Freedom[35] | 926 | 0.3% |
| Americans Elect[35] | 12 | 0.0% |
| Other[35] | 374 | 0.1% |
| No party preference[35] | 62,482 | 18.8% |
Cities by population and voter registration
| Cities by population and voter registration | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City | Population[17] | Registered voters[35] [note 3] | Democratic[35] | Republican[35] | D–R spread[35] | Other[35] | No party preference[35] |
| Arvin | 18,809 | 19.9% | 63.5% | 14.0% | +49.5% | 4.6% | 19.8% |
| Bakersfield | 339,761 | 45.1% | 36.2% | 41.1% | -4.9% | 6.9% | 18.7% |
| California City | 13,684 | 37.7% | 33.0% | 37.6% | -4.6% | 11.7% | 22.9% |
| Delano | 52,342 | 22.6% | 64.2% | 18.3% | +45.9% | 3.4% | 15.5% |
| Maricopa | 1,280 | 36.0% | 23.0% | 47.1% | -24.1% | 15.6% | 21.0% |
| McFarland | 12,530 | 23.1% | 59.2% | 19.1% | +40.1% | 4.1% | 19.3% |
| Ridgecrest | 27,587 | 49.2% | 22.9% | 49.5% | -26.6% | 9.4% | 22.1% |
| Shafter | 16,709 | 29.3% | 47.8% | 31.1% | +16.7% | 5.7% | 17.9% |
| Taft | 9,413 | 32.2% | 22.6% | 53.7% | -31.1% | 8.7% | 18.8% |
| Tehachapi | 14,332 | 28.3% | 25.5% | 45.8% | -20.3% | 10.7% | 22.5% |
| Wasco | 25,457 | 21.7% | 52.8% | 26.5% | +26.3% | 5.0% | 17.8% |
Federal
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.
| Year | GOP | DEM | Others |
|---|---|---|---|
2016 | 53.07% 129,584 | 40.42% 98,689 | 6.50% 15,890 |
2012 | 56.99% 126,618 | 40.28% 89,495 | 2.73% 6,076 |
2008 | 57.65% 134,793 | 39.97% 93,457 | 2.38% 5,558 |
2004 | 66.49% 140,417 | 32.49% 68,603 | 1.02% 2,154 |
2000 | 60.70% 110,663 | 36.20% 66,003 | 3.10% 5,642 |
1996 | 53.77% 92,151 | 36.56% 62,658 | 9.68% 16,582 |
1992 | 45.05% 80,762 | 33.75% 60,510 | 21.19% 37,991 |
1988 | 61.48% 90,550 | 37.40% 55,083 | 1.13% 1,660 |
1984 | 65.03% 94,776 | 34.01% 49,567 | 0.96% 1,401 |
1980 | 59.65% 72,842 | 33.65% 41,097 | 6.70% 8,182 |
1976 | 52.29% 58,023 | 45.57% 50,567 | 2.14% 2,371 |
1972 | 60.14% 71,686 | 35.18% 41,937 | 4.67% 5,570 |
1968 | 46.61% 53,990 | 42.55% 49,284 | 10.84% 12,558 |
1964 | 41.18% 45,014 | 58.71% 64,174 | 0.11% 120 |
1960 | 50.43% 52,800 | 49.13% 51,440 | 0.44% 465 |
1956 | 51.31% 46,220 | 48.33% 43,533 | 0.36% 322 |
1952 | 55.13% 46,497 | 44.16% 37,240 | 0.71% 602 |
1948 | 41.60% 24,464 | 56.16% 33,029 | 2.24% 1,318 |
1944 | 43.96% 20,730 | 55.56% 26,205 | 0.48% 226 |
1940 | 37.30% 19,445 | 61.78% 32,202 | 0.92% 479 |
1936 | 24.20% 8,345 | 74.61% 25,726 | 1.18% 408 |
1932 | 25.11% 7,011 | 70.32% 19,634 | 4.57% 1,275 |
1928 | 62.67% 14,692 | 36.43% 8,541 | 0.90% 212 |
1924 | 46.08% 8,646 | 16.84% 3,159 | 37.09% 6,958 |
1920 | 49.01% 7,079 | 42.20% 6,095 | 8.79% 1,270 |
1916 | 35.11% 5,611 | 59.86% 9,566 | 5.03% 804 |
1912 | 0.62% 67 | 51.73% 5,569 | 47.65% 5,129 |
1908 | 45.60% 2,270 | 44.50% 2,215 | 9.90% 493 |
1904 | 51.61% 2,359 | 37.72% 1,724 | 10.68% 488 |
1900 | 45.17% 1,692 | 52.32% 1,960 | 2.51% 94 |
1896 | 43.80% 1,430 | 54.00% 1,763 | 2.21% 72 |
1892 | 39.47% 992 | 50.38% 1,266 | 10.15% 255 |
In the United States House of Representatives, Kern County is split between California's 21st congressional district, represented by Democrat TJ Cox, and California's 23rd congressional district, represented by Republican Kevin McCarthy.[37]
State
In the State Assembly, Kern County is split between the following four Assembly districts:
the 26th Assembly District, represented by Republican Devon Mathis
the 32nd Assembly District, represented by Democrat Rudy Salas
the 34th Assembly District, represented by Republican Vince Fong, and
the 36th Assembly District, represented by Republican Tom Lackey.[38]
In the State Senate, Kern County is split between the 14th Senate District, represented by Democrat Melissa Hurtado, and the 16th Senate District, represented by Republican Shannon Grove.[39]
On Nov. 4, 2008 Kern County voted 75.29% in favor of Proposition 8, which amended the California Constitution to ban same-sex marriages.[citation needed]
County
Kern County is governed by a five-member board of supervisors. As of 2015, they are:[40]
- 1st District, Mick Gleason.
- 2nd District, Zack Scrivner.
- 3rd District, Mike Maggard.
- 4th District, David Couch.
- 5th District, Leticia Perez.
Crime and public safety
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
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, Kern Ambulance based in Wasco, and Liberty Ambulance of Bakersfield. Over 546 uniformed firefighters are stationed in 46 fire stations throughout the county.
Sheriff's Office
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." Among those convicted were many charged with crimes against children during a moral panic. Many of these have since been released. Kern County contains multiple state and federal prisons, including two private prisons. As a result, the courts have been known to sentence a higher than average number of defendants to long prison sentences to help the local economy. 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" by major news websites such as Vice News.[41] 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. Also in 2015, 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.[42]
Kern County also holds the distinction of having the most deaths per capita in the US by police shooting per an article published in The Guardian on 1 December 2015. 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.[43]
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[17] | 829,254 | |
| Violent crime[44] | 4,892 | 5.90 |
| Homicide[44] | 75 | 0.09 |
| Forcible rape[44] | 205 | 0.25 |
| Robbery[44] | 1,331 | 1.61 |
| Aggravated assault[44] | 3,281 | 3.96 |
| Property crime[44] | 20,147 | 24.30 |
| Burglary[44] | 9,413 | 11.35 |
| Larceny-theft[44][45] | 17,034 | 20.54 |
| Motor vehicle theft[44] | 4,998 | 6.03 |
| Arson[44] | 593 | 0.72 |
Cities by population and crime rates
| Cities by population and crime rates | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City | Population[46] | Violent crimes[46] | Violent crime rate per 1,000 persons | Property crimes[46] | 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
General
The county has a large agricultural base and is a significant producer of oil, natural gas, hydro-electric power, solar power, and wind power. Kern County is a hub of various power sources. Kern is also noted for its mineral wealth, including gold, borate, and kernite. The largest open pit mine in California, which mines borax, is at Boron in Kern County.[47] 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.[48]
Agriculture
Defense and aerospace
Edwards Air Force Base is a facility located in Kern County 15 mi (24 km) east of Rosamond. It is the home of the Air Force Test Center, Air Force Test Pilot School, and NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center. Located there also is the Air Force Materiel Command center for research and development of flight. It hosts test activities conducted by aerospace companies such as Boeing, Lockheed-Martin, Northrop-Grumman, and Raytheon.[49]
Petroleum
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.[50][51] The county produced 144.5 million barrels of oil in 2015, accounting for about 4% of overall U.S. oil production.[50][52]
Discovery and development
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. Yet it was an 1899 discovery along the Kern River, today part of the giant Kern River Oil Field, that was the breakthrough in Kern's oil production.[9] Oil was refined here even before the establishment of the county.[9] The Buena Vista Petroleum Company was organized and incorporated in 1864.[9] Soon thereafter a refinery was built that operated until April 1867 when work ceased because of high freight charges.[9]
It was in the Midway-Sunset Oil Field that well drillers brought about the 1910 Lakeview Gusher, the largest recorded oil strike in U.S. history. The well spewed approximately nine million barrels for 18 months onto the adjacent terrain before workers finally were able to cap it.[53]
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.[54] 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.[55][56]
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
The county today contributes more than three-quarters of all the oil produced onshore in California.[54] 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
Aviation and space
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.[57] Kern County is also the home of the first inland spaceport in the United States, the Mojave Spaceport.[citation needed]
Air pollution
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, eastern Kern County is a non-attainment area for particulates.[58]
Transportation
Major highways
Interstate 5
U.S. Route 395
State Route 14
State Route 33
State Route 41
State Route 43
State Route 46
State Route 58
State Route 65
State Route 99
State Route 119
State Route 155
State Route 166
State Route 178
State Route 184
State Route 202
State Route 204
State Route 223
Interstate 5
U.S. Route 395
State Route 14
State Route 33
State Route 41
State Route 43
State Route 46
State Route 58
State Route 65
State Route 99
State Route 119
State Route 155
State Route 166
State Route 178
State Route 184
State Route 202
State Route 204
State Route 223
Public transportation
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 Regional Transit provides countywide intercity bus service.
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.
Airports
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
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 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
Magazines
Bakersfield Magazine, Kern County
Kern County Family Magazine, Kern County
Newspapers
The Bakersfield Californian, Kern County
Mountain Enterprise, southwest Kern mountains area
Mojave Desert News, 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
KBAK-TV (CBS), Kern County
KERO-TV (ABC), Kern County
KGET-TV (NBC/CW), Kern County
Communities
Cities
- Arvin
Bakersfield (county seat)- California City
- Delano
- Maricopa
- McFarland
- Ridgecrest
- Shafter
- Taft
- Tehachapi
- Wasco
Census-designated places
- Bear Valley Springs
- Bodfish
- Boron
- Buttonwillow
- Cherokee Strip
- China Lake Acres
- Derby Acres
- Dustin Acres
- Edmundson Acres
- Edwards AFB
- Fellows
- Ford City
- Frazier Park
- Fuller Acres
- 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
- North Edwards
- Oildale
- Onyx
- Pine Mountain Club
- Randsburg
- Rosamond
- Rosedale
- Smith Corner
- South Taft
- Squirrel Mountain Valley
- Stallion Springs
- Taft Heights
- Tupman
- Valley Acres
- Weedpatch
- Weldon
- Wofford Heights
Unincorporated communities
- Actis
- Aerial Acres
- Alameda
- Algoso
- Alta Sierra
- Annette
- Ansel
- Armistead
- Bealville
- Bena
- Bissell
- Bowerbank
- Bradys
- Burton Mill
- Cable
- Calders Corner
- Calico
- Caliente
- Cameron
- Canebrake
- Cantil
- Cawelo
- Ceneda
- Cinco
- Claraville
- Conner
- Crome
- Di Giorgio
- Edison
- Edwards
- Elmo
- Famoso
- Fig Orchard
- Five Points
- Fleta
- Glennville
- Goler Heights
- Gosford
- Grapevine
- Gulf
- Gypsite
- Halfway House
- Harpertown
- Harts Place
- Havilah
- Hazelton
- Hollis
- Ilmon
- Indian Wells
- Jasmin
- Kayandee
- Kecks Corner
- Kern Lake
- Kernell
- Keyesville
- Kilowatt
- Lackey Place
- Lakeview
- Landco
- Lokern
- Lonsmith
- Loraine
- Maltha
- Marcel
- Meridian
- Midoil
- Millux
- Miracle Hot Springs
- Missouri Triangle
- Monolith
- Moreland Mill
- Neufeld
- North Belridge, California
- Oil Junction
- Old Garlock
- Old River
Old West Ranch[59][60][61]- Palmo
- Panama
- Pentland
- Pettit Place
- Pinon Pines Estates
- Pond
- Prospero
- Pumpkin Center
- Quality
- Rancho Seco
- Rand
- Reward
- Ribier
- Ricardo
- Rich
- Rio Bravo
- Riverkern
- Rowen
- Saco
- Sageland
- Saltdale
- San Emidio
- Sanborn
- Sand Canyon
- Searles
- Semitropic
- Shirley Meadows
- Silt
- Slater
- South Lake
- Spellacy
- Spicer City
- Stevens
- Summit
- Twin Lakes
- Twin Oaks
- Una
- Venola
- Vinland
- Walong
- Wheeler Ridge
- Wible Orchard
- Willow Springs
- Wonder Acres
- Woody
- Zentner
Former places
- Adobe Station
- Glenburn
- Mesa Marin Raceway
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Kern County.[62]
† county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2010 Census) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | † Bakersfield | City | 347,483 |
| 2 | Delano | City | 53,041 |
| 3 | Oildale | CDP | 32,684 |
| 4 | Ridgecrest | City | 27,616 |
| 5 | Wasco | City | 25,545 |
| 6 | Arvin | City | 19,304 |
| 7 | Rosamond | CDP | 18,150 |
| 8 | Shafter | City | 16,988 |
| 9 | Lamont | CDP | 15,120 |
| 10 | Tehachapi | City | 14,414 |
| 11 | California City | City | 14,120 |
| 12 | Rosedale | CDP | 14,058 |
| 13 | McFarland | City | 12,707 |
| 14 | Taft | City | 9,327 |
| 15 | Golden Hills | CDP | 8,656 |
| 16 | Greenacres | CDP | 5,566 |
| 17 | Bear Valley Springs | CDP | 5,172 |
| 18 | Ford City | CDP | 4,278 |
| 19 | Mojave | CDP | 4,238 |
| 20 | Greenfield | CDP | 3,991 |
| 21 | Lake Isabella | CDP | 3,466 |
| 22 | Frazier Park | CDP | 2,691 |
| 23 | Weedpatch | CDP | 2,658 |
| 24 | Weldon | CDP | 2,642 |
| 25 | Stallion Springs | CDP | 2,488 |
| 26 | Lost Hills | CDP | 2,412 |
| 27 | Pine Mountain Club | CDP | 2,315 |
| 28 | Boron | CDP | 2,253 |
| 29 | Wofford Heights | CDP | 2,200 |
| 30 | South Taft | CDP | 2,169 |
| 31 | Edwards AFB | CDP | 2,063 |
| 32 | Bodfish | CDP | 1,956 |
| 33 | Taft Heights | CDP | 1,949 |
| 34 | China Lake Acres | CDP | 1,876 |
| 35 | Buttonwillow | CDP | 1,508 |
| 36 | Lebec | CDP | 1,468 |
| 37 | Kernville | CDP | 1,395 |
| 38 | Maricopa | City | 1,154 |
| 39 | Inyokern | CDP | 1,099 |
| 40 | North Edwards | CDP | 1,058 |
| 41 | Fuller Acres | CDP | 991 |
| 42 | Lake of the Woods | CDP | 917 |
| 43 | Mountain Mesa | CDP | 777 |
| 44 | Dustin Acres | CDP | 652 |
| 45 | Squirrel Mountain Valley | CDP | 547 |
| 46 | Valley Acres | CDP | 527 |
| 47 | Smith Corner | CDP | 524 |
| 48 | Onyx | CDP | 475 |
| 49 | Keene | CDP | 431 |
| 50 | Derby Acres | CDP | 322 |
| 51 | Mexican Colony | CDP | 281 |
| 52 | Edmundson Acres | CDP | 279 |
| 53 | Cherokee Strip | CDP | 227 |
| 54 | Johannesburg | CDP | 172 |
| 55 | Tupman | CDP | 161 |
| 56 | Mettler | CDP | 136 |
| 57 | McKittrick | CDP | 115 |
| 58 | Fellows | CDP | 106 |
| 59 | Randsburg | CDP | 69 |
See also
Kern County, California portal- List of museums in the San Joaquin Valley
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Kern County, California
Notes
^ Other = Some other race + Two or more races
^ Native American = Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander + American Indian or Alaska Native
^ ab Percentage of registered voters with respect to total population. Percentages of party members with respect to registered voters follow.
References
^ ab Physical Features of Kern County. County of Kern. Accessed: 07-22-2010.
^ abcd "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2016..mw-parser-output cite.citationfont-style:inherit.mw-parser-output .citation qquotes:"""""""'""'".mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registrationcolor:#555.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration spanborder-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output code.cs1-codecolor:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-errordisplay:none;font-size:100%.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-errorfont-size:100%.mw-parser-output .cs1-maintdisplay:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-formatfont-size:95%.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-leftpadding-left:0.2em.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-rightpadding-right:0.2em
^ ab "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved September 7, 2018.
^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
^ Christie, Les. "10 most polluted cities". Retrieved May 28, 2017.
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on May 28, 2015. Retrieved May 27, 2015.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)
^ Hubert Howe Bancroft, History of California. The History Company, Publishers. San Francisco, 1886. pp. 532-536.
^ 1865-1866 Calif. Stats., Chap. 569, § 3
^ abcdef Hoover, p.128
^ Truth In Justice. Accessed January 28, 2008.
^ Witch Hunt on IMDb
^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
^ The Wasmann Journal of Biology (1967) University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California, v.25
^ Arthur Sampson (1963) California Range Brushlands and Browse Plants, ANR Publications, 162 pages
ISBN 0-931876-54-0
^ C. Michael Hogan. 2008. Aesculus californica, Globaltwitcher.com, ed. N. Strömberg Archived November 22, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
^ California State Association of Counties Archived May 12, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
^ abcdefghijklmnopq U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001. American FactFinder. Retrieved 2013-10-26.
^ ab U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B03003. American FactFinder. Retrieved 2013-10-26.
^ ab U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19301. American FactFinder. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
^ ab U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19013. American FactFinder. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
^ ab U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19113. American FactFinder. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
^ ab U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. American FactFinder. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
^ U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B01003. American FactFinder. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
^ Data unavailable
^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
^ "2010 Census P.L. 94-171 Summary File Data". United States Census Bureau.
^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
^ "City-data — Kern County, California". analyzed data from numerous sources. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
^ "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 from the original (PDF) on March 19, 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
^ "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 2013-04-01. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
^ "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.
^ abcdefghijklmnopq California Secretary of State. February 10, 2013 — Report of Registration Archived November 3, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
^ "California's 8th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC.
^ "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
^ "Senators". State of California. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
^ "Board of Supervisors". Kern County California. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
^ Bslko, Radley (3 December 2015). "America's killingest counties". Washington Post. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
^ Laughland, Oliver (May 9, 2016). "California's Kern County settles for $1m over sexual assault by sheriff's deputy". Retrieved May 28, 2017 – via The Guardian.
^ "The County: the story of America's deadliest police". Retrieved May 28, 2017 – via The Guardian.
^ abcdefghij Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice, State of California. Table 11: Crimes – 2009 Archived December 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
^ Only larceny-theft cases involving property over $400 in value are reported as property crimes.
^ abc United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Crime in the United States, 2012, Table 8 (California). Retrieved 2013-11-14.
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 30, 2007. Retrieved July 4, 2007.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link) Rio Tinto Borax. Accessed July 3, 2007.
^ "Table 1: Number and Capacity of In-State Renewable Projects On-Line as of October 31, 2016". Tracking Progress: Renewable Energy – Overview (PDF) (Report). California Energy Commission. December 22, 2016.
^ Edwards Air Force Base wikipedia site
^ ab "Well Count And Production Of Oil, Gas And Water By County" (PDF). Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources. California Department of Conservation. 2015. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
^ Hsu, Tiffany (January 30, 2015) "Plunging oil prices choke off boom in Bakersfield" Los Angeles Times
^ "Crude Oil Production". Energy Information Administration. 2015.
^ "www.sjgs.com". www.sjgs.com. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
^ ab
California Department of Conservation, Oil and Gas Statistics, Annual Report, December 31, 2006, p. 2
^ Hluza, A.G. Calloway Area of Fruitvale Oil Field: California Division of Oil and Gas, Summary of Operations. 1961. Vol. 47 No. 2. 5-6
^ DOGGR (2009), 63
^ Hoover, p. 134
^ Particulate Matter (PM-10) Nonattainment Area/State/County Report, September 16, 2010 [1]
^ smayer@bakersfield.com, STEVEN MAYER. "Rural neighborhood fielding a cluster of complaints".
^ Martz, Matthew. "Victim of Old West Ranch shooting identified". Retrieved May 28, 2017.
^ "Tehachapi Life- Tehachapi, CA". www.tehachapilife.com. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 21, 2013. Retrieved 2016-07-10.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)
Further reading
Hoover, Mildred Brooke; Douglas E. Kyle (1990). Historic Spots in California. Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-0-8047-1734-2.
External links
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kern County, California. |
Kern County travel guide from Wikivoyage- Official website
- Keysville Massacre, April 19, 1863 — original report from officer in charge.
A Visit To The Sharktooth Hill Bone Bed, Southern California A field trip to a world famous 16 to 15 million year-old fossil locality a few miles northeast of Bakersfield; includes detailed text, with photographs of fossils and on-site images.- Fossils At Red Rock Canyon State Park, California
Kern County travel guide from WikivoyagePlaces adjacent to Kern County, California | ||||||||||
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Kern
Municipalities and communities of Kern County, California, United States | ||
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Sacramento (capital) | ||
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