59-657: The Kern High School District ( KHSD ) is a public high school system headquartered in Bakersfield, California that serves portions of the County of Kern located at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley . As of 2023, the Kern High School District serves over 43,000 students and 3,600 employees as of 2007. It encompasses over 3,500 square miles (9,100 km), just under 43 percent of
118-399: A 4-hour drive on State Route 99). Hart Memorial Park is located in northeast Bakersfield along Alfred Harrell Highway. Bakersfield has historically referred to its regions by directional names. They include North Bakersfield, Northeast, Southeast, South Bakersfield, Southwest, and Northwest. East Bakersfield generally refers to the former town of Sumner (later renamed East Bakersfield). As
177-644: A bachelor's degree was the lowest (14.7%) of the 100 largest metropolitan areas in the United States; that 100th-place finish was down from being ranked 95th in 1990. According to a Gallup -Healthways Well-Being Index, Bakersfield ranks as one of the ten most obese metro areas in America. Of its residents, 33.6% were obese, compared to the national average of 26.5%. The same study found that 21.2% were smokers, 12.7% had diabetes , 27.9% had high blood pressure , 22.8% had high cholesterol , 3.3% have suffered
236-459: A female householder with no husband present, and 7,829 (7.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 8,159 (7.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships , and 845 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships . About 21,800 households (19.6%) were made up of individuals, and 7,354 (6.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.10. There were 83,154 families (74.8% of all households);
295-457: A heart attack, 75.2% felt they had enough money to buy food and 75.5% had health insurance. Bakersfield saw its population grow from about 105,000 in 1980 to over 400,000 in 2020. Although the city is still growing, its growth rate has slowed in recent years due to the economic recession and high home foreclosure rates. However, in October 2013, Bakersfield was found to be the number two city in
354-474: A historic industry in the area, contributes to the poor air quality. Returning flowing water to the Kern River and along with trees is promoted as a way to improve air quality and enhance recreation in the city. The 2010 United States Census reported that Bakersfield had a population of 347,483. The population density was 2,419.6 inhabitants per square mile (934.2/km ). The ethnic makeup of Bakersfield
413-464: A result, the Northeast wraps around East Bakersfield. Bakersfield has a hot desert climate ( Köppen BWh ), with sweltering, dry summers and winters that consist of mild days with chilly/cold nights. Rainfall is low in the city, averaging only 6.36 inches (161.5 mm) annually, with most of it falling in the winter. Bakersfield averages about 191 clear days a year. Bakersfield's climate makes
472-626: A result, the city of Bakersfield threatened to annex the city of Shafter. The large bluff and plateau east of Bakersfield—toward the Rio Bravo and Kern Canyon area—has been under development for the last 60 years. Because the steep, north-facing edge of the bluff provides a view of the foothills, mountains, oil fields, and Kern River, the city government has attempted to balance development and preservation in this area. Bakersfield's historic and primary industries are related to Kern County's two main industries: oil and agriculture. Kern County in 2013
531-543: A scheme to disincorporate, effectively leaving him without an employer. According to local historian Gilbert Gia the city was also failing to collect the taxes it needed for services. In 1876, The city voted to disincorporate. For the next 22 years, a citizen's council managed the community. By 1880, Bakersfield had a population of 801, with 250 of Chinese descent. By 1890, it had a population of 2,626. Migration from Texas , Louisiana , Oklahoma , and Southern California brought new residents, who were mostly employed by
590-413: A total area of 114.4 sq mi (296 km ), of which 113.1 sq mi (293 km ) were land (98.86%) and 1.3 sq mi (3.4 km ) were water-covered (1.14%). Bakersfield is located about 100 mi (160 km) north of Los Angeles (about a 1-hour, 45-minute drive on I-5 and State Route 99) and about 280 mi (450 km) southeast of the state capital, Sacramento (about
649-445: A very dense layer of fog occasionally. Due to years of prolonged drought and the rapid development of many new neighborhoods around Bakersfield, the density of the fog and the number of "fog days" has steadily decreased. At the same time, areas outside the city still experience thick fog. The official time frame for tule fog to form is about five months long – various days from November 1 to March 31. Most noticeable in summer and winter,
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#1732802211876708-478: Is a normal phenomenon by itself, it has not been uncommon throughout human history for settlers to have arrived in already-inhabited lands without the intention of living alongside the native population . In these cases, the conflict that arises between the settlers and the natives (or Indigenous peoples ) may result in the dispossession of the latter within the contested territory, usually violently. While settlers can act independently, they may receive support from
767-464: Is an ongoing phenomenon. The usage is controversial to some. In the Middle East and North Africa , there are a number of references to various squatter and specific policies that are referred to as settler-oriented in nature. Among those: The reasons for the emigration of settlers vary, but often they include the following factors and incentives: the desire to start a new and better life in
826-554: Is common for an inversion layer to form in the valley in the winter, in which temperatures can be warmer in the foothills above the valley with the valley itself being cooler. This can trap air pollution in Bakersfield and the surrounding valley areas for days or even weeks. This can typically be mediated by rain or strong winds. Emissions from agriculture, industry, rail freight and road traffic together create significant concentrations of air pollution. The extraction of oil and gas,
885-464: Is the birthplace of the country music genre known as the Bakersfield sound . Archaeological evidence indicates the presence of Native American settlements dating back thousands of years. Upon Spanish arrival, present-day Bakersfield was inhabited by the Yowlumne , a Yokuts people. Yowlumne accounts indicate that the village of Woilu was situated in the bounds of the present city. The Yokuts of
944-595: The American English use of "pioneer" to refer to a settler – a person who has migrated to a less occupied area and established permanent residence there, often to colonize the area; as first recorded in English in 1605. In United States history , it refers to the Europeans who were part of the process of settling new lands on Indigenous territories . In this usage, pioneers are usually among
1003-552: The Americas in the 15th century), the terms "East Indian" and "Asian Indian" are also used to differentiate Indians from the Indigenous peoples of the United States. The process by which Indigenous territories are settled by foreign peoples is usually called settler colonialism . It relies upon a process of often violent dispossession. In the figurative usage, a "person who goes first or does something first" also applies to
1062-587: The Bakersfield Register of Historic Places , including the Fox Theater (designated 8/24/94) and Kern County Chamber of Commerce Building (designated 3/12/08). With only 16 sites on its local register (compared to more than 300 sites designated by the City of Fresno ), Bakersfield has been criticized for its lack of focus on historic preservation. Bakersfield is located near the southern end of
1121-831: The Greater Los Angeles Area and the San Joaquin Valley, has made the city a regional transportation hub. In 1990, Bakersfield was one of 10 U.S. communities to receive the All-America City Award from the National Civic League . In 2010, the Bakersfield MSA had a gross metropolitan product of $ 29.466 billion, making it the 73rd-largest metropolitan economy in the United States. Bakersfield has several buildings and locations designated as historic sites at
1180-708: The Indigenous peoples of the Americas and Indigenous Australians , such as Aborigines , First Nations , or Native Americans . In the United States , the terms "Indian" and "American Indian" are still common, but controversial. In order to avoid confusion with actual Indians or Indian Americans (as the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus mistakenly believed that he had arrived in India when he discovered
1239-550: The San Andreas Fault . The Temblor Range is about 35 mi (56 km) from Bakersfield across the valley floor. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 143.6 sq mi (372 km ), of which 142.2 sq mi (368 km ) are land (98.99%) and 1.4 sq mi (3.6 km ) are covered by water (1.01%). At the 2000 census, the city had
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#17328022118761298-548: The San Joaquin Valley , which is located in the Central Valley region. Bakersfield's population as of the 2020 Census was 403,455, making it the 47th-most populous city in the United States and the 9th-most populous in California . The Bakersfield–Delano Metropolitan Statistical Area , which includes all of Kern County, had a 2020 census population of 909,235, making it the 62nd largest metropolitan area in
1357-924: The San Joaquin Valley , with the southern tip of the Sierra Nevada just to the east. The city limits extend to the Sequoia National Forest , at the foot of the Greenhorn Mountain Range and the entrance to the Kern Canyon. To the south, the Tehachapi Mountains , rising more than a vertical mile, feature the historic Tejon Ranch . To the west is the Temblor Range , behind which is the Carrizo Plain National Monument and
1416-539: The moment magnitude scale and was felt from San Francisco to the Mexican border , destroyed the nearby communities of Tehachapi and Arvin . The earthquake's destructive force bent cotton fields into U shapes, slid a shoulder of the Tehachapi Mountains across all four lanes of the Ridge Route , collapsed a water tower, creating a flash flood, and destroyed the railroad tunnels in the mountain chain. Bakersfield
1475-484: The urban heat island phenomenon can be observed throughout various neighborhoods in Bakersfield. Areas closer to downtown and along the 99 freeway corridor can experience warmer temperatures at night than neighborhoods on the edge of the city limits and rural Kern County areas, with temperature differences up to 7 °F (4 °C) between these areas at any given time. On average, ten mornings have freezing lows (on average between December 14 and January 24) annually, and
1534-564: The Bay Area, with local residents being priced out. The city of Shafter , a small farming town north of Bakersfield, previously filed a suit to attempt to limit the northern expansion of Bakersfield's city limits. Shafter has also annexed large pieces of farmland to its east and south to ensure that Bakersfield does not annex this area. Bakersfield, in addition, filed a lawsuit against Shafter in 2007 regarding water rights Shafter planned to use but Bakersfield stated it had purchased in 1976. As
1593-565: The San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railroad being purchased by Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe . The new station was located at the intersection of 15th Street and F Street and was demolished in 1972. It was replaced with the present day Bakersfield Station built in 2000, near Truxtun Avenue and S Street. On July 21, 1952, an earthquake struck at 4:52 am Pacific Daylight Time. The earthquake, which measured 7.5 on
1652-440: The United States. Bakersfield is a significant hub for both agriculture and energy production . Kern County is California's most productive oil-producing county and the fourth most productive agricultural county (by value) in the United States. Industries in and around Bakersfield include natural gas and other energy extraction, mining, petroleum refining, distribution, food processing, and corporate regional offices. The city
1711-584: The average family size was 3.56. The population was distributed as 109,479 people (31.5%) under the age of 18, 37,368 (10.8%) aged 18 to 24, 97,024 (27.9%) aged 25 to 44, 74,276 (21.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 29,336 (8.4%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.0 males; for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males. The 120,725 housing units averaged 840.6 per square mile (324.6/km ), of which 66,323 (59.7%) were owner-occupied, and 44,809 (40.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate
1770-466: The banks of the Kern River in 1863, at what became known as Baker's Field, which became a stopover for travelers. By 1870, with a population of 600, what is now known as Bakersfield was becoming the principal town in Kern County. In 1873, Bakersfield was officially incorporated as a city, and by 1874, it officially replaced the town of Havilah as the county seat. Alexander Mills was hired as
1829-550: The broadest sense, a person who migrates to a new region to establish a permanent presence there. A settler is also called a pioneer if the land that they migrated to was previously uninhabited or sparsely populated. Settlers come from a sedentary society , which has developed in a generally fixed geographical location, in contrast to a nomadic society , which does not have a fixed habitat and moves around seasonally with various settlements. The process of settling land can be, and has often been, controversial: while human migration
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1888-433: The city marshal, a man one historian would describe as "... an old man by the time he became Marshal of Bakersfield, and he walked with a cane. But he was a Kentuckian, a handy man with a gun, and not lacking in initiative and resource when the mood moved him." Businessmen and others began to resent Mills, who was cantankerous and high-handed in his treatment of them. Wanting to fire him but fearing reprisals, they devised
1947-542: The city's center in the most densely populated area of the southern San Joaquin Valley . Four people died in the aftershock, and many of the town's historic structures sustained heavy damage. Between 1970 and 2010, Bakersfield grew 400% (from 70,000 to 347,483), making it one of the fastest-growing cities in California. Bakersfield's close proximity to mountain passes , primarily the Tejon Pass on Interstate 5 between
2006-485: The coldest night of the year typically bottoms out below 30 °F or −1.1 °C. On January 2, 2012, Bakersfield reached a record high of 82 °F (27.8 °C) for that year's winter. Spring and fall typically feature mild to warm daytime high temperatures with cool nighttime low temperatures, but temperatures and precipitation can vary significantly depending on the year. More than 50 percent of Bakersfield's annual precipitation falls between January and March, with
2065-485: The fifth-largest majority-Hispanic city in the United States, with 53% of its population being Hispanic in 2020. In 1861, disastrous floods swept away the original settlement founded in 1860 by the German-born Christian Bohna. Among those attracted to the area by the California gold rush was Thomas Baker, a lawyer and former colonel in the militia of Ohio , his home state. Baker moved to
2124-652: The first to an area, whereas settlers can arrive after first settlement and join others in the process of human settlement . This correlates with the work of military pioneers , who were tasked with construction of camps before the main body of troops would arrive at the designated campsite. The Russian Empire regularly invited Russian subjects and foreign nationals to settle in sparsely populated lands, mostly in North Asia , but also in Central Asia . These settlers were called colonists. These projects resulted in
2183-463: The government of their country or empire or from a non-governmental organization as part of a larger campaign. The lifestyle of a native population is often disturbed or destroyed if they come into contact with a settler population that seeks to replace them. Many times throughout history, settlers occupied land that was previously inhabited by long-established peoples, who are designated as native or Indigenous . Additional terms may be used to describe
2242-691: The inception of Slavo-Serbia , Volga Germans , Volhynia , and Russians in Kazakhstan , among other phenomena. Although settlers in the early modern era frequently made use of sea routes—significant waves of settlement could also use long overland routes, such as the Great Trek by the Boer - Afrikaners in South Africa , or the Oregon Trail in the United States. Anthropologists record
2301-470: The most meals of any organization in the County, and operates one the largest transportation networks. This California school-related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Bakersfield, California Bakersfield is a city in and the county seat of Kern County, California , United States. The city covers about 151 sq mi (390 km ) near the southern end of
2360-423: The nation for the rental market. Apartment vacancies have become a large issue, with only one percent of potential apartments being open to new renters as of April 2021. The average cost of rent and housing has dramatically increased in the last few years, with some apartments having their monthly rent nearly double in cost. Most new apartments being built are catering to commuting workers from Southern California and
2419-730: The national, state, and city levels. Five buildings have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), including the First Baptist Church (NRHP 1/2/79); Baker Street Library (NRHP 4/1/81) and Bakersfield Californian Building (NRHP 3/10/83). Four sites have been designated as California Historical Landmarks , including Garces Memorial Circle (designated in 1937) and the Colonel Thomas Baker Memorial (designated in 1944). In addition, 16 sites have been locally designated on
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2478-576: The new railroad caused Southern Pacific to lower its fares from $ 9.10 ($ 347.22 in 2023) to $ 6.90 ($ 263.27 in 2023) to match the new railroad's fare. Eventually, a streetcar line would connect the Santa Fe station to the Southern Pacific station in Sumner (now East Bakersfield ). However, while the track had reached Bakersfield in 1898, a station would not be constructed until 1899 due to
2537-477: The oil industry. The city reincorporated on January 11, 1898. In 1874, the Southern Pacific Railroad first arrived in Kern County. However, the train depot was placed nearly three miles east of Bakersfield due to a land dispute between the railroad and the town. Desperate to get their own station, Bakersfield residents, sugar magnate Clause Spreckels, and small investors from all over
2596-583: The people so affable and affectionate. Given the remoteness and inaccessibility of the region, the Yokuts remained largely isolated from further contact until after the Mexican War of Independence , when Mexican settlers began to migrate to the area. Following the discovery of gold in California in 1848, settlers flooded into the San Joaquin Valley . In 1851, gold was discovered along the Kern River in
2655-414: The population in 2010, compared to 71% in 1980. The census reported 344,088 people (99.0% of the population) lived in households, 2,094 (0.6%) lived in noninstitutionalized group quarters, and 1,301 (0.4%) were institutionalized. Of the 111,132 households, 51,995 (46.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 57,276 (51.5%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 18,049 (16.2%) had
2714-637: The record being 17 days in 1931. The most recent year to have more than five days of 110 °F (43.3 °C)+ temperature readings was 2017, with seven days reaching or exceeding 110 °F (43.3 °C). Temperatures can be highly variable throughout the spring, summer and fall months every year, with triple digit temperature readings in May, and on rare occasion April, and October in addition to occasional high temperatures below 80 °F (26.7 °C) in June and September not being uncommon. The warmest month on record
2773-545: The region lived in lodges along the branches of the Kern River delta and hunted antelope, tule elk, deer, bear, fish, and game birds. In 1776, Spanish missionary Francisco Garcés became the first European to explore the area. Recording his May 1 arrival to a Yokuts village along the Kern River, immediately northeast of present Bakersfield, Garcés wrote, The people of the rancheria had a great feast over my arrival, and having regaled me well I reciprocated to them all with tobacco and glass beads, congratulating myself on seeing
2832-545: The region suitable for growing crops ranging from carrots to citrus and almonds. Bakersfield summers are sweltering with extended stretches of hot weather and 112 days per year with high temperatures of 90 °F (32.2 °C)+ (on average between April 18 and October 13); in addition, there are 36 days with highs of 100 °F (37.8 °C)+ (on average between June 2 and September 19), and 0.9 days with highs of 110 °F (43.3 °C)+. The frequency of 110 °F (43.3 °C) readings can significantly vary each year, with
2891-456: The remainder falling during late fall and early winter. Snow is rare on the valley floor, although frost may occur. The last snow fell on January 25, 1999, when the city received up to 6 inches (15 cm), with 3 inches (7.6 cm) at the airport. The record maximum temperature was 118 °F (47.8 °C) on July 28, 1908, and the record minimum temperature was 12 °F (−11.1 °C) on January 3, 1908. The most rainfall in one month
2950-401: The southern Sierra Nevada , and in 1865, oil was discovered in the valley. The Bakersfield area, once a tule reed-covered marshland, was first known as Kern Island to the handful of pioneers , who built log cabins there in 1860. The area was subject to periodic flooding from the Kern River, which occupied what is now the downtown area, and experienced outbreaks of malaria . Bakersfield is
3009-583: The state ended up raising around $ 3,500,000 by January 17, 1895, to fund a second railroad to Bakersfield. By January 29, 1895, the San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railroad was born. Dubbed the "People's Railroad," the project was completed and warmly welcomed by the town with a parade attended by thousands on May 27, 1898, amidst the Spanish-American War and over 20 years after the completion of Southern Pacific's line. Competition from
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#17328022118763068-473: The total area of Kern County. It is the largest district of its type by enrollment and land area. Voted into existence in 1892, it began operation in January 1893. The district comprises 19 comprehensive campuses, six alternative education campuses, two career technical education sites, and four special education centers. The district claims it is the largest provider of entertainment in Kern County, provides
3127-720: The tribal displacement of native settlers who drive another tribe from the lands it held, such as the settlement of lands in the area now called Carmel-by-the-Sea, California , where the Ohlone people settled in areas that were previously inhabited by the Esselen people . In Canada , the term "settler" is currently used to describe "the non-Indigenous peoples living in Canada who form the European-descended sociopolitical majority" and thereby asserting that settler colonialism
3186-505: Was 197,389 (56.8%) White, 28,238 (8.1%) African American, 5,102 (1.5%) Native American, 21,432 (6.2%) Asian (2.1% Indian, 2.0% Filipino , 0.5% Chinese , 0.4% Korean , 0.2% Japanese , 478 (0.1%) Pacific Islander ), 77,686 (22.4%) from other races, and 17,068 (4.9%) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 158,205 persons (45.5%). Among the general population, 39.5% are Mexican , 1.3% Salvadoran , 0.5% Guatemalan , and 0.10% Colombian . Non-Hispanic Whites were 37.8% of
3245-474: Was 3.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 9.0%. About 206,492 people (59.4%) lived in owner-occupied housing units, and 137,596 (39.6%) lived in rental housing units. Bakersfield has consistently ranked as one of the least educated metropolitan areas in the United States. A study by the Brookings Institution using 2008 data found that the proportion of Bakersfield metro adults age 25 and over with
3304-530: Was 5.82 inches (147.8 mm) in December 2010, and the maximum 24-hour rainfall was 2.29 inches (58.2 mm) on February 9, 1978. The wettest "rain year" has been from July 1997 to June 1998 with 14.73 inches (374.1 mm) and the driest from July 1933 to June 1934 with 2.26 inches (57.4 mm). Air quality is generally at its worst in fall and winter due to the California wildfire season and colder temperatures forming an inversion layer, respectively. It
3363-424: Was July 2024, with an average temperature of 90.8 °F (32.7 °C). Except for occasional monsoons, which may bring light rain, typically no rain or almost no rain will fall from May to September. Winters feature mild daytime temperatures and chilly/cold nights. Frost and/or dense fog usually occurs in winter with accompanying low visibility, causing many schools to have fog delays. Winters will usually produce
3422-507: Was somewhat spared, experiencing minor architectural damage without loss of life. A large aftershock occurred on July 29, causing minor architectural damage but raising fears that the flow of the Friant-Kern Canal could be dangerously altered, potentially flooding the city and surrounding areas. Aftershocks continued for the next month, and on August 22 at 3:42 pm, another earthquake, measured at 5.8, struck directly under
3481-482: Was the most oil productive county in the US. Kern County is a part of the highly productive San Joaquin Valley and ranks in the top five most productive agricultural counties in the nation. Major crops for Kern County include grapes, citrus, almonds, carrots, alfalfa, cotton, and roses. The city is home to the corporate and regional headquarters of companies engaged in these industries. Settler A settler is, in
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