Bakersfield

Bakersfield is a city in Kern County, California, United States. It is the county seat and the largest city in the county. Located in the southern San Joaquin Valley along the Kern River, Bakersfield lies about 110 miles north of Los Angeles. The area has a hot, semi-arid climate with mild winters and low annual rainfall.

Indigenous peoples inhabited the region before European settlement. Bakersfield developed as a railroad town in 1863 and grew as an agricultural and oil center. It was named after Thomas Baker, a local rancher whose land the town largely occupied, and it expanded with the arrival of the Southern Pacific railroad.

The local economy centers on agriculture and energy. Major crops include citrus, grapes, and various orchard and row crops, while nearby oil fields support production that has long shaped Kern County's economy. The city also serves as a transportation and distribution hub for the valley.

Cultural life features the Bakersfield Sound, a country music style that emerged in the 1950s and 1960s with artists such as Buck Owens and Merle Haggard. Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace was a notable venue. Higher education is provided by California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) and Bakersfield College.

Road and air transport link Bakersfield to other parts of California. Major highways include State Route 99 and State Route 58. Meadows Field (BFL) is the city’s commercial airport, and Amtrak serves Bakersfield on the San Joaquin line, connecting it with Los Angeles and the Bay Area.

Demographically, Bakersfield is diverse, with a substantial Hispanic/Latino population alongside White, Black, and Asian residents. The city faces water and drought-related issues common to the region, and it sits within the broader California water management system.