Kern County, California

Kern County is located 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, California
County
County of Kern
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
Location in the state of California
Coordinates: 35.34°N 118.72°W / 35.34; -118.72
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
Incorporated1866
Named forKern River and Edward Kern
County seat (and largest city)Bakersfield
Area
 • Total8,163 sq mi (21,140 km2)
 • Land8,132 sq mi (21,060 km2)
 • Water31 sq mi (80 km2)
Highest elevation8,755 ft (2,669 m)
Lowest elevation206 ft (63 m)
Population
 • Total839,631
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
900,202
 • Density100/sq mi (40/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific Time Zone)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (Pacific Daylight Time)
Area code661, 760
FIPS code06-029
GNIS feature ID2054176
Websitewww.co.kern.ca.us

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 just beyond Lebec to Grapevine, and the northern extremity 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.

The county is one of the fastest-growing areas in the United States in terms of population, but suffers from significant water supply issues and poor air quality.[5][6]

History

Spanish era

Spain claimed the area in 1769. Entering from Grapevine Canyon to the south in 1772, Commander Don Pedro Fages became the first European 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.[7]

American era
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. However, 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 the mining town of Havilah, in the mountains east of Bakersfield and north of Tehachapi.[8]

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.

In 1899, the discovery well of the Kern River Oil Field was dug by hand[9] and 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
Main articles: 1952 Kern County earthquake and 2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes

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 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 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

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]

Geography
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 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:

Air quality
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.[13] Air pollution caused by particulates is "in the unhealthy range an average of 40 days a year, according to the American Lung Association's (ALA) 2018 State of the Air Report.[14]

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.[15] Whitethorn is a prominent example of chaparral species on the rocky slopes of the Sierra Nevada as well as the Inner Coastal Ranges.[16] California Buckeye is a notable tree found in both chaparral and forests and whose southern range terminates in Kern County.[17]

National protected areas

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

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.[18] The center of population of California is located in Kern County, in the town of Buttonwillow .

2011

Places by population, race, and income

2010
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18702,925—
18805,60191.5%
18909,80875.1%
190016,48068.0%
191037,715128.9%
192054,84345.4%
193082,57050.6%
1940135,12463.6%
1950228,30969.0%
1960291,98427.9%
1970329,16212.7%
1980403,08922.5%
1990543,47734.8%
2000661,64521.7%
2010839,63126.9%
2019 (est.)900,202[3]7.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[27]
1790–1960[28] 1900–1990[29]
1990–2000[30] 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.[31]

2000

According to the 2000 United States Census[32] 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.[33]

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

[34]

  • White Non-Hispanic (49.5%)
  • Hispanic (38.4%)
  • Other race (23.2%)
  • Black (6.0%)
  • Two or more races (4.1%)
  • Indigenous (2.6%) - one of the highest in California.

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

Arts and culture

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

Metropolitan statistical area

The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Kern County as the Bakersfield, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area.[35] 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.[36][37]

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.

Sheriff

The Kern County Sheriff provides court protection, jail administration, and coroner services for the entire county of approximately 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. There are 15 sheriff substations for the widespread county.

Municipal police

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

Politics and voter registration

Cities by population and voter registration

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.

Presidential elections results
Kern County vote
by party in presidential elections[39]
Year GOP DEM Others
2020 53.8% 164,484 43.6% 133,366 2.4% 7,442
2016 53.0% 129,584 40.4% 98,689 6.5% 15,890
2012 56.9% 126,618 40.2% 89,495 2.7% 6,076
2008 57.6% 134,793 39.9% 93,457 2.3% 5,558
2004 66.4% 140,417 32.4% 68,603 1.0% 2,154
2000 60.7% 110,663 36.2% 66,003 3.1% 5,642
1996 53.7% 92,151 36.5% 62,658 9.6% 16,582
1992 45.0% 80,762 33.7% 60,510 21.1% 37,991
1988 61.4% 90,550 37.4% 55,083 1.1% 1,660
1984 65.0% 94,776 34.0% 49,567 0.9% 1,401
1980 59.6% 72,842 33.6% 41,097 6.7% 8,182
1976 52.2% 58,023 45.5% 50,567 2.1% 2,371
1972 60.1% 71,686 35.1% 41,937 4.6% 5,570
1968 46.6% 53,990 42.5% 49,284 10.8% 12,558
1964 41.1% 45,014 58.7% 64,174 0.1% 120
1960 50.4% 52,800 49.1% 51,440 0.4% 465
1956 51.3% 46,220 48.3% 43,533 0.3% 322
1952 55.1% 46,497 44.1% 37,240 0.7% 602
1948 41.6% 24,464 56.1% 33,029 2.2% 1,318
1944 43.9% 20,730 55.5% 26,205 0.4% 226
1940 37.3% 19,445 61.7% 32,202 0.9% 479
1936 24.2% 8,345 74.6% 25,726 1.1% 408
1932 25.1% 7,011 70.3% 19,634 4.5% 1,275
1928 62.6% 14,692 36.4% 8,541 0.9% 212
1924 46.0% 8,646 16.8% 3,159 37.0% 6,958
1920 49.0% 7,079 42.2% 6,095 8.7% 1,270
1916 35.1% 5,611 59.8% 9,566 5.0% 804
1912 0.6% 67 51.7% 5,569 47.6% 5,129
1908 45.6% 2,270 44.5% 2,215 9.9% 493
1904 51.6% 2,359 37.7% 1,724 10.6% 488
1900 45.1% 1,692 52.3% 1,960 2.5% 94
1896 43.8% 1,430 54.0% 1,763 2.2% 72
1892 39.4% 992 50.3% 1,266 10.1% 255
1888 41.4% 910 55.9% 1,229 2.5% 56
1884 42.0% 598 56.0% 798 1.9% 27
1880 40.9% 463 58.4% 661 0.6% 7

In the United States House of Representatives, Kern County is split between California's 21st congressional district, represented by Republican David Valadao, and California's 23rd congressional district, represented by Republican Kevin McCarthy.[40]

State

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

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.[42]

On November 4, 2008 Kern County voted 75.29% in favor of Proposition 8, which amended the California Constitution to ban same-sex marriages.[43]

County

Kern County is governed by a five-member board of supervisors. As of 2020, they are:[44]

  • 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
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, 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
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. 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".[45] 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.[46]

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 December 1, 2015.[47] 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.[48]

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

Cities by population and crime rates

Economy

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 is noted for minerals, including gold, borate, and kernite. The largest open pit mine in California, which mines borax, is at Boron.[52] 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.[53] Kern County is home to the Tehachapi Energy Storage Project, which was commissioned in 2014.[54]

Aerospace and military

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.[55] Kern County is also the home of the first inland spaceport in the United States, the Mojave Spaceport.[56]

Agriculture

Major producer of almonds with production greater than 100 million pounds annually.

Petroleum

As of 2015, Kern is California's top oil-producing county, with 78% of the state's 56,653 active oil wells and 71% of oil production.[57][58] The county produced 144.5 million barrels of oil in 2015, accounting for about 4% of overall U.S. oil production.[57][59]

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. The 1899 discovery along the Kern River was a breakthrough in 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]

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.[60]

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.[61] 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.[62][63]

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.

Petroleum today

The county today contributes more than three-quarters of all the oil produced onshore in California.[61] Some of the large oil fields in Kern County which are still active include:

Transportation
Main article: Transportation in Kern County

Major highways

Public transportation

Airports
Main article: List of airports in Kern County, California

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 Life Magazine, Kern County
  • Bakersfield Magazine, Kern County
  • Kern County Family Magazine, Kern County

Newspapers

TV stations

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

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

Communities
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 839,631499,76648,92112,67634,8461,252204,31437,856413,033
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 19,30410,24719224015567,65580917,892
Bakersfield 347,483197,34928,3685,10221,43247877,68617,068158,205
California City 14,1209,1882,150132367591,4317935,385
Delano 53,04119,3044,1915016,7573020,3071,95137,913
Maricopa 1,15495812716211238232
McFarland 12,7075,4332361718466,33044711,625
Ridgecrest 27,61621,3871,1133411,2091431,8361,5874,941
Shafter 16,9888,150219198111197,64564613,634
Taft 9,3277,38839611893651,0232443,353
Tehachapi 14,4149,4261,297206238212,7255015,466
Wasco 25,54512,5791,951283180129,71482619,585
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 5,1724,776744657389127399
Bodfish 1,9561,7584501334979189
Boron 2,2531,74616249474141104406
Buttonwillow 1,5085343611100890271,183
Cherokee Strip 22784040011722187
China Lake Acres 1,8761,601352916784104265
Derby Acres 322289010023936
Dustin Acres 65253949107128129
Edmundson Acres 279108531014319225
Edwards Air Force Base 2,0631,51816516991096159355
Fellows 1069415002411
Ford City 4,2782,7352815336321,1131811,971
Frazier Park 2,6912,2971631223212110528
Fuller Acres 99160713121032929768
Golden Hills 8,6567,235129124120156703631,674
Greenacres 5,5664,612491167085112001,119
Greenfield 3,9912,51271634511,1121872,263
Inyokern 1,09993014242524955116
Johannesburg 1721522280088
Keene 43138521080161047
Kernville 1,3951,25711970337882
Lake Isabella 3,4663,06969618773197339
Lake of the Woods 9178203181103431123
Lamont 15,1206,6771302307297,35165114,293
Lebec 1,4681,152144617014891395
Lost Hills 2,412132511712,232242,354
McKittrick 1151011100759
Mettler 1367400004319109
Mexican Colony 281162015009311227
Mojave 4,2382,3816385453198672261,592
Mountain Mesa 77768771662273277
North Edwards 1,05884743262016061179
Oildale 32,68427,463255590316302,6351,3956,301
Onyx 4754064900164030
Pine Mountain Club 2,3152,07929254505879231
Randsburg 69620420012
Rosamond 18,15011,2941,476221658663,2581,1776,230
Rosedale 14,05811,695208159389249975862,495
Smith Corner 5242271032326316440
South Taft 2,1691,404215551159677931
Squirrel Mountain Valley 5475092910131322
Stallion Springs 2,4882,23930263277975285
Taft Heights 1,9491,602153511022066441
Tupman 161149000021012
Valley Acres 527428110104245121
Weedpatch 2,6581,2128781401,2371092,484
Weldon 2,6422,37558211153115217
Wofford Heights 2,2002,0376411012679156
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) 138,64481,3055,0792,7301,90714141,6705,81282,746

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Former places

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Kern County.[67]

† 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

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.

See also

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

References
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Further reading
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