Kern County, California

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
Seal
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 of America
State	California
Incorporated	1866
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 (2014)[2]	874,589
• Density	100/sq mi (40/km2)
Time zone	Pacific Time Zone (UTC−8)
• Summer (DST)	Pacific Daylight Time (UTC−7)
Area code	661
FIPS code	06-029
GNIS feature ID	2054176
Website	www.co.kern.ca.us

Kern County is a county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 839,631.^[2] Its county seat is Bakersfield.^[3]

Kern County comprises the Bakersfield, CA 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 the 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, and suffers from significant water supply issues and poor air quality.^[4][5]

History

Spanish era

The area was claimed by the Spanish in 1769, and 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 the Santa Barbara Mission 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.^[6]

American era

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 time of the enabling legislation ran out. 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.

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.

The discovery well of the Kern River Oil Field was dug by hand in 1899.^[7] Soon the towns of Oil City, Oil Center and Oildale came into existence.^[7]

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 Garces when he explored the area in 1776.

Earthquakes

Severe earthquakes have struck Kern County within historical times, including the Fort Tejon earthquake.

On July 21, 1952, an earthquake with the epicenter about 23 miles (37 km) south of Bakersfield, measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale killed 12 people. In addition to the deaths, it was responsible for at least 18 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.^[8] 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.^[9] The details of these false accusations are covered extensively in the 2008 documentary Witch Hunt, narrated by Sean Penn.^[10]

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 U.S. 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.^[11] It is the third-largest county by area in California. Its area is nearly the size of the state of New Jersey; 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.^[12] Whitethorn, California is a prominent example of chaparral species on the rocky slopes of the Sierra Nevada as well as the Inner Coastal Ranges.^[13] California Buckeye is a notable tree found in both chaparral and forests and whose southern range terminates in Kern County.^[14]

National protected areas

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.^[15] The center of population of California is located in Kern County, in the town of Buttonwillow .

2011

Population, race, and income
Total population[16]	829,254
White[16]	572,420	69.0%
Black or African American[16]	47,008	5.7%
American Indian or Alaska Native[16]	9,132	1.1%
Asian[16]	33,179	4.0%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander[16]	914	0.1%
Some other race[16]	136,534	16.5%
Two or more races[16]	30,067	3.6%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)[17]	402,444	48.5%
Per capita income[18]	$20,167
Median household income[19]	$48,021
Median family income[20]	$52,041

Places by population, race, and income

Places by population and race
Place	Type[21]	Population[16]	White[16]	Other[16] [note 1]	Asian[16]	Black or African American[16]	Native American[16] [note 2]	Hispanic or Latino (of any race)[17]
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[21]	Population[22]	Per capita income[18]	Median household income[19]	Median family income[20]
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	[23]
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. 2014	874,589		4.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[24] 1790–1960[25] 1900–1990[26] 1990–2000[27] 2010–2014[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.^[28]

2000

According to the census^[29] 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 Census 2000. 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.

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

^[30]

• 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.^[31] 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.^[32][33]

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 the agency which 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 Care Ambulance based in Lake Isabella. 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 officers and civilian employees. Its jurisdiction contains all of the unincorporated areas of Kern County, approximately 8,000 square miles. 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 county prosecutor 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. The county is amongst 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.^[34]

Politics

Voter registration

Population and registered voters
Total population[16]	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[16]	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 County vote
by party in presidential elections
The background color in the Year column indicates which party had a plurality vote, red for Republican and blue for Democratic.

Year	GOP	DEM	Others
2012	57.0% 126,618	40.3% 89,495	2.7% 6,076
2008	57.9% 134,793	40.2% 93,457	1.8% 4,111
2004	66.5% 140,417	32.5% 68,603	1.0% 2,154
2000	60.7% 110,663	36.2% 66,003	3.1% 5,642
1996	53.8% 92,151	36.6% 62,658	9.7% 16,582
1992	45.1% 80,762	33.8% 60,510	21.2% 37,991
1988	61.5% 90,550	37.4% 55,083	1.1% 1,660
1984	65.0% 94,776	34.0% 49,567	1.0% 1,401
1980	59.7% 72,842	33.7% 41,097	6.7% 8,182
1976	52.3% 58,023	45.6% 50,567	2.1% 2,371
1972	60.1% 71,686	35.2% 41,937	4.6% 5,570
1968	46.6% 53,990	42.6% 49,284	10.8% 12,558
1964	41.2% 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	0.4% 322
1952	55.1% 46,497	44.2% 37,240	0.7% 602
1948	41.6% 24,464	56.2% 33,029	2.3% 1,318
1944	44.0% 20,730	55.6% 26,205	0.5% 226
1940	37.3% 19,445	61.8% 32,202	0.9% 479
1936	24.2% 8,345	74.6% 25,726	1.2% 408
1932	25.1% 7,011	70.3% 19,634	4.6% 1,275
1928	62.7% 14,692	36.4% 8,541	0.9% 212
1924	46.1% 8,646	16.8% 3,159	37.1% 6,958
1920	49.0% 7,079	42.2% 6,095	8.8% 1,270

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.

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.^[36]

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 Shannon Grove, and
• the 36th Assembly District, represented by Republican Tom Lackey.^[37]

In the State Senate, Kern County is split between the 14th Senate District, represented by Republican Andy Vidak, and the 16th Senate District, represented by Republican Jean Fuller.^[38]

On Nov. 4, 2008 Kern County voted 75.5% in favor of Proposition 8, which amended the California Constitution to ban same-sex marriages.

County

Kern County is governed by a five-member board of supervisors. As of 2015, they are:

• 1st District, Mick Gleason.
• 2nd District, Zack Scrivner.
• 3rd District, Mike Maggard.
• 4th District, David Couch.
• 5th District, Leticia Perez.

Crime

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.^[39]

The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons (for what time period?) for each type of offense.

Population and crime rates
Population[16]	829,254
Violent crime[40]	4,892	5.90
Homicide[40]	75	0.09
Forcible rape[40]	205	0.25
Robbery[40]	1,331	1.61
Aggravated assault[40]	3,281	3.96
Property crime[40]	20,147	24.30
Burglary[40]	9,413	11.35
Larceny-theft[40][note 4]	17,034	20.54
Motor vehicle theft[40]	4,998	6.03
Arson[40]	593	0.72

Cities by population and crime rates

Cities by population and crime rates
City	Population[41]	Violent crimes[41]	Violent crime rate per 1,000 persons	Property crimes[41]	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, wind turbine power and geothermal power. Kern County is a hub of various power sources. The county accounts for one-tenth of overall U.S. oil production, and three of the five largest U.S. oil fields are in Kern County. 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.^[42]

Petroleum

As of 2009, Kern is California's top oil-producing county, with 81% of the state's 52,144 active oil wells.^[43][44]

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.^[7] Oil was refined here even before the establishment of the county.^[7] The Buena Vista Petroleum Company was organized and incorporated in 1864.^[7] Soon thereafter a refinery was built that operated until April 1867 when work ceased because of high freight charges.^[7]

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.^[45]

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.^[46] 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.^[47][48]

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.^[46] Some of the large oil fields in Kern County which are still active include:

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.^[49] Kern County is also the home of the first inland spaceport in the United States, the Mojave Spaceport.

Air pollution

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.^[50]

Transportation

Major highways

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

Among the outdoor recreational activities are horseback riding, water skiing (Lake Buena Vista, Lake Ming, and private ski ranches), off-road biking and dune buggies (Jawbone Canyon, California City and Randsburg), auto racing (Willow Springs, Buttonwillow, Bakersfield Speedway, Famoso, and an unnamed half-mile speedway under construction), hunting, paint-ball courses, white-water rafting, kayaking, snow skiing (Shirley Meadows and Mount Pinos), shooting ranges (5 Dogs Creek Range), hiking, biking (trails, paths, and roads), camping and fishing.

Media

Magazines

• Bakersfield 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

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Former places

• Adobe Station
• Mesa Marin Raceway

See also

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

Notes

References

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.

	Monterey and Kings	Tulare	Inyo
	San Luis Obispo		San Bernardino
		Kern
	Santa Barbara	Ventura and Los Angeles

Municipalities and communities of Kern County, California, United States County seat: Bakersfield Cities Arvin Bakersfield California City Delano Maricopa McFarland Ridgecrest Shafter Taft Tehachapi Wasco CDPs Bear Valley Springs Bodfish Boron Buttonwillow Cherokee Strip China Lake Acres Derby Acres Dustin Acres Edmundson Acres Edwards Air Force Base 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 Baker Bannister Bealville Bena Bissell Blackwells Corner Bowerbank Bradys Brown Burton Mill Cable Calders Corner Calico Caliente Cameron Camp Owens Canebrake Cantil Cawelo Ceneda Chaffee China Lake Cinco Claraville Conner Crome Cuddy Canyon Cuddy Valley Desert Lake Di Giorgio Dow East Bakersfield Edison Edwards El Rita Elmo Famoso Fig Orchard Five Points Fleta Fruitvale Glennville Goler Heights Gosford Grapevine Gulf Gypsite Halfway House Harpertown Harts Place Havilah Hazelton Hights Corner Hollis Ilmon Indian Wells Jasmin Jastro Kayandee Kecks Corner Kern Lake Kernell Keyesville Kilowatt Lackey Place Lakeview Landco Lerdo Lokern Lonsmith Loraine Magunden Maltha Marcel Mayfair Meridian Midoil Millersville Millux Minter Village Miracle Hot Springs Missouri Triangle Mitchells Corner Monolith Moreland Mill Myricks Corner Neufeld North Belridge North Shafter Oil City Oil Junction Old Garlock Old River Old Town Palmo Panama Patch 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 Seguro Semitropic Shirley Meadows Silt Slater South Lake Spellacy Spicer City Stevens Summit Thomas Lane Twin Lakes Twin Oaks Una Venola Vinland Walker Basin Wallace Center Walong Wheeler Ridge Wible Orchard Willow Springs Woodford Woody Zentner Former settlements 18 Mile House Allard Amalie Artwell Asphalto Barnes Settlement Benita Big Blue Mill Borel Burkeville Cabernet Cambio Canebrake Canfield Chanz Clarkson Code Craft Cuttens Desert Spring Domino Eaires Eric Fluhr Fram Freeman Junction Gamba Garlock Girard Glenburn Gold Town Greenwich Gyle Hatfields Camp Indian Springs Inmans Isabella Joe Walker Town Joyfull Kern River Slough Kernvale Kernville Kyan La Rose Langdon Lavers' Crossing Leliter Leonards Levee Levee Spur Little Dixie Martendale Midway Miramonte Monterio Moseman Mountain House Muroc Nadeau Neil Neuralia Nome North Muroc Olig Packwood Page Paloma Parsons Petersburg Petro Pine Piute Proctor Progress Pylema Quartzburg Redrock Reefer City Reservoir Rio Bravo Riverview Rock Springs Rogersville Sage San Miguel de los Noches Sand Cut Scovern Hot Springs Sedwell Shady Rest Shale Shamrock Smyrna Solon Sorrell's Strader Strand Sullivan Summers Sunset Teagle Tehichipa Tejon Terese Terese Siding Toolwass Trescape Treves Una Siding Unadilla Vaccaro Vaughn Vernette Warren (Fellows) Warren (Mojave) Water Station West Baker Whiskey Flat Williamsburg Winter Garden

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