Kern County spans the southern end of the California Central Valley and 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. The county’s topography includes mountains, deserts, forests and the Kern River. Kern County is known for its large agricultural base and is a significant producer of oil, natural gas, hydro-electric power, wind turbine power and geothermal power. While Kern County is one of the fastest-growing areas in the United States in terms of population growth, it has managed to retain its sense of small-town community. Residents of Kern County demonstrate hospitality and a deep commitment to each other and to their community.
The City of Bakersfield is the county seat. With a population of just under 500,000, Bakersfield is the ninth largest city in California, ranked between Oakland and Anaheim. Without the pressure to earn a high income to cover the cost of housing, residents here have more time to focus on passion projects and building a better community – ultimately making a real impact in the lives of their family, friends, and community. Job growth and Bakersfield’s economic outlook are also strong ingredients influencing the trend of people relocating to Bakersfield. There is a strong education system in Bakersfield, which includes 37 private schools and 50 public elementary, middle and high schools. Twelve high schools are recognized on U.S. News & World Report’s Best High Schools rankings. California State University, Bakersfield and Bakersfield College both offer opportunities in education. Bakersfield also offers a variety of hospitals throughout the area to provide residents a full range of medical care.
Endless fun!
The Bakersfield area offers a vast array of farm-to-table restaurants and breweries, music festivals and hiking trails — exactly what you’d expect to find in a major up-and-coming city. With more than 170 miles of bike trails, lanes and paths, the area is made for bike adventures. The 30-mile paved Kern River Parkway Trail winds through preserved riparian habitat where you might see rabbits, roadrunners and other protected wildlife. Bakersfield is the nation’s top city for family activities and fun with options such as the Valley Children’s Ice Center, McMurtrey Aquatic Center, California Living Museum, Buena Vista Museum of Natural History and Science, Bakersfield Music Hall of Fame and Museum of Art, Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, several local live theater venues, the downtown Art Trek which features 90 pieces of public art, and Mill Creek which offers an opportunity to visit five countries in its Sister Gardens and feed the ducks on the lagoon. Nearby Lake Ming, Lake Isabella and Buena Vista Aquatic Center are popular with boaters, anglers and jet skiers.
