Bakersfield, California Relocation Guide

Bakersfield, incorporated in 1898, is located in the County of Kern and is the county seat. The City of Bakersfield covers approximately 111 square miles, (metro area is 224 square miles) and is 492 feet above sea level. It is located at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley. The valley is partially surrounded by three mountain ranges. The Temblor Range is to the west, the Tehachapis to the south and the Sierra Nevadas to the east. The Kern River flows through the valley adding a natural beauty to the area. Bakersfield was designated an All America City in 1990 by the National Civic League. In 1996, Kern County was the nation's leading oil producing county and the fourth most productive agricultural county in the nation. Grapes, Cotton, Citrus and Market Milk are the top five crops. The five largest employers of Kern County residents would be Agriculture at 29.29%, Government at 16.6%, Services at 16.0%, Retail Trade at 13.2%, Mineral Extraction at 4.2% and other industries at 20.8%.

Bakersfield enjoys a wide variety of entertainment with the convention center, theaters, museums, and art galleries. Bakersfield residents are very active in sports, taking advantage of 2 lakes, 5 private and 6 public golf courses, 6 private and 13 public tennis facilities, 5 private country clubs, 2 roller skating rinks, and one ice rink, 3 bowling facilities, 3 auto race tracks and over 50 neighborhood community parks. The Kern River which flows through Bakersfield area offers an adventurous time of whitewater rafting. The community has its own minor league baseball team, The Bakersfield Blaze, ice hockey team The Fog, and a soccer park where local, regional, and state tournaments are held. Bakersfield also has over 300 churches and 28 libraries.

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