Bakersfield, California, is the county seat of Kern County and is located at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley. It lies halfway between Fresno and Los Angeles, 110 miles from each city. Bakersfield has a population of about 347,000 making it the ninth most populated city in California and the 52nd most populated city in the United States. Bakersfield is part of the Bakersfield-Delano Metropolitan area. In 2010 Bakersfield was one of the ten communities to receive the All-America City Award from the National Civic League.
Bakersfield encompasses 143.6 square miles and is situated near the "horseshoe" end of the San Joaquin Valley. Bakersfield is bordered by the Sierra Nevada, the Sequoia National Forest, the Tehachapi Mountains and the Temblor Range.
Bakersfield Homes for Sale and Real Estate
Bakersfield is currently experiencing rapid growth, having increased in size by over 400 percent over the last 40 years. Much of the real estate available in Bakersfield is new construction, as a result of the city's growth and influx of new residents. Many types of properties can be found in Bakersfield including historic homes, planned communities, new single family residences and condos.
Bakersfield Neighborhoods
Bakersfield has a diverse array of districts and neighborhoods, generally referred to by regions that are then broken down into individual neighborhoods. The main areas of Bakersfield are:
Central Bakersfield (Downtown)
North Bakersfield
Northeast Bakersfield
East Bakersfield
Southeast Bakersfield
South Bakersfield
Southwest Bakersfield
Northwest Bakersfield
Bakersfield Economy and Employment Opportunities
Bakersfield has a robust and diverse economy. It produces more oil than any other county in the United States, and has the fourth most productive agricultural industry. Other industries that are important to the local economy include natural gas and energy extraction, aerospace, petroleum refining, mining, manufacturing, food processing and distribution.
The top employers in Bakersfield are:
One of the city's claims to fame is that it has the largest collection of Basque restaurants in the United States. In addition, Bakersfield has many cultural attractions, festivals, annual events, and recreational activities for locals and visitors to enjoy, including