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Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city of 411,986 people in Kern County, California, founded in 1869.
Why visit Bakersfield
Townapedia lists 10 museums and landmarks, 27 parks and trails, 235 places to eat, 26 places to stay and 14 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include AMC Bakersfield 6, California State University, Bakersfield, Kern County Museum and Pioneer Village and Arvin Federal Government Camp.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 97°F; December lows average 38°F.
Weather in Bakersfield
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Bakersfield
Bakersfield is a city in and the county seat of Kern County, California, United States. The city covers about 151 sq mi (390 km2) near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, which is located in the Central Valley region.
From the Wikipedia article Bakersfield, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do14
Fox Theater
Cinema and theater · 1.9 mi
Theater and movie theater in Bakersfield, California, United States
2 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks10
Kern County Museum and Pioneer Village
Museum · 2.9 mi
3801 Chester Avenue, Bakersfield
We-Su 09:00-16:00; PH off
Arvin Federal Government Camp
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 8.1 mi
Historic buildings for southern California migrant workers during the Great Depression
Baker Branch Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
Public library in Bakersfield, California, USA
Bakersfield California Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Factory in California, United States of America
Jastro Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Building in California, United States
Tevis Block
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Office building in Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield Museum of Art
Museum · 2.3 mi
Museum in Bakersfield, California
Buck Owens Crystal Palace
Museum · 2.3 mi
Music venue, museum and night club in Bakersfield, California
Kern County Museum
Museum · 2.9 mi
History museum in Bakersfield, California
Parks, trails and playgrounds27
Beach Park
Park · 1.8 mi
Park in Bakersfield, California, United States
Jastro Park
Park · 1.5 mi
Park in California, United States of America, United States of America
2900 TRUXTUN AVE
Beale Park
Park · 1.0 mi
Park in California, United States of America, United States of America
California Living Museum
Park · 10.1 mi
Zoo in Bakersfield, California
Jefferson Park
Park · 3.8 mi
Park in California, United States of America, United States of America
Kern River County Park
Park · 10.0 mi
Park in California, United States of America, United States of America
Kern River Parkway
Park · 2.1 mi
Park in California, United States of America
Mill Creek
Park · 2.3 mi
Linear park in Bakersfield, California, United States of America
The Park at River Walk
Park · 5.0 mi
Park in California, United States of America
15 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes235
Café Smitten
Cafe · Breakfast, Coffee Shop · 2.1 mi
909 18th Street
Sa-Su 08:00-15:00; Mo-Fr 07:00-18:00
Camino Real Kitchen & Tequila
Restaurant · Mexican · 2.9 mi
4501 Stine Road, Bakersfield
Mo-Fr 11:00-23:00; Sa,Su 08:00-23:00
Dewar's Express
Ice cream · Ice Cream · 8.1 mi
16123 Stockdale Highway, Bakersfield
Su-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00
El Capitan Mexican Grill & Cantina
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.3 mi
4240 Suite C California Avenue
Mo-Th 11:00-20:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-21:00; Su 10:00-18:00
El Taco Rojo
Restaurant · Mexican · 3.5 mi
5700 Gasoline Alley Drive, Bakersfield
Mo-Fr 07:00-16:00; Sa 08:00-15:00
Frugatti's
Restaurant · Italian · 3.3 mi
8109 Brimhall Road
Su 11:00-21:00; Mo-Th 11:00-21:30; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00
Hon Ramen
Restaurant · Japanese, Ramen · 1.9 mi
1419 STE A 19th Street
Mo-Fr 11:00-14:00, 16:00-20:30; Sa 11:00-20:30
223 more on the map.
History
Archaeological evidence indicates the presence of Native American settlements dating back thousands of years. Upon Spanish arrival, present-day Bakersfield was inhabited by the Yowlumne, a Yokuts people. Yowlumne accounts indicate that the village of Woilu was situated in the bounds of the present city.
The Yokuts of the region lived in lodges along the branches of the Kern River delta and hunted antelope, tule elk, deer, bear, fish, and game birds.
In 1776, Spanish missionary Francisco Garcés became the first European to explore the area. Recording his May 1 arrival to a Yokuts village along the Kern River, immediately northeast of present Bakersfield, Garcés wrote,
The people of the rancheria had a great feast over my arrival, and having regaled me well I reciprocated to them all with tobacco and glass beads, congratulating myself on seeing the people so affable and affectionate.
From the History section of Bakersfield, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay26
Churches and places of worship95
First Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Latter-Day Saints · 3.0 mi
601 Deseret Way, Bakersfield
First Congregational Church
Church · Congregational · 0.4 mi
5 Real Road, Bakersfield
New First Community Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · 3.3 mi
East Planz Road, Bakersfield
Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Co-Patroness of the Unborn
Church · Roman Catholic · 4.8 mi
4600 East Brundage Lane, Bakersfield
Shopping63
Gas and EV charging38
Schools, colleges and libraries104
Healthcare24
Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital Of Bakersfield
Hospital · 1.5 mi
5001 Commerce Drive, Bakersfield
Map of Bakersfield
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°F | 39°F | 1.3 in |
| Feb | 64°F | 41°F | 1.3 in |
| Mar | 69°F | 45°F | 1.2 in |
| Apr | 74°F | 49°F | 0.6 in |
| May | 83°F | 57°F | 0.3 in |
| Jun | 91°F | 64°F | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 97°F | 70°F | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 96°F | 69°F | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 91°F | 64°F | 0.1 in |
| Oct | 80°F | 54°F | 0.2 in |
| Nov | 67°F | 44°F | 0.5 in |
| Dec | 59°F | 38°F | 1.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Bakersfield 5 Nw (5 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Kern County has had 28 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.
- 2024-07-27: Borel Fire (Fire)
- 2023-11-21: Tropical Storm Hilary (Hurricane)
- 2023-04-03: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2023-03-10: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2021-08-25: French Fire (Fire)
- 2020-03-22: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Porterville Municipal Airport (PTV) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 47 miles away.
- Old Stine 1 mi southwest, about 1 min by car
- Benton Park 1 mi southeast, about 1 min by car
- Casa Loma 2 mi east, about 4 min by car
- Cottonwood 3 mi east, about 5 min by car
- East Bakersfield 4 mi northeast, about 7 min by car
- La Cresta 4 mi northeast, about 7 min by car
- Potomac Park 4 mi east, about 7 min by car
- Rexland Acres 4 mi southeast, about 7 min by car
- Hillcrest 5 mi east, about 8 min by car
- Oildale 5 mi north, about 8 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- BakersfieldSkyline, Robert Hale, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Race and ethnicity 2010- Bakersfield (5559863569), Eric Fischer, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Larson's Food and Gas, Benton Park, Bakersfield, Augusthorsesdroppings10, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Greetings from Bakersfield, California - Large Letter Postcard (8093324457), Steve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Former freight platform in Bakersfield, December 2021, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Former Amtrak station in Bakersfield, December 2021, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System located on Westwind Drive in Bakersfield, California, Bbobcali661, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bakersfield, United States (Unsplash), Spencer Kaff spencer_kaff, CC0
- Padre Hotel -- Bakersfield, David Brossard, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Padre Hotel - Bakersfield, David Brossard, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Padre Hotel - Bakersfield (cropped), David Brossard, CC BY-SA 2.0
- 2009-0726-CA-Bakersfield-1stBaptist, Bobak Ha'Eri, CC BY 3.0
- 1942 Studebaker President (3487496773), Craig Howell from San Carlos, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- CA 58 exit 110 and CA 99 exit 23 (July 2025), Evan0512, CC BY-SA 4.0
- GET bus 1040 at Valley Plaza Mall, Evan0512, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Interior of Golden Empire Transit 1040, Evan0512, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Valley Plaza Mall, LittleT889, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mervyn's (5337410231), Damian Gadal, CC BY 2.0
- Ford 5-AT-C N414H (5123792454), Bill Larkins, CC BY-SA 2.0
- 2009-0726-CA-BHS-HarveyAud, Bobak Ha'Eri, CC BY 3.0
- Boy Scout Troop 188 - Kern County Fairgrounds - "The Hat" (37090004113), Bruce Andersen, CC BY 2.0
- Kuzana Facing Away, $odapop, CC BY-SA 4.0
- No one belongs here more than you - Sarah Stierch, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- The Padre Hotel Shoot - Sultry (6819858110), Antiporda Productions LV, LLC, CC BY 2.0
- The Padre Hotel Shoot - Samantha (6954235521), Antiporda Productions LV, LLC, CC BY 2.0
- The Padre Hotel Shoot - Window (6965922385), Antiporda Productions LV, LLC, CC BY 2.0
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Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.