Shafter, California
Shafter is a city of 21,193 people in Kern County, California, founded in January 20, 1938.
Why visit Shafter
Townapedia lists 10 museums and landmarks, 11 parks and trails, 37 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Shafter Ford Theater, Green Hotel, Santa Fe Passenger and Freight Depot and Kirschenmann Park.
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 97°F; December lows average 34°F.
Weather in Shafter
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Shafter
Shafter is a city in Kern County, California, United States. It is located 18 miles (29 km) west-northwest of Bakersfield. The population was 19,953 at the 2020 census, up from 16,988 at the 2010 census. The city is located along State Route 43.
From the Wikipedia article Shafter, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Museums and landmarks10
Green Hotel
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.0 mi
Hotel in Shafter, United States of America
Santa Fe Passenger and Freight Depot
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.6 mi
Railway station in Shafter, the United States of America
Shafter Research Station
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.6 mi
Parks, trails and playgrounds11
La Colonia Park
Park · 3.9 mi
A community park with nautical theme and basketball court.
30714 Martinez Street, Shafter
Restaurants and cafes37
El Rincon Mexican Restaurant
Restaurant · Mexican · 2.7 mi
6620 East Lerdo Highway, Shafter
Giovanni's Italian Eatery
Restaurant · Pizza, Italian, Thai · 4.7 mi
130 Walker Street, Shafter
Rocy's Mexican Food
Restaurant · Mexican · 4.5 mi
749 South Shafter Avenue, Shafter
Taqueria Don Cacheton
Restaurant · Mexican · 3.8 mi
31109 7th Standard Road, Shafter
Don Pepe's Bar & Grill
Restaurant · Mexican · 4.3 mi
301 East Lerdo Highway, Shafter
25 more on the map.
History
The city of Shafter began as a loading dock along the Santa Fe Railroad (former San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railroad) right-of-way. The community was named for General William Rufus Shafter who commanded US Forces in Cuba during the Spanish–American War. Property was sold beginning in 1914 and the city incorporated on January 11, 1938.
The first post office opened in 1898, moved in 1902, closed in 1905. A new postal service started in 1914.
Minter Field began operations in June 1941 and saw heavy use during World War II. Approximately 7,000 troops were stationed at the airstrip which held up to 600 prisoners of war. It is publicly owned and administered by the Minter Field Airport District and serves as an industrial center and airport for crop dusters and private aircraft. The Minter Field Museum is maintained on location as well.
The first successful human powered airplane, the Gossamer Condor, piloted by Bryan Allen won the Kremer prize on August 23, 1977, at Shafter's Minter Field. Allen piloted, and powered, the Paul MacCready designed airplane along the one mile long figure '8' course with two 10 foot high obstacles as specified by the Royal Aeronautical Society to claim the £50,000 prize. A California State Monument is located at the field for this event.
From the History section of Shafter, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay1
Free Camping. Sunset-Sunrise. Shafter, Ca. USA
Campground · 3.8 mi
Zachary Avenue
Churches and places of worship16
Asamblea Apostolica De La Fe En Cristo Jesus
Church · Apostolic · 4.5 mi
30372 Richland Avenue, Shafter
Church of the Nazarene
Church · Nazarene · 4.9 mi
411 West Lerdo Highway, Shafter
Congregational Baptist Church of Shafter
Church · Baptist · 4.3 mi
430 East Tulare Avenue, Shafter
The Gathering at Shafter
Church · 4.0 mi
201 South Central Valley Highway, Shafter
Shopping5
Gas and EV charging13
Schools, colleges and libraries22
Healthcare10
Map of Shafter
127 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°F | 36°F | 1.3 in |
| Feb | 64°F | 39°F | 1.4 in |
| Mar | 70°F | 43°F | 1.4 in |
| Apr | 75°F | 46°F | 0.7 in |
| May | 83°F | 52°F | 0.3 in |
| Jun | 92°F | 58°F | 0.1 in |
| Jul | 96°F | 63°F | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 97°F | 62°F | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 91°F | 57°F | 0.1 in |
| Oct | 80°F | 47°F | 0.3 in |
| Nov | 67°F | 39°F | 0.7 in |
| Dec | 60°F | 34°F | 1.4 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Shafter 6E (3 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
Shafter Airport (MIT) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 2 miles away.
- Rosedale 6 mi south, about 10 min by car
- Oildale 10 mi east, about 16 min by car
- Wasco 12 mi northwest, about 20 min by car
- Bakersfield 13 mi southeast, about 20 min by car
- McFarland 13 mi north, about 21 min by car
- East Bakersfield 14 mi southeast, about 23 min by car
- Hillcrest 15 mi southeast, about 25 min by car
- Potomac Park 16 mi southeast, about 25 min by car
- East Niles 17 mi southeast, about 28 min by car
- Delano 20 mi north, about 32 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
- Shafter Fountain, Brittneal, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2010-1227-SantaFe-Shafter, Bobak Ha'Eri, CC BY 3.0
- 2010-1227-GreenHotel-Shafter, Bobak Ha'Eri, CC BY 3.0
- 2010-1227-ShafterResearchStation, Bobak Ha'Eri, CC BY 3.0
- ISS045-E-68855 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS045-E-68857 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS056-E-79807 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS065-E-169784 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS009-E-12820 - View of California, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS045-E-68856 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS053-E-90462 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS056-E-79806 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS045-E-68860 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS045-E-68106 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS045-E-68859 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS053-E-82337 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS045-E-68858 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- Lockheed T-33 Shooting Stars ‘8995’ & (53-6001) (29550100085), Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Northrop T-38A Talon ‘00566’ (29516252556), Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Atlas Impala MkI ’93 - N153TP’ (29550123555), Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Sikorsky UH-34G Seabat ‘140122 - RT’ (29440523542), Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- 20190906-OSEC-AAV-0009 (48707679103), U.S. Department of Agriculture Alec Alec Varsamis/Public Affairs Specialist/USDA photo by Alec Alec Varsamis, Public domain
- 20190906-OSEC-AAV-0006 (48708017111), U.S. Department of Agriculture Alec Alec Varsamis/Public Affairs Specialist/USDA photo by Alec Alec Varsamis, Public domain
- 20190906-OSEC-AAV-0002 (48707680868), U.S. Department of Agriculture Alec Alec Varsamis/Public Affairs Specialist/USDA photo by Alec Alec Varsamis, Public domain
- Bell UH-1B Huey ‘N5073X’ (29440501472), Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Douglas RB-26C Invader ‘C-FAGO - 36’ (N5625S) (29468899831), Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Douglas RB-26C Invader ‘C-FAGO - 36’ (N5625S) (29468918481), Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Douglas RB-26C Invader ‘C-FAGO - 36’ (N5625S) (29468888861), Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Close to the horizon - panoramio, The-number-too, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bakersfield, (CA) Truck Freightliner at Flying J Travel Plaza (2), Pierre André Leclercq, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bakersfield, (CA) Truck Freightliner Cascadia at Flying J Travel, PIERRE ANDRE LECLERCQ, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bakersfield, (CA) Truck Kenworth at Flying J Travel Plaza (en2016) (12), © Pierre André, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bakersfield, (CA) Truck Peterbilt at Flying J Travel Plaza (en2016) (7), © Pierre André, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bakersfield, (CA) Truck Kenworth at Flying J Travel Plaza (en2016) (15), © Pierre André, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bakersfield, (CA) Pickup Chevrolet Kodiak at Flying J Travel Plaza (1), Pierre André Leclercq, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bakersfield, Truck Freightliner cascadia at Flying J Travel Plaza, © Pierre André, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bakersfield, (CA) Truck Kenworth at Flying J Travel Plaza (3), Pierre André, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bakersfield, (CA) Tableau de bord d'un truck Kenworth 360, Pierre André Leclercq, CC BY-SA 4.0
_(29550100085).jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
_(29468899831).jpg){kind=link}
_(29468918481).jpg){kind=link}
_(29468888861).jpg){kind=link}
_Truck_Freightliner_at_Flying_J_Travel_Plaza_(2).jpg){kind=link}
_Truck_Freightliner_Cascadia_at_Flying_J_Travel.jpg){kind=link}
_Truck_Kenworth_at_Flying_J_Travel_Plaza_(en2016)_(12).JPG){kind=link}
_Truck_Peterbilt_at_Flying_J_Travel_Plaza_(en2016)_(7).JPG){kind=link}
_Truck_Kenworth_at_Flying_J_Travel_Plaza_(en2016)_(15).JPG){kind=link}
_Pickup_Chevrolet_Kodiak_at_Flying_J_Travel_Plaza_(1).jpg){kind=link}
_Truck_Kenworth_at_Flying_J_Travel_Plaza_(3).jpg){kind=link}
_Tableau_de_bord_d%27un_truck_Kenworth_360.jpg){kind=link}
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.