Bakersfield is a thriving community nestled among three mountain ranges at the southern end of California’s vast and gorgeous San Joaquin Valley. Bakersfield is the county seat of Kern, and lies approximately 100 miles north of Los Angeles (about a 1.5 hour drive). It is California’s third largest inland city. The area is known for its native beauty, with the Tehachapi’s, Temblor and Sierra Nevada Mountain ranges serving as background for rolling hills scattered with signature California chaparral and the beautiful Kern River flowing through the valley. The area’s climate is warm and dry.

The face of Bakersfield is changing. While maintaining its homespun hospitality Bakersfield is emerging as a leader of industry and a center for arts and entertainment. The city’s economy thrives on agriculture, petroleum extraction, and refining. It is one of the fastest growing of the larger cities of the United States. Residents enjoy a quality of life unrivaled by most other California communities because of Bakersfield’s affordability. People can afford homes that would be out of their range in more urban or coastal cities, all while living just a couple of hours from the amenities of Los Angeles, mountains and the Pacific shore.

January is the coolest month of the year with average daily temperatures of 57 degrees Fahrenheit. July is the hottest month of the year with an average daily temperature of 99 degrees Fahrenheit. Bakersfield receives an average of just under six inches of rain a year.

The weather is ideal for the citrus, almond, tomato, potato, pomegranate and grape crops that help to make Kern the fourth most productive agricultural county in the continental United States. In addition, Kern County is number one in the nation for oil production. Nearby vineyards produce 25 percent of California’s wine, and surrounding fields provide a colorful flower display in spring.

Bakersfield offers something for everyone. Restaurants serve authentic Mexican food, old west steak dinners and local country cooking. Bakersfield has a large Basque population and many of Bakersfield’s oldest and most historic restaurants are Basque. From the old west to dynamic new architecture, historic animal fossils to exotic dining…country music to hip hop…quaint antique shops to indoor mega-malls…Bakersfield has something for everyone!