An oil, mining, and agricultural center, Bakersfield, California is one of the fastest-growing areas in the United States. Look here to find some of the unique advantages and disadvantages of relocating to Bakersfield.

At the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, Bakersfield is the third largest inland city in California. The population for the seat of Kern County has nearly tripled since 1980. Estimates put the population at 286,316 in 2005, making Bakersfield one of the fastest growing communities in the U.S. The culture of the community was affected by the Great Plains drought of the 1930s. A great number of people flocked to the area to work in the agriculture and oil industries. Migrants came from Arkansas and Oklahoma, as well as Texas and Louisiana. In recent years, farm workers from Mexico and South and Central America took to the fields. 51% of the city population is White non-Hispanic, 32% either Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% are Black or African American and 4.3% Asian.

The simple life might be one way to describe Bakersfield. Far enough away from Los Angeles and San Francisco, residents can avoid big-city hassles. For those relocating to Bakersfield, housing is likely to be affordable. Renters paid $564 monthly on average, according to the census in 2000. Average home values were $106,500, well below the state average. In a 10-year period ending in 2005, housing starts nearly quadrupled. Building permits were issued for upwards of 5,000 homes to be constructed at an average cost of $155,000 apiece. Since a major earthquake in 1952, Bakersfield lost some of its charm. Historic Victorian brick businesses and hotels were destroyed at the epicenter. The earthquake also permanently changed the appearance of Bakersfield in the historic Chinatown area and from damage to other turn-of-the-century buildings.

Inflation-adjusted estimates in 2005 by the U.S. Census Bureau find the employed in Bakersfield earning nearly $21,000 annually on average. That puts the city more than $4,000 below the national figure. Median household income (in 2005 inflation-adjusted dollars) was $45,174, while median family income was $51,601. Bakersfield’s economy relies on agriculture, petroleum extraction and refinement industries. Since its discovery in 1899, oil is still important to the local economy. One of the nation's highest oil producers, the Kern River Oil Field, remains active along with several other local oil fields. The city is also home to the world’s largest carrot producers, Grimmway Farms and Bolthouse Farms. Other crops harvested in Bakersfield include table grapes, almonds, pistachios, citrus fruits, wheat, garlic, and potatoes.

There is a downside to the living in Bakersfield. Crime is on the rise. Once below the national average as recently as 2001, gang activity and drug use have increased. An unusually high number of registered sex offenders reside in the city with a ratio of one in every 286 residents. The community struggles with an above-average teen birth rate and below-average literacy. Calculations of census figures show Bakerfield’s metropolitan area is one of the lowest college-educated communities in the nation. The percentage of residents with a bachelor's degree or higher was just 13.5% of adults age 25 or older. That’s less than half the state average and well below the national average of 24%. The climate can also be a factor for someone thinking about relocating to Bakersfield. The city is determined to be the most ozone-polluted city in the country by the American Lung Association in 2006. Persistent tule fog trapped near the floor of the valley can reduce visibility by less than 10 ft. in the winter. Hot and dry, the city gets 223 days of sun annually. A mere 5.72 inches of rain manages to fall on Bakersfield yearly, according to statistical averages compiled by the National Weather Service. Rain is seldom seen from May through September, as average high temperatures reach 99 degrees in July. Mild autumns and early springs are lasting and suitable for growing a wide variety of crops.

Bakersfield has become known as "California's Country Music Capital" with the emergence of musicians like Merle Haggard and Buck Owens. In the 1950s and 60s, local musicians developed what is referred to as the “Bakersfield Sound.” The city continues to greatly contribute to the country music scene. And if you are driving to the city, it may take a bit longer to get there. After Fresno, Bakersfield is the second largest city in the U.S not directly linked to an interstate.

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