Bakersfield is a city in California. It is located in Kern County and serves as the county seat. The city has a population of 376,380 according to estimates recorded in 2016. This reflects a significant increase from the city's population of 347,483 recorded during the 2010 census. The city is the most populous in the county, and it is the ninth most populous in the state. The city is known for its role in agriculture and the oil industry.
Bakersfield history dates back thousands of years. However, it was first explored by the Europeans in 1776. It wasn't until the discovery of oil and gold that the city really became settled. The original settlement was washed away in floods in the 1860s and was moved in 1863. By the 1870s, the settlement had a population of several hundred people. It was incorporated as a city in 1873 and the following year was designated as the county seat.
Throughout the 1800s, the city's population continued to grow. Many people moved to Bakersfield from states including Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana, as well as other cities in California, due to the employment opportunities offered within the oil industry. The city's population has continued to grow and it has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the state. Not only does it still have a thriving oil industry, but it is also a regional transportation hub. The city has lots to do for both tourists and residents, including annual events, historic restaurants and landmarks, and multiple theaters.
The city's estimated population as of 2018 is 380,874. The total area of the city is over 151 square miles, which makes the population density about 2,516 inhabitants per square mile. Bakersfield is a very ethnically diverse city. According to the 2010 census, over 56% of the population is white, 45.5% is Hispanic, over 8% are black or African American, and 6.2% are Asian.
The city has a fairly young population, with over 31% under the age of 18. The largest age group is the 25 to 44 group, which makes up almost 28% of the total population. The median age is 20 years. There are more females than males residing in Bakersfield.
There are two interesting statistics about the population of Bakersfield. Multiple studies have found that it is one of the least educated metro areas in the country, having one of the lowest populations of adults with bachelor's degrees when compared to other metropolitan areas. The city has also been ranked as one of the most obese metro areas in the US, with over 33% of inhabitants classified as obese, exceeding the national average of 26.5%.
Bakersfield has seen steady growth throughout its history, with each 10-year census reflecting growth since 1990. The highest rate of growth was recorded between the 1880 and 1890 censuses – over 227% growth recorded during this time. While the population has not grown at such a rapid rate, double-digit percentage growths have been observed every ten years. The population in 2016 was already up over 8% from the census data taken in 2010. Based on the past growth of this city, the population is only expected to continue to grow and will soon hit the next milestone of 400,000 residents.
How Many People Live in Bakersfield, California?
There are 260,547 adults, (35,086 of whom are seniors) in Bakersfield.
The highest rate of high school graduation is among white people with a rate of 92.78%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among white people with a rate of 41.35%.
58.47% of Bakersfield residents speak only English, while 41.53% speak other languages. The largest non-English language is Spanish, which is spoken by 33.89% of the population.
The race most likely to be in poverty in Bakersfield is Black, with 31.55% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Bakersfield is Asian, with 10.89% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 5.45%. Among those working part-time, it was 19.03%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 27.64%.
81.33% of Bakersfield residents were born in the United States, with 68.24% having been born in California. 10.63% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.