Kern County, California

Kern County, with an estimated population of approximately 900,000 residents, occupies the southern end of California's San Joaquin Valley and extends into the Tehachapi Mountains, the western Mojave Desert, and the southern Sierra Nevada. The county encompasses 8,161 square miles -- the third largest county by area in California -- and possesses an economy uniquely defined by the intersection of agriculture and energy production. Kern County is simultaneously one of the most productive agricultural counties and the most productive oil-producing county in California, a combination that makes it one of the most economically distinctive counties in the entire United States.

The county seat is Bakersfield (population approximately 400,000), the ninth largest city in California and the commercial hub of the southern San Joaquin Valley. Other communities include Ridgecrest (29,000, a desert city near the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake), Tehachapi (14,000, in the mountain pass between the valley and the desert), Delano (54,000, an agricultural center), Wasco (28,000), and Shafter (21,000).

Oil and Energy

Kern County is the most prolific oil-producing county in California, accounting for approximately 70 percent of the state's crude oil production. The county contains some of the largest oil fields in the United States, including the Kern River Oil Field (one of the largest in the country by cumulative production), the Midway-Sunset Oil Field (the largest oil field in California by remaining reserves), the Elk Hills Oil Field (a former Naval Petroleum Reserve), and the Cymric Oil Field. Oil production and the associated industries -- drilling, well servicing, refining, pipeline operations, and environmental remediation -- have been a cornerstone of the Kern County economy since the early twentieth century.

Beyond petroleum, Kern County has become a major center for renewable energy production. The Tehachapi Pass, where winds accelerate through the gap between the San Joaquin Valley and the Mojave Desert, hosts one of the largest concentrations of wind turbines in the world. Solar energy installations have expanded rapidly across the county's vast open lands, and Kern County now produces more wind and solar energy than any other county in California. The energy sector drives demand for electrical contractors, commercial construction, and specialized industrial trades.

Agriculture

Kern County consistently ranks among the top five most productive agricultural counties in the United States, with annual farm cash receipts exceeding $7 billion. The county's major agricultural commodities include grapes (table, raisin, and wine), almonds, pistachios, citrus, milk, cattle, carrots, potatoes, and cotton. The almond and pistachio orchards in particular have expanded dramatically in recent decades, replacing some of the land formerly used for cotton and other lower-value crops. The California Agriculture Authority provides reference information on the agricultural sector.

Agricultural operations require extensive infrastructure including irrigation systems, cold storage facilities, packing houses, and processing plants. The construction trades, plumbing, and HVAC services support both agricultural facilities and the residential communities that house the agricultural workforce.

Bakersfield

Bakersfield (400,000) is a mid-sized city with a character distinct from the larger California metropolitan areas. The city has a strong country music heritage (the "Bakersfield Sound" associated with Buck Owens and Merle Haggard was a significant movement in country music history), a Basque cultural tradition (reflecting immigration from the Basque Country in the early twentieth century, with Basque restaurants remaining a local institution), and a working-class identity shaped by the oil and agriculture industries. California State University, Bakersfield and Bakersfield College serve the region's higher education needs.

Water and Environment

Water is a critical issue for Kern County's agricultural economy. The county receives surface water from the Kern River, the State Water Project (via the California Aqueduct), and the federal Central Valley Project. However, groundwater has historically supplied a significant portion of agricultural water needs, and overdraft of the county's aquifers has been a persistent challenge. The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) requires local agencies to bring critically overdrafted basins into sustainable use, with significant implications for future irrigation capacity. The county's plumbing and water system professionals play an important role in water efficiency and conservation infrastructure.

Air quality is a significant concern in Kern County. The southern San Joaquin Valley Air Basin, which includes the county, is classified as nonattainment for federal ozone and particulate matter standards. The combination of agricultural dust, oil field operations, truck traffic, and geographic factors (the valley acts as a bowl that traps pollutants) contributes to chronic air quality problems. Kern County has invested in transitioning portions of its energy economy toward renewable sources, with the Tehachapi wind farms and expanding solar installations representing a significant shift.

Transportation and Military

Kern County is a transportation crossroads, with I-5 (connecting Los Angeles to the Central Valley through the Tejon Pass), SR-99 (the primary Central Valley highway), SR-58 (connecting Bakersfield to Barstow and the Mojave Desert), and SR-14 (connecting to the Antelope Valley and Los Angeles) traversing the county. Meadows Field Airport in Bakersfield provides commercial air service to major hubs. The proposed California High-Speed Rail project would pass through the county, with a station planned in Bakersfield.

The Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, near Ridgecrest in the northeastern part of the county, is one of the largest military installations in the world by area (approximately 1.1 million acres) and a major center for weapons testing and development. Edwards Air Force Base, partially located in Kern County, is the Air Force's primary flight test center and the site where Chuck Yeager first broke the sound barrier in 1947. These military installations employ thousands of military and civilian personnel and contribute significantly to the county's economy. The construction industry and restoration services support both military facility needs and the residential communities that surround these installations.