Bakersfield, CA
Music connected to Bakersfield
Dusty plains and twangy guitars – that's Bakersfield calling! This Central Valley city is more than just sun-baked earth; it's the birthplace of the "Bakersfield Sound," a raw, electric counterpoint to the smoother Nashville style. Buck Owens put Bakersfield on the map, and artists like Dwight Yoakam keep the legacy alive with songs like "Streets of Bakersfield." The city's musical heart beats strong, influencing artists from Gary Allan to Parker McCollum.
But Bakersfield is more than just its musical heritage. Rooted in agriculture and shaped by the discovery of oil, this resilient city of over 400,000 feels like a place where hard work and heritage meet. The Kern River sustains the valley, while the nearby Kern River Canyon and Tule Elk State Natural Reserve offer a rugged escape. From the historic Bakersfield Fox Theater to the annual Kern County Basque Festival, Bakersfield offers a unique slice of California culture. So, crank up some Merle Haggard and explore the musical soul of Bakersfield!
About Bakersfield
- • Country music legend Buck Owens hailed from Bakersfield, influencing the "Bakersfield Sound."
- • The "Bakersfield Sound," a twangy, electric country subgenre, originated here.
- • Discovery of oil in the late 1890s significantly boosted Bakersfield's growth.
- • Bakersfield hosts the annual Kern County Basque Festival, celebrating Basque heritage.
- • The 1952 Kern County earthquake caused significant damage and changed building codes.
- • Colonel Thomas Baker founded the town; it was incorporated in 1898.
- • With over 400,000 residents, it's one of California's fastest-growing cities.
- • At 404 feet above sea level, Bakersfield sits in the flat San Joaquin Valley.
- • Agriculture remains a dominant industry, contributing significantly to the local economy.
- • Bakersfield feels like sun-baked earth meeting a hard-working, resilient spirit.
- • The San Andreas Fault lies southwest of Bakersfield, a major boundary between tectonic plates.
- • The Kern River Canyon, northeast of Bakersfield, features steep granite cliffs and whitewater rapids.
- • Bakersfield relies heavily on the Kern River for agricultural and municipal water supply.
- • Tule elk, once nearly extinct, are protected in the nearby Tule Elk State Natural Reserve.
- • The area features extensive grasslands and oak woodlands, supporting diverse plant life.
- • Yokuts people inhabited the Bakersfield area for thousands of years before European contact.
- • An earthquake devastated Bakersfield on August 22, 1952, causing significant damage and casualties.
- • The Bakersfield Fox Theater, a prominent Art Deco landmark, opened on Christmas Day in 1930.
- • Highway 58 connects Bakersfield to Tehachapi, traversing the challenging Tehachapi Mountains.