SperlingViews - Bakersfield, California

Hot, 90+ from June thru September. Questionable air quality. University town with economy driven by Agriculture and Energy. Two hours to the coast. Closer to the Sierra Nevada's on the east. [read more...]

Just a short comment about Bakersfield. I was born and raised in Bakersfield. Like most towns in the Central Valley, as the years have gone by, the crime rate has risen and gangs are prevalent. Bakersfield is not alone in this. Salinas, Stockton, Fresno (and the list goes on) all have this same problem in common. If you want a beautiful place to live in California, the State has many wonderful towns and cities that are crime free with clean air, but be prepared to pay for it. They are expensive. Bakersfield, is hot in the Summer, with bad air. Pockets of Bakersfield are barrio or ghetto. The town has some wonderful neighborhoods too. Close to the beach and to the mountains. Bakersfield is not very expensive as far as the cost of living, comparatively speaking. Good shopping, nice restaurants. The town does have pros and cons.....look for the good and you will find it! [read more...]

When I taught in Bakersfield I was negatively impressed by the uniformity of thought; many fearful people, tyrants, chauvinists, criminals, anti this's and anti that's. Little truth telling because little was allowed. The aim seemed to be for an apple pie culture, without any of the good will required to make anything authentic. Stifling, and I left - valuing even more the freedom I found elsewhere.[read more...]

want demographics on Bakersfield[read more...]

i would like demographic info on differant cities[read more...]

"It used to be a nice place 30 years ago now it is a dangerous filthy mess." Are you kidding? Someone else said it "used to be" a nice place to raise kids. It "used to be" a nice place -- that is, a place where you had all the agreement you wanted and needed -- if you were a bible-thumping bigot, hated blacks and anyone left of Hitler. A nice place to raise kids if you wanted to raise your kids in that kind of hell-hole so they would grow up to be the same. A nice place if you couldn't tolerate anyone with a mind and imagination bigger than a pin head. There were a lot of real criminals in that town 30 years ago too -- no doubt there are even more there now. It is a place for the stunted and the "dangerous filthy mess" they make. It is no doubt worse now - practice makes perfect.[read more...]

I agree with every word, Ginger, and gave up on Bako last year, after nearly 15 years. The city and county budgets have been decimated and services are a fraction of what they were. There are 3 state prisons in the county which brings in an ugly population, but the salaries from the prisons is important to the economy. When you can see the mountains, it's lovely, and it happens only about 2-3 times a year. The air quality is disgusting and unhealthful. The pollution outweighs the plusses Ginger mentions.[read more...]

I have lived in Bakersfield most of my life. It use to be the perfect place to raise a family and live. Not anymore. Pro's ? It's a 2 hour drive to LA, Disney Land, the beach, Six Flags Magic Mountain, and only a 4 hour drive to Vegas. Good bar seen and lots of great restaurants. The cost of living is not to bad. Price of houses is a little high but not to bad. It is a growing city so the economy is not that bad. Con's? Major problem with gang violence, high crime rate, people drive rudely, high sexual predator population, lot's of slum areas that start to out way the nice area. Majorly bad air quality. The summers are extremely dry and hot. 115 degrees hot. Bakersfield is surrounded by oilfields and farming along with lots of trucking companies to tend to both, which makes for the worst place to live if you have Asthma and allergies. Not to mention that it is in a valley so the smog never lifts. The educational system is rated low. Not one week goes by that you don't hear about a stabbing, shooting, robbery, and sometimes all three in one week. There are lots of half-way houses (rehabilitation) for sexual criminals released. If you look up to see where the registered offender live . . they are just about everywhere. Even close to schools. Lot's of people are moving out of Bakersfield because of what it's become. 20yrs ago I would have nothing bad to say and would brag about it being the best place to move to except for the hot summers. Now I tell people to avoid the place. I'm currently looking to relocate which brought me to this site.[read more...]

tHIS IS A LARGE CITY WITH ASMALL CITY FEEL[read more...]

I've lived in Bakersfield for 5 years now and I love it.. It's the best place in California I've lived. The people are great, schools are good and I feel safe. The cost of living is lower than in many other parts of the state and if you can take the heat in the summer you'll love the rest of the year. I've lived in San Deigo, Long Beach, Palm Springs, and Santa Rosa.[read more...]

Me and my family are looking to move soon and we are researching some places to find the best one. We currently live in Southern Ohio and are interested in the Southern California area. Is Bakersfield a nice place to raise children (I have a 10 year old and one on the way)? How about the cost of living? I am currently in college studying Health Care Administration and my husband has a culinary degree so I was also wondering about employment options. Is it hard to find a job? Would I be able to transfer schools to finish my degree or should I stay here until I finish? If anyone can give me some honest insight it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!![read more...]

I lived in Bakerfield for 8 years from 1976 to 1984..Back then the air quality was not so bad..I now live in Long Beach and what a change..I do agree with how bad the people can be..I went to Thompson Jr. High and the kids were so bad in the early 80's..I mean white trash, drug taking scum BAD kids..It was a nightmare going to that school..Everyday I dreaded it...Until my dad got a job down in Southern cal when Anahiem was a great place to live.Then my life had changed..The school and kids were so much better..And now I see Bako and the air just sucks..It's not just the farming!! It's how many people have moved up there in just the last 25 years..When I was there it was only about 100,000 people in the whole town..Man where I used to hunt for lizards there are homes and malls and stuff all over the place..I still mite move back there though cause that it were most of my family are..And my mom,grandfather and grandmother are with the Lord now and there graves are on panamal lane..I want to be close to them when I go...[read more...]

bakersfield is in the central valley of california and between September and April has a nice moderate and dry climate with temperatures between 40 deg. F and 80 deg F. It is mostly a sunny area and because of the growth (the city is now at 334,000 population with a drawing area of probably 200,000 more) there is less winter fog than in previous years. Typically the valley has strong winds when a weather front moves through but this is only 4 or 5 times per year. Dust created from farming is a problem creating poor air quality. It is a spectacular valley when winds blow out the dust.[read more...]

Honestly, I like it here! Yes of course the air quality is bad and the weather is very very hot in the summer but truthful it isn't THAT BAD! I have lived here for 13 years and I have been loving it. Your only about 2 hours away from the beach and Los Angeles, also I own three buisnesses and it is going very well!!! Me and my husband live by the Liberty Highschool and my daughter and son love it. They said they wouldn't ask to move schools any day. The teachers here not that bad as some people are saying! And another thing the price to live here is super cheap.. You can buy a pretty nice house here for about 250,000 which in some places that isn't even enough for an apartment with one bedroom and bathroom!! So overall I really like Bakersfield California :)[read more...]

I've read all the reviews of Bakersfield. I have to move somewhere close to there because of my husband's job. Are there any nice places to live outside of bakersfield that would be within an hour drive?[read more...]

I lived in Bakersfield for almost 40 years and I am so HAPPY that I could finally get out of there. Everything that has been said on this sight that is negative is true. For the Bakersfield lovers out there, enjoy that conservative, bible thumping, apathetic bubble that you live in. It used to be a nice place 30 years ago now it is a dangerous filthy mess.[read more...]

In the 11yrs I have lived in Bakersfield I have never seen so many sick people.It seems to me most the women complain of strange symptoms and just down right do not feel well.Is there anyone out there that agrees with me.[read more...]

It's a redneck town is what I was told when I bought a home here in 2002. I didn't think it could be all that bad. I was wrong; it is much, much worse than I expected. It is a hotbed of right wing conservatives and religious fanatics. The level of intelligence and fair mindedness was made clear to me when I commented to someone that Boston, Mass. was having a snowstorm. The comment in reply was that that must be making the democrats mad. Another comment was that all you liberals care about is abortion. Such is the mental acuity with which one must contend. Ask anyone why they voted for McCain/Palin and the stock answer will be that they voted that way because of that worn out ludcrous term of family values. Those who were saying love it or leave when the Bush monarchy existed are now trying to revolt and dismiss the man who is without question the most intelligent, thoughtful man that has occupied the office since JFK. As for the weather, it is horrible except for a few days in the Fall and Spring. Summers are all but unbearable from June through September. The majority of white people I have met, most of whom have lived only here for their entire lives, are extremely narrow minded, mostly exclusive, largely racist, bigoted and condescending to all but immediate family and longtime friends. Evangelicals Christians dominate the scene along with Baptist and Jehovah's Witness, contrary to statistics. The culture, and I use the word loosely, is all about getting ourselves a home with a big screen TV and one or two big trucks although we don't have anything to put in the trucks. As a white person, the friendliest people I have met are actually Hispanics who have integrated into the community to some extent. African American population seems low. Any true ambiance is lacking as there is no culture of which to speak. The three movie theater complexes all show the same run of the mill mainstream mind candy which few exceptions. As for the schools, I don't have children in them but have met several teachers that I woulld not want teaching them if I did for lack of competence and relgious convictions (one said that eveloution is a nice fairy tale). And I should mention that the house I bought which was once worth $325,000 is now worth somewhere between $124,000 and $150,000. On the positive side, golf is cheap and easily accessible. Courses are seldom crowded because of the weather. Sunday mornings are great because they are all in church.[read more...]

It seems that all the posts about Bakersfield are negative. I completely disagree. Bakersfield has been my favorite place to live thus far. Keep in mind I am a country girl! Everyone here is nice and accepting of others. There are tons of things to do ie. beaches, mountains, Los Angeles! Bakersfield is centrally located to everything. Two hours and you can be in any of these locations. Did I mention Vegas? It is four hours away! If you have a R.V. there are tons of national parks to visit. Park you R.V. at Oceano on Pismo Beach for the night for $10 per night! The town has decent shopping. The weather id predictble always sunshine and heat. You definetly need a swimming pool down here. I've been here for six years and am having the time of my life! Also, I have two teenage boys who love their school and love Bakersfield in general. If you are thinking of moving down here, you will not regret it. I moved from TN and have never looked back.[read more...]

I've lived here many years. I really like the (hot) weather and the people are great, but the air quality will hurt you. Nearly everyone I know is regularly affected by allergy and breathing problems. The dust from miles of fields seems to settle on every bit of your home, on your car and on your plants. What's worst though is the trashy look. People visiting have regularly commented about how dirty California and Bakersfield are. People throw their trash everywhere and getting rid of the graffiti is like trying to kill cockroaches with a flyswatter. (Similar too, is that the graffiti writers, like cockroaches, come out at night to do their work.) It's so depressing to see the regular defacing of property. Wish I could say I'd like to stay, but California and Bakersfield aren't wise choices.[read more...]