Kern County, County of California in Southern Central Valley, US.
Kern County is an administrative division in California that covers parts of the Central Valley, Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada, and Mojave Desert. The area spans roughly 8,163 square miles (21,140 square kilometers) and ranges from farming plains to mountain ranges and desert zones.
The division was established in 1866 and named after a river that honored Edward Kern. This cartographer accompanied General John C. Frémont's expedition through California in the mid-1800s.
The name comes from a river that honors a mapmaker who traveled through the area in the 1800s. Oil pumps stand beside farm fields along the roads, while desert landscapes appear at the valley edges.
Travelers find different landscapes within the division, from farmland to mountain passes and desert stretches. Distances between towns can be long, so planning stops along the route helps.
The area produces more petroleum than any other division in California, with pumping facilities scattered across wide tracts. At the same time, many crops sold in California supermarkets grow here.
Location: California
Inception: 1866
Capital city: Bakersfield
Shares border with: Los Angeles County, Tulare County, Kings County, Inyo County, San Bernardino County, Ventura County, Santa Barbara County, San Luis Obispo County
Website: https://co.kern.ca.us
GPS coordinates: 35.34000,-118.72000
Latest update: December 15, 2025 00:03
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