History of Bakersfield, California, USA

Bakersfield was settled in 1858 by a handful of families who had trekked northward through the El Tejon Pass seeking home sites rather than gold.
The town was named by an early settler, Colonel Thomas Baker, who invited the weary travelers through the valley to rest overnight. These travelers would plan in advance to meet and rest in "Colonel Baker's field." Baker formally laid out the town in 1869, and within two years the city had a telegraph office, two stores, a newspaper, two boarding houses, one doctor, a wagon shop, a harness shop, one attorney, a saloon, and fifty school pupils. The Bakersfield Centennial Garden and Convention Center rests on part of the original Colonel Baker's field as well as the Centennial Plaza community park.

www.bakersfieldcity.us/ administration/ mayor_council/ history.htm

The City of Bakersfield was first incorporated in 1873, and in the same year, the County seat was moved from the booming little town of Havilah to Bakersfield.
Three years later, the town decided to disincorporate. It was not until 1898 that the community incorporated again.
www.bakersfieldcity.us/ administration/ mayor_council/ history.htm

1895 - Bakersfield
Ba'kersfield, a city, the capital of Kern co., Cal., on the Kern River, and on the Southern Pacific Railroad, in a fine stock-raising and fruit-growing section, 300 miles S.E. of San Francisco. It has 5 churches, 2 banks, 4 news paper offices, railroad-car-shops, planing- and flour-mills, and fruit-packing establishments. Pop. in 1890, 2626.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott

1906 - SIX BURIED IN A TUNNEL. ENTOMBED IN KERN RIVER POWER CO.'S SHAFT. FOURTEEN SECTIONS COLLAPSED LIKE CARDS AND BODIES ARE FAR BEYOND REACH.
Bakersfield, Dec. 7. - Six miners were entombed this morning by the caving of a shaft leading to the big steel pipe conduit which passes through a mountain 2000 feet at a high angle in the Kern river canyon, at Camp No. 1, of the Edison Power company plants, eighteen miles from this city.
The names of the miners are:
G. ANDERSON.
C. D. ROBLES.
GEORGE WARNER.
H. FARRIS.
L. D. HICKS.
JOHN WHIBLE.

Reports as to the seriousness of the accident are conflicting and from the office of GLASS and FISHER, a contracting firm, it was stated tonight that but seventy feet of shafting was caved in and that work on the line would be delayed about one week. Coroner MULLINS has been notified of the accident, but will not go to the scene until two weeks, being instructed that it will take that length of time to reach the bodies.

The accident occurred while the miners were removing timbers from the shaft. It is supposed that the workmen had become careless, in their anxiety to make good... Read MORE...

1910 - March 14 - Lakeview Gusher, the largest U.S. oil well gusher near Bakersfield, California, vented to atmosphere

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1916
Bakersfield, a banking city, the capital of Kern co., Cal., on the Kern River and on the Southern Pacific and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Rs., in a fine stock-raising and fruit-growing section, 300 miles SE. of San Francisco. It has oil-refineries, foundries, machine- and railroad-car shops, and fruit-packing establishments. It is a shipping point for live-stock, wool, hides, grain, and fruit. Pop. in 1890, 2626 ; in 1900, 4836.
Lippincotts New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns, Resorts, Islands, Rivers, Mountains, Seas, Lakes, Etc., in Every Portion of the Globe, Part 1 Angelo Heilprin Louis Heilprin - January 1, 1916 J.B. Lippincott - Publisher

1928 - 2 CHILDREN BURN TO DEATH IN CAR. TWO WOMEN RECEIVE PROBABLY FATAL INJURIES WHEN AUTO EXPLODES.
Bakersfield, Cal., April 12 (AP) - Two children burned to death and two women received probably fatal injuries when their automobile exploded at a service station east of here last night shortly after a lantern was placed near the gasoline tank of the car. Fire that followed the blast destroyed the automobile, filling station and a house.

MRS. EARL STEARNS and MRS. CECIL D. AGEN, both of Stockton an two of their children occupied the car. Their husbands, who were in a nearby machine, were unable to reach the children and rescued the women only after they were severely burned.
Lancaster Daily Eagle
Ohio
April 12, 1928

1929 - Man Chokes to Death on Cigar Butt
Bakersfield, Cal. - Steven W. Marshall, 35, chief clerk of a petroleum securities company here, choked to death Sunday night on the butt of a cigar which he was chewing. While bending over a safe, he coughed heavily and fell to the floor gasping. He died a few minutes after reaching a hospital. Physicians removed a two-inch cigar stub from the man's throat.
Dallas Morning News
Dallas, Texas
May 28, 1929

1952 - Bakersfield hit by earthquake, caused over $50 million in property damage

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1952 - NEW QUAKE JARS SOUTHLAND, BAKERSFIELD LOSS IN MILLIONS. 2 DEAD, 32 HURT, BUSINESS AREA LEFT SHAMBLES. RESCUERS DIG INTO WRECKAGE, MORE TEMBLORS FEARED.
Bakersfield, Calif. (UP) - Another earthquake rattled windows in Southern California today as Bakersfield dug out of the debris left by the bomblike earth shock that caused the deaths of two persons yesterday, injured at least 32, and made a shambles of the business district.

Police and sheriff's switchboards were deluged with telephone calls from frightened Southern Californians shaken awake in the predawn by another in the series of "after-shocks" that hav been hitting regularly since the big Tehachapi 'quake 33 days ago.

Seismologist Dr. Charles F. Richter, of the California Institute of Technology at Pasadena, warned that Southern California can expect shocks as big as the Bakersfield temblor for "a year or more - at wider and wider intervals."

Authorities here, meanwhile, estimated that damage from yesterday's sudden shake would run upwards of $100,000,000. The $20,000,000 Kern County Central hospital, which suffered a $3,000,000 beating in the Tehachapi 'quake, was to... Read MORE...

1960 - March 14 - 14 die in a train crash in Bakersfield Calif

historyorb.com
March 14, 1960

Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Bakersfield:
1. Kern County Museum: Explore the history of the area at the Kern County Museum. It features a variety of historic buildings, including a one-room schoolhouse, a doctor's office, and a train depot. Don't miss the opportunity to ride the "Loraine," a fully operational steam locomotive.

2. Buck Owens' Crystal Palace: If you're a country music fan, a visit to the Crystal Palace is a must. This iconic venue celebrates the legacy of Buck Owens, a country music legend. Enjoy live music, dancing, and a delicious meal at the on-site restaurant.

3. California Living Museum (CALM): CALM is a wildlife park that focuses on native California animals and plants. You can see everything from bears and big cats to reptiles and birds. It's a great place for families and animal lovers.

4. Rabobank Arena, Theater & Convention Center: Check out the events happening at this multipurpose venue, which hosts concerts, sporting events, and live performances. It's a hub for entertainment in... Read MORE...