Bakersfield is a city in south central California and the seat of Kern County, on the Kern River. It is located at the southern end of the valley of the San Joaquin River. Bakersfield is a commercial, distribution, and manufacturing center situated in an agricultural and petroleum-producing region. Manufactures include refined petroleum, electronic components, and processed food; crops grown in the surrounding region include grapes, cotton, citrus fruits, almonds, and carrots.

California State University-Bakersfield and a junior college are located in the city. Cultural institutions include the Bakersfield Museum of Art and the Kern County Museum, made up of over 60 restored or recreated structures. The California Living Museum, comprised of a zoo, botanical garden, and natural history museum, is nearby. The city has strong country music roots, and is the birthplace of country singer Merle Haggard.

Native Americans had long lived in the San Joaquin Valley when white settlement began in 1851, following the discovery of gold in the bed of the Kern River. The community was formally laid out in 1869 by Colonel Thomas Baker, and named for the alfalfa field he owned and let travelers use to feed their horses. Bakersfield continued to grow with the coming of the railroad in 1874 and the development of the Kern River irrigation system, which greatly increased the production of grain, alfalfa, and livestock. The city incorporated in 1898, and oil was discovered in the area the following year. The growing petroleum industry and increased manufacturing resulted in continued expansion.