Six Reasons to Live in Bakersfield, CA

Finding a place to settle down when you retire or seeking somewhere to raise a family isn't an easy decision to make. There are pros and cons to examine, whatever your reason for relocating may be. Safety, nice schools, entertainment are a few things someone might consider when looking for a new place.

While there are many subjects that could be considered such as museums, roads and transportation, food etc; I have decided to look at a few reasons that make the city in general an appealing place to call home. Basically I am trying to give someone who might consider moving to Bakersfield an overview.

This means that you are within close proximity to other locations that you might find enjoyable.

Los Angeles is just about 90 miles south of Bakersfield. You can be there in about an hour-and-a-half and enjoy the amenities of a big city, without having to live there.

Beaches are fairly close as well: Santa Barbara is about two hours away. The Central Coast. (See link below for specific details).

If you like camping or the desert - you just have to drive North or East. Yosemite is about three hours north and the deserts near Ridgecrest are a little more than an hour East.

Well, this is the desert. The summers can be warm - excruciatingly so with 100-degree temperatures. This only lasts a couple of months.

The same can be said about winters - fairly cold, but only for a couple of months.

The rest of the year is very nice!

If you like ghosts then you will like Bakersfield. There is rich history here that goes back many years.

The spirits here are known to inhabit public parks, hotels, businesses and even the local high school.

For a complete list, see the link below.

Many different artists are associated with Bakersfield. As far as country music is concerned, it is often referred to as the Nashville of the West.

The modern rock group Korn is said to be seen along the city's Chester Avenue, recording in Merle Haggard's former place.

The Kern County Museum has an entire section devoted to the Bakersfield Sound.

From art-deco architecture to modern eateries, there is something for everyone in the city's downtown.

Restaurants, shopping, community centers, museums, and places to just relax. Even though it stretches for blocks, all of it is walkable. Unlike places with overbearing skylines, you can walk around under the comfortable sunshine.

It's never too crowded and there are gems tucked away to be discovered every time you visit.

One thing that has to be said about Bakersfield is that it isn't too crowded. There are plenty of small little neighborhoods embraced by the city's sprawling thoroughfares.

The freeway system makes it easy to get anywhere in town. The total population as of 2018 was just about 383,000.

You have all the urban amenities here - a nightlife, good transit, and local events - but you don't feel boxed in the way you might in city's that are more urban.

While it does have it's share of problems, overall it is a nice place.