Editing Bakersfield, California (section)

== Geography ==
[[File:2009-0726-CA-Bakersfield-TruxtonTower.jpg|thumb|Truxtun Tower, also referred to as the Bank of America Building, is the tallest in downtown and the second-tallest building in Bakersfield.]]
Bakersfield is located near the southern end of the [[San Joaquin Valley]], with the southern tip of the [[Sierra Nevada (U.S.)|Sierra Nevada]] just to the east. The city limits extend to the [[Sequoia National Forest]], at the foot of the Greenhorn Mountain Range and the entrance to the Kern Canyon.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bakersfieldhelpwanted.org/ |title=Bakersfield Geography |work=source |date=2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101011234406/http://www.bakersfieldhelpwanted.org/ |archive-date=October 11, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> To the south, the [[Tehachapi Mountains]], rising more than a vertical mile, feature the historic [[Tejon Ranch]]. To the west is the [[Temblor Range]], behind which is the [[Carrizo Plain National Monument]] and the [[San Andreas Fault]]. The Temblor Range is about {{cvt|35|mi|km}} from Bakersfield across the valley floor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/earthq3/ |title=The San Andreas Fault |work=USGS General Interest Publications |date=2010 |access-date=January 25, 2010 |archive-date=February 6, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070206042439/http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/earthq3/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{cvt|143.6|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{cvt|142.2|sqmi}} are land (98.99%) and {{cvt|1.4|sqmi}} are covered by water (1.01%).

At the 2000 census, the city had a total area of {{cvt|114.4|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{cvt|113.1|sqmi}} were land (98.86%) and {{cvt|1.3|sqmi}} were water-covered (1.14%).

Bakersfield is located about {{cvt|100|mi}} north of [[Los Angeles]] (about a 1-hour, 45-minute drive on I-5 and State Route 99) and about {{cvt|280|mi}} southeast of the state capital, [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]] (about a 4-hour drive on State Route 99).

[[Hart Memorial Park]] is located in northeast Bakersfield along Alfred Harrell Highway.

=== Communities and neighborhoods ===
{{See also|List of neighborhoods in Bakersfield}}
Bakersfield has historically referred to its regions by directional names. They include North Bakersfield, Northeast, Southeast, South Bakersfield, Southwest, and Northwest. East Bakersfield generally refers to the former town of Sumner (later renamed East Bakersfield). As a result, the Northeast wraps around East Bakersfield.<ref>[http://www.kerncog.org/docs/studies/Rt_178_Corridor_Study.pdf Route 178 Corridor Study] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110107123903/http://www.kerncog.org/docs/studies/Rt_178_Corridor_Study.pdf |date=January 7, 2011 }}. KernCOG. December 1986. Page 42.</ref>

=== Climate ===
Bakersfield has a [[hot desert climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''BWh''),<ref>Peel, M. C., Finlayson, B. L., and McMahon, T. A.: [//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/Americas_K%C3%B6ppen_Map_original_colors.png Updated world map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification], Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 11, 1633–1644, 200 7.</ref> with sweltering, dry summers and winters that consist of mild days with chilly/cold nights. Rainfall is low in the city, averaging only {{convert|6.36|in|mm|1}} annually, with most of it falling in the winter. Bakersfield averages about 191 clear days a year.<ref>Ozborn, Liz. [http://www.currentresults.com/Weather-Extremes/US/sunniest.php Sunniest Places in United States] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130802073530/http://www.currentresults.com/Weather-Extremes/US/sunniest.php |date=August 2, 2013 }}. Current Results. Retrieved March 13, 2012.</ref> Bakersfield's climate makes the region suitable for growing crops ranging from carrots to citrus and almonds.

Bakersfield summers are sweltering, with extended stretches of hot weather and 112 days per year with high temperatures of {{convert|90|°F|°C|1}}+ (on average between April 18 and October 13); in addition, there are 36 days with highs of {{convert|100|°F|°C|1}}+ (on average between June 2 and September 19), and 0.9 days with highs of {{convert|110|°F|1}}+. The frequency of {{convert|110|°F|1}} readings can significantly vary each year, with the record being 17 days in 1931. The most recent year to have more than five days of {{convert|110|°F|1}}+ temperature readings was 2017, with seven days reaching or exceeding {{convert|110|°F|1}}. Temperatures can be highly variable throughout the spring, summer and fall months every year, with triple digit temperature readings in May, and on rare occasion April and October, in addition to occasional high temperatures below {{convert|80|°F|1}} in June and September not being uncommon. The warmest month on record was July 2024, with an average temperature of {{convert|90.8|°F|1}}. Except for occasional monsoons, which may bring light rain, typically no rain or almost no rain will fall from May to September.<ref name=NOAA />

Winters feature mild daytime temperatures and chilly/cold nights. Frost and/or dense fog usually occurs in winter with accompanying low visibility, causing many schools to have fog delays. Winters will usually produce a very dense layer of fog occasionally. Due to years of prolonged drought and the rapid development of many new neighborhoods around Bakersfield, the density of the fog and the number of "fog days" has steadily decreased. At the same time, areas outside the city still experience thick fog. The official time frame for [[tule fog]] to form is about five months long – various days from November 1 to March 31. Most noticeable in summer and winter, the [[urban heat island]] phenomenon can be observed throughout various neighborhoods in Bakersfield. Areas closer to downtown and along the 99 freeway corridor can experience warmer temperatures at night than neighborhoods on the edge of the city limits and rural Kern County areas, with temperature differences up to {{convert|7|°F-change|0}} between these areas at any given time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/hnx/newslet/winter00/fogseason.htm |title=About tule fog |work=noaa.gov |access-date=September 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230053005/http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/hnx/newslet/winter00/fogseason.htm |archive-date=December 30, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> On average, ten mornings have freezing lows (on average between December 14 and January 24) annually, and the coldest night of the year typically bottoms out below {{convert|30|°F|°C|1|disp=or}}.<ref name=NOAA /> On January 2, 2012, Bakersfield reached a record high of {{convert|82|°F|1}} for that year's winter.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}

Spring and fall typically feature mild to warm daytime high temperatures with cool nighttime low temperatures, but temperatures and precipitation can vary significantly depending on the year. There can be hot days in excess of {{convert|90|°F|°C|1|disp=or}} as early as April. More than 50 percent of Bakersfield's annual precipitation falls between January and March, with the remainder falling during late fall and early winter.

Snow is rare on the valley floor, although frost may occur.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sjgs.com/bakersfield.html |title=Bakersfield Climate |work=San Joaquin Geological Society |access-date=September 25, 2010 |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716080542/http://www.sjgs.com/bakersfield.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> The last snow fell on January 25, 1999, when the city received up to {{convert|6|in|cm}},<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ggweather.com |title=Golden Gate Weather Services |publisher=GGWeather.com |access-date=November 29, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219224844/http://ggweather.com/ |archive-date=December 19, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> with {{convert|3|in|cm}} at the airport.<ref name=NOAA /> The record maximum temperature was {{convert|118|°F|°C|1}} on July 28, 1908, and the record minimum temperature was {{convert|12|°F|°C|1}} on January 3, 1908.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/wrh/techMemos/TM-281.pdf |title=The Climate of Bakersfield, California |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=February 8, 2010 |author=Chris Stachelski |author2=Gary Sanger |year=2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100624125728/http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/wrh/techMemos/TM-281.pdf |archive-date=June 24, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=NOAA /> The most rainfall in one month was {{convert|5.82|in|mm|1}} in December 2010,<ref>{{cite web |title=Bakersfield Monthly Rainfall By Year |url=http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/hnx/bfl/normals/bflrnyr.pdf |publisher=National Weather Service |access-date=October 16, 2021 |archive-date=July 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717231340/http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/hnx/bfl/normals/bflrnyr.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> and the maximum 24-hour rainfall was {{convert|2.29|in|mm|1}} on February 9, 1978. The wettest "rain year" has been from July 1997 to June 1998 with {{convert|14.73|in|mm|1}} and the driest from July 1933 to June 1934 with {{convert|2.26|in|mm|1}}.<ref name=NOAA />
{{Weather box
|location=Bakersfield, California, 1991–2020 normals,{{efn|Mean maxima and minima (i.e., the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at the said location from 1991 to 2020.}} extremes 1893–present{{efn|Official records for Bakersfield kept at Santa Fe Railway Station (at 14th and F Streets) from 1893 to September 1937, and [[Meadows Field Airport|Meadows Field]] since October 1937. For more information, see [https://threadex.rcc-acis.org/ Threadex]}}
|single line=Y
|Jan high F=58.5
|Feb high F=64.3
|Mar high F=70.2
|Apr high F=75.9
|May high F=84.1
|Jun high F=92.3
|Jul high F=98.3
|Aug high F=96.9
|Sep high F=91.4
|Oct high F=80.2
|Nov high F=67.1
|Dec high F=58.8
|year high F= 78.2
|Jan mean F=49.5
|Feb mean F=53.8
|Mar mean F=58.6
|Apr mean F=63.3
|May mean F=71.1
|Jun mean F=78.7
|Jul mean F=84.8
|Aug mean F=83.4
|Sep mean F=78.2
|Oct mean F=67.7
|Nov mean F=56.3
|Dec mean F=49.2
|year mean F=66.2
|Jan low F=40.5
|Feb low F=43.2
|Mar low F=47.0
|Apr low F=50.7
|May low F=58.0
|Jun low F=65.1
|Jul low F=71.3
|Aug low F=70.0
|Sep low F=65.0
|Oct low F=55.2
|Nov low F=45.4
|Dec low F=39.6
|year low F= 54.2
|Jan avg record high F=72.1
|Feb avg record high F=77.0
|Mar avg record high F=84.4
|Apr avg record high F=92.2
|May avg record high F=99.0
|Jun avg record high F =105.4
|Jul avg record high F =107.2
|Aug avg record high F =106.9
|Sep avg record high F =103.0
|Oct avg record high F=94.5
|Nov avg record high F=82.1
|Dec avg record high F=71.5
|year avg record high F=109.0
|Jan avg record low F=30.5
|Feb avg record low F=33.7
|Mar avg record low F=36.8
|Apr avg record low F=39.8
|May avg record low F=47.4
|Jun avg record low F=53.0
|Jul avg record low F=61.9
|Aug avg record low F=60.7
|Sep avg record low F=54.5
|Oct avg record low F=44.7
|Nov avg record low F=34.8
|Dec avg record low F=29.6
|year avg record low F= 28.4
|Jan record high F=82
|Feb record high F=88
|Mar record high F=94
|Apr record high F=101
|May record high F=110
|Jun record high F=114
|Jul record high F=118
|Aug record high F=117
|Sep record high F=115
|Oct record high F=104
|Nov record high F=95
|Dec record high F=87
|year record high F= 118
|Jan record low F=12
|Feb record low F=20
|Mar record low F=20
|Apr record low F=28
|May record low F=34
|Jun record low F=38
|Jul record low F=45
|Aug record low F=44
|Sep record low F=30
|Oct record low F=29
|Nov record low F=22
|Dec record low F=13
|year record low F= 12
|precipitation colour=green
|Jan precipitation inch=1.19
|Feb precipitation inch=1.18
|Mar precipitation inch=1.15
|Apr precipitation inch=0.60
|May precipitation inch=0.25
|Jun precipitation inch=0.05
|Jul precipitation inch=0.00
|Aug precipitation inch=0.00
|Sep precipitation inch=0.05
|Oct precipitation inch=0.28
|Nov precipitation inch=0.51
|Dec precipitation inch=1.10
|year precipitation inch= 6.36
|unit precipitation days=0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days=6.3
|Feb precipitation days=6.8
|Mar precipitation days=6.0
|Apr precipitation days=3.9
|May precipitation days=2.1
|Jun precipitation days=0.4
|Jul precipitation days=0.2
|Aug precipitation days=0.1
|Sep precipitation days=0.6
|Oct precipitation days=1.6
|Nov precipitation days=3.6
|Dec precipitation days=6.0
|year precipitation days=37.6
|Jan snow inch=0.1
|Feb snow inch=0.0
|Mar snow inch=0.0
|Apr snow inch=0.0
|May snow inch=0.0
|Jun snow inch=0.0
|Jul snow inch=0.0
|Aug snow inch=0.0
|Sep snow inch=0.0
|Oct snow inch=0.0
|Nov snow inch=0.0
|Dec snow inch=0.0
|year snow inch=0.1

|unit snow days=0.1 in
|Jan snow days=0.0
|Feb snow days=0.0
|Mar snow days=0.0
|Apr snow days=0.0
|May snow days=0.0
|Jun snow days=0.0
|Jul snow days=0.0
|Aug snow days=0.0
|Sep snow days=0.0
|Oct snow days=0.0
|Nov snow days=0.0
|Dec snow days=0.0
|year snow days=0.0

|Jan sun=186
|Feb sun=197.8
|Mar sun=279
|Apr sun=300
|May sun=341
|Jun sun=360
|Jul sun=372
|Aug sun=341
|Sep sun=300
|Oct sun=279
|Nov sun=210
|Dec sun=155
|year sun=
|Jand sun=6
|Febd sun=7
|Mard sun=9
|Aprd sun=10
|Mayd sun=11
|Jund sun=12
|Juld sun=12
|Augd sun=11
|Sepd sun=10
|Octd sun=9
|Novd sun=7
|Decd sun=5
|yeard sun=
|Jan percentsun=59
|Feb percentsun=64
|Mar percentsun=75
|Apr percentsun=76
|May percentsun=79
|Jun percentsun=83
|Jul percentsun=84
|Aug percentsun=82
|Sep percentsun=81
|Oct percentsun=80
|Nov percentsun=68
|Dec percentsun=51
|year percentsun=
|Jan uv=3
|Feb uv=4
|Mar uv=6
|Apr uv=8
|May uv=9
|Jun uv=10
|Jul uv=10
|Aug uv=10
|Sep uv=8
|Oct uv=5
|Nov uv=4
|Dec uv=2
|year uv=
|source 1=NOAA<ref name= NOAA>{{cite web |url=https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=hnx |title=NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=October 16, 2021 |archive-date=May 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511112537/https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=hnx |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="NCEI Summary of Monthly Normals – 1991-2020">{{cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00023155&format=pdf |title=Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020 |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=October 16, 2021 |archive-date=May 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515025934/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00023155&format=pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
|source 2=Climate Atlas (sun and uv)<ref name= weather-atlas.com>{{cite web |url=https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/california-usa/bakersfield-climate |title=Monthly weather forecast and climate – Bakersfield, CA |publisher=Weather Atlas |access-date=March 28, 2020 |archive-date=March 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328220426/https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/california-usa/bakersfield-climate |url-status=live }}</ref>
|date=March 2020
}}

=== Air quality ===
{{further|Air pollution in the United States}}
Air quality is generally at its worst in fall and winter due to the California wildfire season and colder temperatures forming an inversion layer, respectively.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mayer |first=Steven |date=November 3, 2020 |title=Please don't burn wood at home, air officials beseech residents in 'worst wildfire season' |url=https://www.bakersfield.com/delano-record/please-dont-burn-wood-at-home-air-officials-beseech-residents-in-worst-wildfire-season-copy/article_e35e9c7c-23ad-11eb-8cd8-0f1e2cf08802.html |access-date=December 11, 2021 |work=The Bakersfield Californian |language=en |archive-date=December 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211211230820/https://www.bakersfield.com/delano-record/please-dont-burn-wood-at-home-air-officials-beseech-residents-in-worst-wildfire-season-copy/article_e35e9c7c-23ad-11eb-8cd8-0f1e2cf08802.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It is common for an inversion layer to form in the valley in the winter, in which temperatures can be warmer in the foothills above the valley with the valley itself being cooler. This can trap [[air pollution]] in Bakersfield and the surrounding valley areas for days or even weeks. This can typically be mediated by rain or strong winds.<ref name="LAT 2016-04-20">{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-air-pollution-report-20160420-story.html |title=Los Angeles and Bakersfield top list of worst air pollution in the nation |date=April 20, 2016 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |agency=Associated Press |access-date=December 31, 2018 |archive-date=May 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502041412/https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-air-pollution-report-20160420-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Emissions from agriculture, industry, rail freight and road traffic together create significant concentrations of air pollution.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Berg |first=Nate |date=February 14, 2017 |title=Breathless in Bakersfield: is the worst air pollution in the US about to get worse? |url=http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/feb/14/bakersfield-california-bad-air-pollution-us |url-status=live |access-date=December 11, 2021 |website=The Guardian |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214175747/https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/feb/14/bakersfield-california-bad-air-pollution-us |archive-date=February 14, 2017}}</ref> The extraction of oil and gas, a historic industry in the area, contributes to the poor air quality.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cowan |first=Jill |date=December 11, 2021 |title=In Bakersfield, Many Find a California They Can Afford |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/11/us/california-housing-bakersfield.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/11/us/california-housing-bakersfield.html |archive-date=December 28, 2021 |url-access=limited |access-date=December 12, 2021 |issn=0362-4331}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Returning flowing water to the Kern River and along with trees is promoted as a way to improve air quality and enhance recreation in the city.<ref>{{Cite web |last=James |first=Ian |date=December 9, 2021 |title=In Bakersfield, many push for bringing back the flow of the long-dry Kern River |url=https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2021-12-09/in-bakersfield-many-push-for-bringing-back-the-flow-of-the-long-dry-kern-river |url-status=live |access-date=December 12, 2021 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209131908/https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2021-12-09/in-bakersfield-many-push-for-bringing-back-the-flow-of-the-long-dry-kern-river |archive-date=December 9, 2021}}</ref>