California

Kern

909,235
2020 population
1870
first census record
16
census records

About Kern

Kern, California, first appears in the United States federal census in 1870, when it recorded a population of 2,925. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 909,235.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 3 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Buena Vista Lake Massacre, Tejon Ranch Violence – Southern California, Keyesville Massacre, and 26 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020909,235
2010839,631
2000661,645
1990543,477
1980403,089
1970329,162
1960291,984
1950228,309
1940135,124
193082,570
192054,843
191037,715
190016,480
18909,808
18805,601
18702,925
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Kern

Military engagements that took place in Kern, California.

Buena Vista Lake Massacre
1000
Tejon Ranch Violence – Southern California
1300
Keyesville Massacre
1863

Historic places in Kern

National Register of Historic Places listings in Kern, California.

Errea House
Tehachapi
Kern Branch, Beale Memorial Library
Bakersfield
Gross, Courtlandt, House
Tehachapi
Fort Tejon
Lebec
Walker Pass
Bakersfield
Bakersfield California Building
Bakersfield
Bandit Rock
Inyokern
Tehachapi Railroad Depot
Tehachapi
Long Canyon Village Site
South Lake
Last Chance Canyon
Johannesburg
Fort, The
Taft
Weedpatch Camp
Bakersfield
Rogers Dry Lake
Mojave Desert
First Baptist Church
Bakersfield
Wasco Union High School Auditorium
Wasco
Tevis Block
Bakersfield
Burro Schmidt's Tunnel
Ridgecrest
The Forty Acres
Delano
Nuestra Senora Reina de la Paz
Keene
National Farm Workers Association Headquarters
Delano
Green Hotel
Shafter
Shafter Research Station
Shafter
Jastro Building
Bakersfield
Santa Fe Passenger and Freight Depot
Shafter
Browse all Californiahistoric sites ›

Other counties in California

Explore census history and historic records for more California counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Kern County, California

This page charts the census history of Kern County, California. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Kern

When does Kern first appear in the US census?
Kern, California first appears in the federal census in 1870, with a recorded population of 2,925.
What is the population of Kern?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Kern had a recorded population of 909,235.
Were any battles fought in Kern?
3 documented military engagements took place in Kern, including Buena Vista Lake Massacre, Tejon Ranch Violence – Southern California, Keyesville Massacre.
How many historic places are in Kern?
26 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Kern, California.
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