Southwest Bakersfield
Encyclopedia
Southwest Bakersfield is the southwest region of Bakersfield
, California
. It is roughly bounded by the Kern River
to the north and Oak St/Wible Rd. to the east. The other boundaries are the city limits themselves.
The Southwest contains major residential, commercial, and industrial sectors, as well as parks, shopping districts, and even a university.
Most of the land that makes up the region was originally owned by the land giant, Kern County Land Company. That company later became Tenneco West, and is currently known as Castle and Cooke. Growth started in the early 1950s, but accelerated by the 1960s. Most of the growth in Bakersfield, between 1960s and 1980s occurred in the southwest. In recent years, development in other regions has slowed the growth in the southwest.
The Financial District is located on the actively producing Fruitvale Oil Field
. Oil well pumping units are scattered throughout the district, mainly in the parking lots. The units are fenced and landscaped. Some of the tanks for storing the pumped oil are located just east of the intersection of Truxtun Ave. and Mohawk St.
). It also contains The Marketplace, a major retail center. California State University, Bakersfield
is also located in Seven Oaks.
A major commercial and retail sector is River Walk. Located along Stockdale Hwy, between the Kern River
and Old River Rd, it is a mixture of commercial and retail shopping. The centerpiece to the development is The Park at River Walk
, which contains two artificial lakes and a meandering stream. It is also home to the Bright House Amphitheater.
There is also a mini corporate center on Old River Rd, between the Kern River
, and Ming Ave, although some of the buildings are also located on adjacent streets. Many companies in Bakersfield that need large office space are located there. Because land there is inexpensive, buildings profiles tend to be short and wide, rather than highrise.
, which was founded in 1925, is located there. Named neighborhoods include: Amberton, Westwood, Stockdale Estates, Old Stockdale (which some realtors have renamed "Olde Stockdale"), Los Portales, Quailwood, and Park Stockdale.
Major shopping centers include Stockdale Village and Stockdale Fashion Plaza, both centered around the intersection of California Ave/New Stine Rd. and Stockdale Hwy.
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It is roughly bounded by the Kern River
Kern River
The Kern River is a river in the U.S. state of California, approximately long. It drains an area of the southern Sierra Nevada mountains northeast of Bakersfield. Fed by snowmelt near Mount Whitney, the river passes through scenic canyons in the mountains and is a popular destination for...
to the north and Oak St/Wible Rd. to the east. The other boundaries are the city limits themselves.
The Southwest contains major residential, commercial, and industrial sectors, as well as parks, shopping districts, and even a university.
Most of the land that makes up the region was originally owned by the land giant, Kern County Land Company. That company later became Tenneco West, and is currently known as Castle and Cooke. Growth started in the early 1950s, but accelerated by the 1960s. Most of the growth in Bakersfield, between 1960s and 1980s occurred in the southwest. In recent years, development in other regions has slowed the growth in the southwest.
Neighborhoods and Districts
Like other regions in Bakersfield, most districts and neighborhoods boundaries in the Southwest vary depending on who a person talks to. Below are some of the more commonly used neighborhood names.Financial District
Centered around the intersection and California Ave. and Mohawk St. is Bakersfield's Financial District. It is the location for many of the regional offices and corporate headquarters for companies that have assets in the county, and surrounding region. These include Wells Fargo bank, Bank of the West, and Berry Petroleum. It is also home to Stockdale Towers, the tallest building in the city. Chevron, Occidental Petroleum, as well as other companies were also located there, but have since moved to larger buildings farther to the southwest.The Financial District is located on the actively producing Fruitvale Oil Field
Fruitvale Oil Field
The Fruitvale Oil Field is a large oil and gas field in the southern San Joaquin Valley, California, within and just northwest of the city of Bakersfield, along and north of the Kern River. It is one of the few oil fields in the California Central Valley which is mostly surrounded by a heavily...
. Oil well pumping units are scattered throughout the district, mainly in the parking lots. The units are fenced and landscaped. Some of the tanks for storing the pumped oil are located just east of the intersection of Truxtun Ave. and Mohawk St.
Seven Oaks
Seven Oaks is a mixture of residential and commercial space. It is roughly bordered to the north by Stockdale Hwy and to the east by Gosford Rd. The other boundaries are the city limits. Some of the housing communities in this area are Seven Oaks, Haggin Oaks, Southern Oaks, The Oaks, Campus Park, Laurelglen, Silver Creek, Stone Creek, and Grand Island. Like Stockdale, it also contains a private country club (named the Seven Oaks Country ClubSeven Oaks Country Club
Seven Oaks Country Club is a private golf course in Bakersfield, California. The course has 27 holes , with a total length of 10,592. The golf course was designed by Robert Muir Graves, and is a championship course. Between 1992 and 1993, the golf course hosted the Bakersfield Open, a PGA national...
). It also contains The Marketplace, a major retail center. California State University, Bakersfield
California State University, Bakersfield
California State University, Bakersfield is a public university located in Bakersfield, California, United States which was founded in 1965. CSUB opened in 1970 on a campus, becoming the 19th school in the California State University system...
is also located in Seven Oaks.
A major commercial and retail sector is River Walk. Located along Stockdale Hwy, between the Kern River
Kern River
The Kern River is a river in the U.S. state of California, approximately long. It drains an area of the southern Sierra Nevada mountains northeast of Bakersfield. Fed by snowmelt near Mount Whitney, the river passes through scenic canyons in the mountains and is a popular destination for...
and Old River Rd, it is a mixture of commercial and retail shopping. The centerpiece to the development is The Park at River Walk
The Park at River Walk
The Park at River Walk is a public park located in Bakersfield, California. The park is , and contains two lakes connected by a stream. It is also the location of the Bright House Amphitheater, one of two large outdoor theaters in Bakersfield . The park is located next to the Kern River Bike Trail...
, which contains two artificial lakes and a meandering stream. It is also home to the Bright House Amphitheater.
There is also a mini corporate center on Old River Rd, between the Kern River
Kern River
The Kern River is a river in the U.S. state of California, approximately long. It drains an area of the southern Sierra Nevada mountains northeast of Bakersfield. Fed by snowmelt near Mount Whitney, the river passes through scenic canyons in the mountains and is a popular destination for...
, and Ming Ave, although some of the buildings are also located on adjacent streets. Many companies in Bakersfield that need large office space are located there. Because land there is inexpensive, buildings profiles tend to be short and wide, rather than highrise.
Stockdale
Stockdale is a mostly residential neighborhood. Starting north and traveling clockwise, it is bounded by the Kern River, California Ave/New Stine Rd, Ming Ave, and Gosford Rd. The historic Stockdale Country ClubStockdale Country Club
Stockdale Country Club is an 18-hole private golf course located on a plot of unincorporated Kern County land that is surrounded by Bakersfield, California. The course is 6,410 yards on flat terrain, designed by Lloyd Tevis. It opened in 1925...
, which was founded in 1925, is located there. Named neighborhoods include: Amberton, Westwood, Stockdale Estates, Old Stockdale (which some realtors have renamed "Olde Stockdale"), Los Portales, Quailwood, and Park Stockdale.
Major shopping centers include Stockdale Village and Stockdale Fashion Plaza, both centered around the intersection of California Ave/New Stine Rd. and Stockdale Hwy.