Kern City, Bakersfield, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kern City
Community in Bakersfield
Kern City Location in Bakersfield, California
Country	United States
State	California
County	Kern County
City	Bakersfield
Elevation	387 ft (118 m)

Kern City is a special community located in Bakersfield, a city in Kern County, California. It used to be an "unincorporated area," which means it wasn't officially part of any city government. Now, it's part of Bakersfield.

This community is about 4 miles (6.4 km) west-southwest of downtown Bakersfield. It sits at an elevation of 387 feet (118 meters) above sea level.

The Story of Kern City

Kern City was created with a special purpose in mind. It was designed to be a "planned retirement community." This means it was built specifically for older adults who wanted to live in a community with homes and services designed for their needs.

How Kern City Began

The community was founded in 1961. A famous developer named Del Webb was behind the project. His company, the Del E. Webb Corporation, built all the homes and facilities.

From 1962 to 1976, Kern City even had its own post office. This helped residents send and receive mail easily within their community.

Life in Kern City

In 2010, there were 1,024 "dwelling units" in Kern City. A dwelling unit is just another way to say an individual home or a condo. These homes are all part of the Kern City association.

An "association" is like a group of property owners who work together to manage their community. They have rules and services to keep the neighborhood nice for everyone.

The Kern City association had an elected "board of directors." This board was made up of 9 property owners from the community. They were chosen by other residents to help make decisions about the community. Each year, three new directors were elected to serve for three years.