Kernville, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kernville
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Downtown Kernville
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Location in Kern County and the state of California
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 Kernville, California
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | Kern |
| Area | |
| • Total | 12.676 sq mi (32.831 km2) |
| • Land | 12.368 sq mi (32.033 km2) |
| • Water | 0.308 sq mi (0.798 km2) 2.43% |
| Elevation | 2,667 ft (813 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,549 |
| • Density | 122.20/sq mi (47.181/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
93238
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| Area codes | 442/760 |
| FIPS code | 06-38310 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1660834 |
| Website | |
| Reference #: | 132 |
Kernville is a small town in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains. It's located in Kern County, California, United States. Kernville is about 42 miles (68 km) northeast of Bakersfield. It sits at an elevation of 2,667 feet (813 meters) above sea level. In 2020, about 1,549 people lived there.
Contents
History of Kernville
The Kern River was named after Edward Kern. He was an artist who explored the area with John C. Fremont in 1845. They camped where two rivers met, which is now the middle of Lake Isabella.
In 1858, people rushed to the area looking for gold. This led to a town being formed. It was first called Rogersville, then Williamsburg. In 1863, it was renamed Whiskey Flat after a bar opened. A year later, in 1864, the town became known as Kernville.
Many years later, the Isabella Dam project started in 1948. Because of this dam, the original town of Kernville had to be moved. It was relocated upstream to its current spot. Some old buildings were also moved. Today, downtown Kernville still looks like an gold rush and Old West town. This attracts many tourists who also enjoy the beautiful nature and outdoor activities. The first Kernville town site is now a California Historical Landmark called #132. You can sometimes see old foundations when the lake water is low.
Whiskey Flat Days
Kernville celebrates its Wild West history with an annual event called Whiskey Flat Days. This festival happens every President's Day weekend. It includes a parade, historical re-enactments, and pioneer-style camps. There's also a carnival, street vendors, and a rodeo. Thousands of people visit Kernville for these fun activities.
Even with many tourists in summer, Kernville keeps its charming, old-fashioned feel. Many local families have lived there since the 1800s. The post office, first built in 1868, moved to the new town site in 1951.
Geography and Climate
Kernville is located in a semiarid climate region. This means it's quite dry, similar to areas on the edge of true deserts.
| Climate data for Kernville | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 73 (23) |
76 (24) |
80 (27) |
88 (31) |
95 (35) |
102 (39) |
105 (41) |
105 (41) |
101 (38) |
93 (34) |
81 (27) |
73 (23) |
105 (41) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 59.9 (15.5) |
62.9 (17.2) |
66.6 (19.2) |
72.4 (22.4) |
81.0 (27.2) |
90.5 (32.5) |
97.5 (36.4) |
96.7 (35.9) |
90.9 (32.7) |
80.3 (26.8) |
67.3 (19.6) |
60.2 (15.7) |
77.2 (25.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 32.6 (0.3) |
35.3 (1.8) |
38.2 (3.4) |
42.8 (6.0) |
50.3 (10.2) |
58.3 (14.6) |
64.3 (17.9) |
63.1 (17.3) |
57.3 (14.1) |
47.8 (8.8) |
37.8 (3.2) |
32.4 (0.2) |
46.7 (8.2) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 11 (−12) |
14 (−10) |
21 (−6) |
26 (−3) |
29 (−2) |
39 (4) |
42 (6) |
44 (7) |
35 (2) |
23 (−5) |
18 (−8) |
10 (−12) |
10 (−12) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.73 (69) |
2.58 (66) |
2.04 (52) |
0.83 (21) |
0.29 (7.4) |
0.13 (3.3) |
0.14 (3.6) |
0.22 (5.6) |
0.36 (9.1) |
0.43 (11) |
1.39 (35) |
1.79 (45) |
12.93 (328) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.3 (0.76) |
0.2 (0.51) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.4 (1.0) |
1.1 (2.77) |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Things to Do in Kernville
Kernville is a popular spot for tourists. Many people come for the white water rapids of the Kern River. You can go white water rafting or kayaking. Other fun outdoor activities include mountain biking and rock climbing.
Fly fishing is also very popular here. People especially like to try and catch the golden trout. They usually practice "catch and release" fishing, meaning they let the fish go after catching them.
Downtown Kernville looks like an Old West town. It has many restaurants, antique shops, and motels. The Kern Valley Museum shows historical items and displays about the area. The nearby Kern Valley Airport is also a popular place for pilots. It even has camping spots by the river and a cafe.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2000 | 1,736 | — | |
| 2010 | 1,395 | −19.6% | |
| 2020 | 1,549 | 11.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, Kernville had a population of 1,395 people. Most of the people lived in homes. The average household had about two people.
Getting Around Kernville
The town has the Kern Valley Airport, which is about 3 miles (4.8 km) south of town. You can even camp there if you fly in! There's also a cafe at the airport.
Kernville is also served by Kern Transit. This bus service connects the Kern River Valley with other parts of the county.
California Historical Landmark
The original site of Kernville is a California Historical Landmark. A special marker there tells its story:
- NO. 132 KERNVILLE - Called Whiskey Flat until 1864, Kernville was founded in 1860 when whiskey dealer Adam Hamilton moved shop here from more temperate Quartzburg, founded earlier that year. Both camps resulted from a discovery by 'Lovely' Rogers, who found the Big Blue Ledge while tracking a stray mule from the earlier camp of Keysville.
This marker is located in the Old Kernville Cemetery. It was officially registered on January 31, 1934.
See also
In Spanish: Kernville (California) para niños
