Lake Isabella, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lake Isabella
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Location in Kern County and the state of California
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 Lake Isabella, California
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | Kern |
| Area | |
| • Total | 22.148 sq mi (57.337 km2) |
| • Land | 21.714 sq mi (56.239 km2) |
| • Water | 0.424 sq mi (1.098 km2) 1.9% |
| Elevation | 2,513 ft (766 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,573 |
| • Density | 161.324/sq mi (62.316/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
93240
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| Area codes | 442/760 |
| FIPS code | 06-39570 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1652739 |
Lake Isabella (once called Isabella) is a small community in Kern County, California. It's located in the southern part of the Sierra Nevada mountains. This area is known as a census-designated place (CDP), which means it's a community that looks like a town but isn't officially governed as one.
The community is named after the nearby Lake Isabella reservoir. It sits right on the southwestern edge of the lake. Lake Isabella is about 6 miles (10 km) south of Wofford Heights in the Kern River Valley. It's also about 35 miles (56 km) east-northeast of Bakersfield. The town is about 2,513 feet (766 meters) above sea level. In 2020, about 3,573 people lived there.
Contents
Exploring Lake Isabella's Geography
Lake Isabella is found in the Hot Springs Valley, which is part of the larger Kern River Valley. Its exact location is 35°37′05″N 118°28′23″W / 35.61806°N 118.47306°W.
The entire area of Lake Isabella covers about 22.1 square miles (57.3 square kilometers). Most of this area is land.
The community is located where the North and South Forks of the Kern River meet. These rivers are considered 'wild' because they don't have any dams controlling their flow upstream. During spring and early summer, the North Fork is popular for white water rafting. The famous Golden Trout fish originally came from these rivers in the high mountains to the north.
The History of Lake Isabella
The land around Lake Isabella has been home to people for thousands of years. The Tübatulabal and Owens Valley Paiute were the first groups to live here.
Gold Rush and Town Founding
In 1853, gold was found nearby, which started a "gold rush." This led to the creation of towns like Keyesville. The original town of Isabella was started in 1893 by Steven Barton. He named it after Queen Isabella of Spain. Her name was very popular at the time because of the 1893 Columbian Exposition, a big world's fair.
The Lake's Creation and Town's Move
The large Lake Isabella reservoir was built in 1953. This happened when a dam was constructed on the Kern River. Because of the new lake, the original town of Isabella had to be moved. It was relocated about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south of its first spot. The Isabella post office, which opened in 1896, also moved to the new location. In 1957, the town's name was officially changed to Lake Isabella.
The dam also caused the original site of Kernville to be covered by water. Like Isabella, Kernville was also moved to higher ground. Some of its old, historic buildings were carefully moved too.
Outdoor Fun in Lake Isabella
Today, the Lake Isabella area is a wonderful place for outdoor activities. People enjoy hiking, boating, water skiing, and fishing. It's also great for bird watching, hunting, windsurfing, and kayaking. Tourism is a very important part of the local economy.
Population and People of Lake Isabella
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population in 2010
According to the 2010 census, Lake Isabella had a population of 3,466 people. Most of the people living there were White (88.5%). There were also Native American (2.8%), Asian (0.5%), and African American (0.2%) residents. About 9.8% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Lake Isabella was about 47.2 years old. About 19.2% of the population was under 18 years old. About 21.4% of residents were 65 years or older.
There were 1,621 households in Lake Isabella. A household is a group of people living together in one home. Many households (34.9%) were married couples. About 23.7% of households had children under 18 living with them.
Population in 2000
In the 2000 census, Lake Isabella had 3,315 people. The racial makeup was similar to 2010, with about 90.44% White residents. About 6.76% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The median age in 2000 was 46 years. This means half the people were younger than 46 and half were older. About 23.0% of the population was under 18 years old. About 27.8% of residents were 65 years or older.
Images for kids
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Lake Isabella along Lake Isabella Blvd.
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Lake Isabella from Hwy 155
See also
In Spanish: Lake Isabella (California) para niños
