Bakersfield in Kern County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Site of Baker's Field

Photographed by Denise Boose, July 30, 2018

1. Site of Baker's Field Marker

Inscription. In 1863 Col. Thomas Baker settled on the site of the present City of Bakersfield and fenced a ten-acre plot of alfalfa. This became known as Baker's Field where travelers through the area camped with their stock for protection from marauding outlaw bands. Thus the city derived its name from this field which lay between 14th and 17th Streets and was bounded on the West by K Street and on the East by P Street.

Erected 1967 by Kern County Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1863.

Location. 35° 22.387′ N, 119° 0.758′ W. Marker is in Bakersfield, California, in Kern County. It is on Truxtun Avenue east of N. Street, on the left when traveling west. Located on a wall to the left of the handicap parking lot in front of Rabobank Arena on Truxtun Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1001 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield CA 93301, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Joaquin Valley,

specifically in the Central Valley,

and in the Sierra Nevada.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: First Baptist Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Kern River Flour Mills (approx. 0.2 miles away); Kern County Vietnam War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Haberfelde Building (approx. 0.3 miles away); Kress Building

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(approx. 0.4 miles away); Kern County Hall of Records (approx. 0.4 miles away); Colonel Thomas Baker (approx. 0.4 miles away); F.W. Woolworth Company Store (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bakersfield.

Photographed by Denise Boose, July 30, 2018

2. Site of Baker's Field Marker

Thomas Baker image. Click for full size.

3. Thomas Baker

Thomas Baker's Gravesite at Union Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, May 5, 2012

4. Thomas Baker's Gravesite at Union Cemetery

Tule-thatched home purchased by Colonel Thomas Baker in 1862. image. Click for full size.

5. Tule-thatched home purchased by Colonel Thomas Baker in 1862.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 6, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 30, 2018, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 1,625 times since then and 128 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 30, 2018, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 3, 4. submitted on July 31, 2018, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 5. submitted on April 28, 2019, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.