Posted on 12/17/2008 6:36:52 PM PST by mainestategop
Im travelling down to California in a few days. I was wondering if anyone can tell me about Bakersfield California? I heard multiple views, one that it was the most conservative major city in the state and a safe haven against liberalism, the other that it was the poorest and worst place in the country and the state and that there was nothing to do. Im moving through there and might plan to stay there on the way to Lancaster.
Hot and dusty is all I remember from around 1967. Sorry I couldn’t help.
Bakersfield is pretty conservative but whoever told you there is nothing to do over there is right. There really isn’t anything there to do. It’s a very small city
ping!
In CA, Bakersfield is a minor city, despite its 330,000 population. San Diego is the most conservative major city in CA, and it's a paradise by comparison. Bakersfield is one of those places I've driven through many times.
Bakersfield differs from many California cities in that it is overwhelmingly conservative. In the 2008 U.S. Presidential election, John McCain carried Kern County by a 17.8% margin over Barack Obama, with Obama carrying the state by a 23.9% margin over McCain.
Never been there myself.
Continue on to Lancaster, and you'll find a whole lot more conservative minds. IMHO, no need to consider Bakersfield as any sort of roosting place.
Since you'll have to pass thru at the I-5/hwy 14 interchange on the way to Lancaster, take a look at Santa Clarita......the eastern portion (Newhall, Canyon Country) remains solidly red country.
p.s. is this breaking news?
It’s West of here, somewhere! Maybe a little North, too!
Bring yer sh*tkickers.
Stop in Kingsburg instead. 30 miles south of Fresno on the 99. Best kept secret in the valley.
Have a burger at the 3 Crowns or some Swedish pancakes at the Dala Inn on Draper St. A very conservative town.
I would hate to see your definition of a large city.
As of 2007, the population was estimated at 372,320 within the city limits, making it the 11th largest municipality in California and 59th largest city in the nation according to U.S. Census estimates.
It gets hot as hell in the summer, very dusty and has some of the worst air pollution in the nation. Pretty much a typical central/ southern valley city with very nice mountains to the east and a 4 hour drive to Las Vegas.
Last time I was there was about 20 years ago. All I remeber is Hookers, Cowboys, and Truck Drivers everywhere.
I had a car/stroller or whatever it was called almost exactly like that. You must have been born around 1951 too. No need to age yourself like I just did if you don’t want to.
I came here looking for something
I couldn't find anywhere else
Hey, I'm not trying to be nobody
Just want a chance to be myself
I've done a thousand miles of thumbin'
I've worn blisters on my heels
Trying to find me something better
On the streets of Bakersfield
Chorus:
You don't know me but you don't like me
You say you care less how I feel
But how many of you that sit and judge me
Have ever walked the streets of Bakersfield?
Spent some time in San Francisco
Spent a night there in the can
They threw this drunk man in my jail cell
Took fifteen dollars from that man
Left him my watch and my old house key
Don't want folks thinkin' that I'd steal
Then I thanked him as I was leaving, and
I headed for the streets of Bakersfield
Chorus:
You don't know me but you don't like me
You say you care less how I feel
But how many of you that sit and judge me
Have ever walked the streets of Bakersfield?
You don't know me but you don't like me
You say you care less how I feel
But how many of you that sit and judge me
Have ever walked the streets of Bakersfield?
How many of you that sit and judge me
Have ever walked the streets of Bakersfield?
You might want to check out city-data.com. You’ll find hundreds of posts about Bakersfield from people who live there. You’ll also find a lot of other interesting stats, including the city’s political composition. (And, yes, it IS conservative.) Hope that helps.
Sorry, I didn’t read the top of your post.
The meal doesn't spark a memory, so it must have been as expected. I wound up in Santa Barbara, but that's another post.
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