Early History of Kern County

Col. Baker
My…Purpose

Mercy Southwest Hospital

SW Bakersfield
Creative Process

● Reviewing the assignment

● Narrowing down a topic
● Organizing my information
● Making my topic relatable to my audience
● Finding photos that would interest others
● Creating a presentation that is informative and interesting
Biggest Challenges
● Minimal resources on topic of Kern County History

● Time

● Procrastination
Limited Resources I found:
● Smith, Wallace,Garden of the Sun, Fresno, Linden Publishing Inc, 1, 2, 2004
● Latta, F, Handbook of Yokuts Indians, Oildale, Bear State Books 1949
● “Timeline: 150 years of Kern County History” Bakersfield.com, Dec 1
2016
●
What I learned

● California’s was originally inhabited by a people know as the yokuts

● The term Youkuts was not a term that they for the most part used amongst
themselves
● The first european to enter the San Joaquin valley were on a mission to
retrieve deserters.
● The second person to arrive in the Valley was father Francisco Thomas
Hermenegildo Garces
● Garces makes note of a animosity toward the spanish on the part of the
indians, due to their expense with spanish deserters.
What I learned
● Over the course of spanish rule several attempts are made to establish
mission in the area.
● In 1804 this effort intensified in order to stem the tide of Natives fleeing into
the valley from other villages.
● A variety of military conflicts between the Natives and the spanish occur
during this time.
● Throughout this period trappers from a variety of other nations are operating
in the regions
● First American to enter the Valley- trapper Jedediah
Smith
What I learned
● During the gold rush little gold was found in the valley proper however gold
mines were established in the foothill region of the valley souther mines
extended from the area of Mokelumne River to the Kern River.
● Some attempt was made to move indians into a reservation after the
Mariposa War.
● In 1869 the Pacific Railroad company began construction of a railroad through
Kern County.
● Of note the railroad built one of it’s rails through the modern days city of
Fresno
● This was done before the valley had a large population.
What I learned…
● In 1844 Americans cma to map the region of the valley and california.
● American acquired the valley at the rest of California in 1848.
● The first Ranch was established in the San Joaquin in 1836
● During the gold rush many unsuccessful miners turned to wheat farming.
● This endeavour grew in size and scope overtime
● In 1864 the San Joaquin petroleum after Frank Dusky and John Clark discover oil
on a hunting trip.
● This sparks a rush to the valley in search of black gold.
● Most companies that invest are out of state organizations and most of the money
made from black gold goes to individuals outside of the valley.
Importance and Impact on My Life

● This resulted in the loss of sleep getting the assignment

completed.
● A growing awareness of the early history of the valley in which we
live.
● A better grasp of organizational skills
● A increase in my ability to communicate ideas.

● Thank You