California's Fastest Growing City

Low-cost housing is fueling an economic boom in this once-sleepy farming town, with an average of 12 new houses per day.

1 minute read

July 5, 2005, 5:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen

"And this town of humble roots, bad air and the pungent smell of dairy farms has seen its population explode as national builders have moved in to plant dozens of new subdivisions.

Over the last year alone, no large city in California has grown at a faster rate than Bakersfield, which averaged 36 new residents and 12 new houses every day.

And no metropolitan area in the nation has seen housing prices rise faster than Bakersfield, where homes sold for 34% more in the first quarter of this year than a year before."

Thanks to Laura Kranz

Read the full story: Bakersfield Comes Into Full Boom

Monday, July 4, 2005 in The Los Angeles Times

Housing California

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

Start Learning

Advertise with us

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.