Bakersfield is a CITY located in Kern County, California. It is the county seat and largest CITY in Kern County. The population of Bakersfield was estimated to be around 380, 000 in 2019, making it the ninth-most populous CITY in California. Bakersfield is known for its oil industry, agriculture, and music scene. It is also home to the Bakersfield Sound, a style of country music that originated in the CITY.