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Historical Events of Significance in Kern County
1769-1866
1769 Kern area became
part of vast Spanish empire.
1772 Commander Fages was first white man to enter
future Kern County via Grapevine and gave valley
its first name, Buena Vista.
1776 Padre Garces visited future Kern and named the
present Kern River Rio de San Felipe. Ca
1806 It. Ruiz, Moraga, and Padre Zalvidea
expeditions into area with Zalvidea naming river La Poricuncula.
1815 Grandos expedition into valley.
1816 Padre Martinez expedition through future Kern.
1822 Kern area fell under the flag of The Republic of
Mexico.
1827 Jedediah Smith first American to pass
through future county.
1830 Ewing Young trapping party which included
Kit Carson passed through Kern.
1834 Walker Pass discovered by Joseph Reddeford
Walker.
1837 Peter Lebeck killed by grizzly at later
site of Fort Tejon.
1842 San Emigdio Land Grant established.
1843 Castaic Rancho and El Tejon Land Grants
established. Chiles emigrant party led over
Walker Pass by Joseph Reddeford Walker.
1843.44 Second Fremont expedition traversed future Kern, accompanied by
Kit Carson and Alexis Godey.
1845-46 Third Fremont expedition and naming of Kern River for Edward M.
Kern, photopographer of the party.
1846 La Liebre Rancho and Lost
Alamos y Agua Caliente Land Grants established.
1848 Kern area became United States
territory with the signing of Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo.
1849 Passage of Death Valley
‘49ers through eastern Kern.
1850 California became 31st state with future
Kern included in Mariposa County.Lt. Derby survey of valley.
1851 United States opened treaty negotiations
with Indians of San Joaquin Valley.
1852 Tulare County created, included Kern
County of today. First purebred cattle brought to Kern.
Edward F. Beale arrived as superintendent of Indian affairs (1852-1854).
1853 Gold discovered in Greenhorn Gulch. First
sheep raising in county.
Gordon’s Ferry on Kern River established.
Williamson-Parke railroad survey.
Name for San Joaquin Valley generally accepted.First settlers in South Fork Valley.
Tejon (Sebastian) Indian Reservation established.
Town of Keyesville, first called Hogeye, named for Captain Richard M. Keyes.
Town of Petersburg, later called Greenhorn, named for Peter Gardett.
1854 Kern gold excitement began.
Fremant’s fifth expedition passed through Kern.
First settlers in Tehachapi and Lynn’s Valleys.
Asphalt discovered near Reward.
Fort Tejon established Aug. 10, in Canada de Los Uvas, to protect Indians, settlers and
communties.
1855 Gold rush to upper Kern.
First quartz mills in county at Keyesville.
First attempts to organize Kern County, proposed as Buena Vista County.
Beale acquired La Liebie Rancho, first of the four Mexican grants which later made up the
present
Tejon Ranch Co.
1856 Bull Road completed over Greenhorn by William P. Lynn.
1857 United States Camel Carps reached Fort Tejon.
First postoffice in Kern County at Keyesville.
Great earthquake at Fort Tejon.
First settler in Walker Basin.
Town of Glennville established, named for John M. Glenn.
1858 Butterfield Overland stage began operations through Kern.
Telegraph reached Fort Tejon from Los Angeles.
1859 Lover’s Crossing settlement established in Lynn’s
Valley.
1860 Telegraph service from Los Angeles to San Francisco through
Kern.
Christian Bohna first to settle at Kern Island an future
site of Bakersfield.
1861 Big Blue Mine discovered by Lovely Rogers.
Mt. Sinai Mining District established.
1862 Beginning of mining on Piute Mountain.
Kern River flood destroyed many mining operations.
Town of Woody began, named for Dr. Sparrel W. Woody.
First cotton grown by Harvey S. Skiles.
1863 Colonel Thomas Baker
began reclaiming Kern delta swampland.
Long Tom Mining District established.
Town of Whiskey Flat established, also known as Williamsburg.
Brewer expedition through Kern.
1864 Whiskey Flat renamed Kernville.
Gold discovered at Havilah.
McFarlane Road completed aver Greenhorn.
First alfalfa grown in Kern by Thomas H. Barnes.
Fort Tejon abandoned.
1865 Town of Havilah laid out.
Mead and Clark began stage services between Havilah and Visalia.
J.J. Tamlinson began stage services between Havilah and Los Angeles.
Buena Vista Oil Refinery began operations in Temblor area.
Plans pushed far creaticn of Kern County.
Mason and Henry gang active in Kern County.
1867 First Protestant Church in Kern County built
at Glennville. It is still in use today.
Con't of Significance in Kern County
1866-1891 coming soon
Page last updated 09/05/01
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