I am so sick and tired of hearing people from Fresno talk bad about Bakersfield, as if Fresno is any better to begin with. Both Bakersfield and Fresno are equally as bad. Which one is worse? Fresno.
I’ve overheard conversations between non-natives of the central valley compare Fresno and Bakersfield, and most of the time I will hear that Fresno is a better place to live. I want to clear the air, no pun intended.
We both have bad air quality. What’s probably even more offensive to hear is when someone from Lancaster talks bad about Bakersfield. Lancaster is probably worse than both Fresno and Bakersfield combined. They’re just a little closer to Los Angeles.
Bakersfield has a smaller population, less violent crime and property theft. Despite Bakersfield being a cowboy town, I believe it has more to offer than Fresno.
According to a 2010 FBI uniform crime reports list, Fresno had a little over 150,000 more people than Bakersfield.
In 2010 Fresno had 3,034 violent crimes and 24,460 property crimes compared to Bakersfield’s 2,104 violent crimes and 15,197 property crimes. The same report also stated that Fresno had 70 forcible rape crimes compared to Bakersfield’s 34.
Take that Fresno. That is 930 less violent crimes, 9,263 less property crimes and 36 less forcible rape crimes. That means you are more likely to get violently assaulted, burglarized and raped in Fresno.
Last year my girlfriend’s best friend moved to Fresno to go to the community college there after attending BC for two years. Why anyone would move from Bakersfield to Fresno to attend another community college, I can’t fathom. It stinks just as much and it has a slightly bigger population. If you’re going to move from Bakersfield, you should probably move to a cooler place.
I am not a blind follower though. Bakersfield is not a fun place to live if you’re young and progressive. It’s extremely hot and along with the rest of the central valley, there is not much diversity in politics.
According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Bakersfield ranks eighth among 250 cities as the most conservative cities in the U.S. To put this into perspective, Bakersfield ranks higher than some places in Texas, Florida and Kansas.
Why do I think Bakersfield is a better place than Fresno, despite everything that is wrong with it?
We have an awesome record store downtown, we have a boxing gym as a music venue and we have multiple Rusty’s Pizza locations throughout town. Now all we have to do is get rid of all the close-minded people.
Melissa • Sep 16, 2012 at 9:06 pm
Your arguments are weak. As you said, Fresno has a bigger population, therefore there will be more crimes committed than Bakersfield. To compare two cities crime rates with two completely different populations is erroneous. This is the most unprofessional article I have ever read.
Steven Tomlinson • Jun 6, 2012 at 9:06 am
I’m a business major at BC here in town, I was born here and raised across the country sampling some of the united states as I grew into a young adult. I did all of this only to come home to Bakersfield and bring my wife and raise two children in a place where my family and loving friends call HOME. I came back to Bakersfield because of the conservative nature of this town, and for you to say, in reference to the conservatives, that Bakersfield needs to “get rid of all the close-minded people” is quite offensive and ultimately uncalled for. By “get[ing] rid” of conservatives, this town would lose at least one well respected business owner, at least 50 jobs, and Bakersfield would gain a host of other economic failures. This is coming from a man who has lived a liberal and eccentric life and chose to settle down as a “conservative.”
Kiel • May 2, 2012 at 10:52 pm
Find the best in the place you are. Work to make it better. No need to bad mouth your neighbors.
From Fresno with love.