Named after the 27th U.S. President, William Taft, the city is an oil-centric suburb outside Bakersfield. With a population of 7,000, this sunny city has a well-established history in Kern County – California's energy production capital. Companies such as AERA Energy and Exxon Mobil operate at Midway-Sunset Field, the largest oil field in the country. Beyond its industry, Taft draws potential homeowners with lower housing prices than surrounding areas and a rural atmosphere. "Taft has so much potential, and it continues to grow," says Paris Davis, an area local and broker at The Davis Group Real Estate. "This little town is the gateway to California's coast. It has beautiful, scenic roads that lead to the mountains and the beaches. Taft should be on people's horizons."
Taft is an amenity rich community with parks, stellar schools and more.
Iconic Taft Water Tower stands tall against the sky.
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Eclectic bungalows and low prices
Taft has Craftsman and ranch-style homes with Spanish architectural influence, stucco walls and tile roofs. One neighborhood is Ford City , which features eclectic bungalows on sandy lots. The median single-family home price is about $230,000, nearly half the value of the nationwide median. Houses are lower compared to the California market, representing less than a third of the statewide median. "In 2020, when Bakersfield prices began to skyrocket, lots of families moved here because of the lower home prices and a short commute," Davis says.
Taft's updated mid-century home with solar innovation.
Taft's elegant two-story home boasts a tile-roofed, two-car garage.
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Mexican cantinas in an Old West center
The city center is reminiscent of the Old West, with sunny streets and 20th-century storefronts. Mexican restaurants and cantinas are among the city's most popular eateries. Supermarkets and locally owned grocery stores are along California state Route 33. The local retail hub is Center Street, with attractions like the Taft Fox Theater, an Art Deco cinema with three screens.
Black Gold Brewing Co. in the heart of Taft.
Captivating downtown Taft store fronts invite exploration.
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Museums, monuments and the Oildorado festival
The energy industry is evident in local culture. The West Kern Oil Museum presents Taft's oil history with antique artifacts and equipment at the site of an old well. Every five years, Kern County comes to Taft for Oildorado, a 10-day event in October with oil field competitions and a "shootout" between the Sherriff's posse and a group of outlaws.
Taft's oil worker memorial, a tribute to industry dedication.
Explore history at the West Kern Oil Museum in Taft.
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Taft schools and the Oil-Technology Academy
The Taft City School District serves about 2,500 elementary and middle school students, earning a C-minus grade from Niche. With around 1,000 students, the Taft Union High School District, which receives a B grade, is ranked the fifth best in the Bakersfield area, according to Niche. The district also offers the Oil-Technology Academy, which teaches students about working in the petroleum industry. Taft College is a post-secondary, two-year school with on-campus housing.
Lincoln Junior High School
Public Middle School
Taft, CA
Taft Union High School
Public High School
Taft, CA
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Green spaces and the local trail system
The Franklin Field Complex is a 67-acre area with playgrounds and baseball diamonds. The West Side Community Center features a bowling alley. Those walking along the 4-mile Rails to Trails paved path with views of rolling plains may find themselves beside the Oil Worker Monument, the largest bronze sculpture west of the Mississippi, paying homage to workers from the early 1900s.
Lush green lawn at "A" Street Park in Taft.
Veteran's Memorial Park Taft, CA
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Using the TAT and reaching Bakersfield
The Taft Area Transit (TAT) is a public bus system that travels through the city and to neighboring Maricopa. California state Route 119 leads to Bakersfield, a significant city center about 36 miles northeast. The Meadows Field Airport in Bakersfield provides domestic flights to U.S. cities such as Denver, Dallas and Phoenix.
Crime graphics tool and air quality issues
The city has a desert climate with hot summers and heat waves over 100 °F. Like many cities in central California, Taft tends to also have poor air quality because of the region's geography and oil production.
Crime data in Taft is not readily available.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
