Bakersfield population, economy continues to grow

As a Washington Post article about Bakersfield's growth has been circulating throughout social media feeds in Kern County, David Lyman, a manager at Visit Bakersfield says he's not surprised about the boom.

"The prices in coastal California are way too high, so people are looking inland," Lyman said. But, the low cost of living isn't Bakersfield's only attractive quality, he added.

Bakersfield, California's ninth largest city, sits between several popular destinations it's residents can conveniently commute to, Lyman said.

"Bakersfield is only two to three hours from several national parks" he said, and only a few hours from many coastal cities.

Crysta Wilderson, 26, says the location is one reason she loves being a Bakersfield resident.

"We're close enough to the beach and the mountains that you do to get away on the weekend and come back in time for work, Wilderson said.

The National Association of Realtors rates Bakersfield in their top cities to live in for millennials, according to a report they published in April.

Their report shows that in 2017, millennials who bought homes in Bakersfield made up 67 percent of the people who moved here.

More growth has also accounted for some challenges in the city, including an uptick in homelessness and homicides. Lyman said that's an unfortunate trait for many growing cities, but it won't deter people from coming here.