Kern County becomes part of Mexico. John C. Fremont expedition passes through. Second Fremont exedition passes through. Kern River is named after Edward Kern, topographer of the party. California becomes the 31st state.
Gold rush starts on the upper Kern River.
Huge earthquake, possibly an 8 on the Richter scale, hits the Fort Tejon area. It rings church bells in Los Angeles, snaps off the tops of trees and moves the earth 30 feet in places. Christain Bohna settles Kern Island, future site of Bakersfield. Thomas Baker begins reclaiming swampland in Kern River Delta 1866. Kern County is established with the county seat at Havilah.