The following statistics were compiled by the Kern County Hispanic Chamber

Total population of Kern County = 661,645
- Hispanics comprise 38% of total population - 254,036 people

Bakersfield is one of the top 35 Hispanic markets in the United States
- Ranked #32
- 60,730 Hispanic Households in Bakersfield

Hispanic households are 52% larger than non-Hispanics
- Hispanic households = 3.8 persons per household
- Non-Hispanic households = 2.5 persons per household

Population density by community
- Delano, McFarland, Lost Hills, Wasco, Arvin/Lamont have the highest density of Latinos in Kern County - as high as 87% of total population.
- Glenville, Onyx has the lowest density, 0% to 8% Hispanic.
- Bakersfield is midrange on the spectrum, averaging 15% to 34% Hispanic, depending on neighborhood.

The Hispanic population has grown 17 times faster than non-Hispanic
- Between 1990 and 2000, the Hispanic population grew 67%
- Non-Hispanic population grew by only 4%
- Hispanics numbered 143,787 in 1990 - 240,318 in 2000.
- Non-Hispanics numbered 322,973 in 1990 - 336,277 in 2000.

Hispanics in central California are younger than non-Hispanics
-Hispanics - 65% are age 2 - 34 and 32% are age 35+
- Non-Hispanics - 44% are age 2-34 and 69% are age 35+

The future of Bakersfield is the Hispanic market
- 62% of all children age 2-5 are Hispanic
- 55% of all children age 6-11 are Hispanic
- 50% of all children age 12-17 are Hispanic
- 49% of adults age 18-34 are Hispanic
- 54% of all school age children in Kern County are Hispanic

In 2000, Hispanics in Kern County spent over $2.5 billion
- Expenditures amounted to 26% of all local spending.
- Largest expenditures were on housing, food, entertainment, clothing, medical, and education.

In 2001, Hispanics purchased/leased 23% of all new vehicles in Kern County
- Amount spent on new vehicles = $117,557,907.
- Hispanics purchased 5,564 new vehicles, a 10% increase over model year 2000.

Breakdown of expenditures by Hispanic households in 2000
- $300.3 million on groceries.
- Over $275 million on healthcare.
- Nearly $137 million dining out.
- Over $66 million on new household furnishings.
- Nearly $450 million on mortgage or rent.

California has more Hispanic owned businesses than any other state in U.S.
- 28% of all businesses in California are Hispanic owned.
- San Joaquin Valley analysis by county:

• Fresno - 8,100
• Kern - 4,762
• Tulare - 3, 671
• Merced - 2,024
• Madera - 165
• Kings - under 100
• Mariposa - under 100