Taft City in California, United States

May 13, 2022August 23, 2022 khalid 0 Comments

Taft is a city in Kern County, California, located in the foothills at the extreme southwestern end of the San Joaquin Valley. In 1909, the name changed to Taft city in honor of William Howard Taft after a fire destroyed much of the town.

Although, the city locates at the intersection of California State Routes 33 and 119. The Carrizo Plain National Monument, which lies about an hour west of town, is the closest settlement of any size.

At a height of 955 feet, the city of Taft lies 32 miles (51 Kilometers) west-southwest of Bakersfield (291 miles). The 2010 census revealed a population of 9,327 people. The city has a total land area of 15.1 square miles, according to the US Census Bureau.

Taft city view

Taft celebrates his birthday every 5 years in October. This event originated in November 1930 as a procession and civic luncheon to commemorate Taft’s 20th birthday.

Taft city is one of the few surviving communities in the United States that exists solely due to neighboring oil reserves. Even, the city is located in major petroleum and natural gas producing zone in California. Oil was discovered in late 1800 near Maricopa, about 12 kilometers south of Taft city.

On Cadet Road south of town lies Taft Correctional Institution, a private prison run by Management & Training Corporation under contract with the US Bureau of Prisons. A huge, contemporary secondary school serves the local kids.

On January 10, 2013, a shooting occurred at Taft Union High School. A 16-year-old teenager attended a science classroom with a 12 gauge shotgun and opened fire. Another 16-year-old kid was badly injured after being struck. Another student was shot at but did not sustain any injuries.

A pellet struck an instructor, causing minor head injuries. The shotgun fills with birdshot, thankfully. The gunman asks to surrender to a campus supervisor, which he did, and he brings him under arrest.