New population estimates show Bakersfield growing at a faster pace than California as a whole. Bakersfield began this year with 383,512 residents, up 1.1 percent from a year ago. That ranks the city 9th largest, just ahead of Anaheim. Our state grew by 0.85 percent to reach just past 39.5 million. Kern County’s latest estimate has it just a tad under 900,000 residents.

Sean Michael Lisle