Isabella Lake & Dam ...
A relatively new addition to the Southern Sierras, the construction of Isabella Dam was completed in 1953 and serves agricultural, hydroelectric and flood control interests. Contained by the dam in the Kern River Valley is approximately 11,000 surface acres of water known as Isabella Lake, which provides residents and visitors with plenty of water activities. Isabella Lake is the largest fresh-water lake in California.

Lake Isabella ...
Known as just plain Isabella before the dam was built, Lake Isabella was named by Steven Barton in honor of Queen Isabella of Spain in the late 1800s. Barton believed Queen Isabella had never been fully recognized for her contributions to the New World.

Bodfish ...
Named after George Bodfish when U.S. Post Office was started in 1892, next to the flume. George Bodfish had a mine in the Bodfish Canyon, which still bears his name. Every once in a while tourists still come to catch themselves one of the elusive bodfish.

Kernville ...
In 1860, a mining camp was given the name of Whiskey Flat when a crude saloon was fashioned with two whiskey barrels and a plank was set atop them. When the dam was built in the early 1950s, the town was moved north to its present location and named Kernville.

Wofford Heights ...
Irven Wofford, a former rodeo cowboy and successful rancher, subdivided portions of his ranch in the late 1940s, when Isabella Dam was being built. The town was named after him and became known as Wofford Heights.

Keysville ...
Settled in 1855 after gold was discovered. In 1862, when it was flooded only two main mines, Keys & Mammoth, continued to operate for approx. 10 years. Named after Richard Keys founder of Keys Mine.

Riverkern ...
Taking it’s name from the scenic Kern, this quaint little town sits alongside the river and now offers a variety of amenities to visitors and residents of the Kern River Valley.

Fairview ...
Fairview was named in the 1920s by Matt Burlando. At that time he owned a store and a pack-station in the small community next to the Kern River and later moved down river to Kernville.

Roads End ...
Originally the "end of the road" before the power plant was put in, the community took this name when the road was extended in the 1920s.

Havilah ...
The town of Havilah drew it’s name from the Bible, (Genesis 2:11). On April 2, 1866 Havilah became the first county seat for pioneer Kern County.

Kern River ...
Discovered in 1845, the Kern River was founded on one of John C. Freemont’s expeditions west for the government. He named the river after cartographer Edward Kern who had come with Freemont to map out the western region of the United States. In 1987 congress designated it part of the National Wild and Scenic River System.

Weldon ...
This small area in the Kern River Valley was founded in 1859. The founder, William Weldon, gave his name to the community.

Onyx ...
Allegedly this name came into being when William Scodie’s daughter found the word meaning gemstone in the dictionary and she liked it. Scodie’s first choice was to have the town named after himself but that name was denied by the Post Office because it was to close to the name Scotia, in Humboldt County.

Walker Basin ...
Valley traveler, Joseph R. Walker, named this section of the valley after himself.

Canebrake ...
In the 1840s Lieutenant Williamson was looking for a route for the railroad when he came across Indians harvesting cane to use for sugar. Canebrake was named after this scene.

Fay Canyon ...
Fay Canyon was named in the 1860s after Fay Ranch owner, Alvin Fay.

Greenhorn ...
Greenhorn Mountain is home to the local ski resort, Shirley Meadows.

Squirrel Valley ...
This section of land above Mtn. Mesa, once known as Lynch Canyon, was named by Bill Kissack in 1851.

Southlake ...
Purchased and named by Bill and Roberta Joughin, this subdivision got its name because of its location at the southern end of the lake.

Johnsondale ...
Johnsondale was named after a logger by the name of Walter S. Johnson in 1935.

Mountain Mesa ...
Ranch land owned by Bill and Grace Kissack, a local pioneer family, stated the oak-studded valley has been called Mountain Mesa for as long as anyone can remember. "Mesa" , as defined in the dictionary, means flat top table.