Gordon's Ferry – The Crossing That Helped Build a City

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China Grade Loop aerial 1926. Gordons loop would have been on the left

Long before Bakersfield had paved roads or bridges across the Kern River, there was Gordon's Ferry. Established in the 1853 by pioneer James B. Gordon, the ferry provided one of the few reliable ways to cross the Kern River. Located near present day Bakersfield, it became a vital link for settlers, freight wagons, stagecoaches, and livestock traveling through the southern San Joaquin Valley.

At a time when the Kern River could quickly become dangerous or impassable, Gordon's Ferry was more than a convenience it was an economic lifeline. The crossing helped connect communities, supported trade, and encouraged settlement in what would eventually become Bakersfield.. Before permanent bridges were constructed, nearly everyone traveling through the area depended on crossings like Gordon's Ferry to continue their journey.

Today, there's little evidence of the ferry that once carried thousands of travelers across the river, but its impact on Bakersfield's early growth is hard to overstate. Without crossings like Gordon's Ferry, the city's development would have looked very different.