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Bakersfield, California (U.S)

Kern County

image by Blas Delgado Ortiz, 4 October 2005

Current Flag
Seal

See also:

Current Flag

Text and image(s) from American City Flags, Raven 9-10 (2002-2003), courtesy of the North American Vexillological Association, which retains copyright. Image(s) from American City Flags by permission of David B. Martucci.

Design

The field of Bakersfield’s flag is white with a narrow gold beveled border. In the center is the city’s seal with a diameter of 3 units on a field of 5 by 8 units. The seal has a gold beveled outer edge matching the field’s border. Immediately within the edge is a dark blue ring on which CITY OF BAKERSFIELD arches clockwise over the top and CALIFORNIA curves counterclockwise below, separated by a star on each side, all in gold. The field of the seal is white. On it, immediately below the blue ring, INCORPORATED arches clockwise over the top and JANUARY 11, 1898 curves counterclockwise below, all in smaller gold letters. The center of the seal bears a large dark yellow cornucopia, its mouth toward the hoist. It appears to be filled to overflowing with various fruits, mainly melons and grapes, and several stalks of grain extend from the opening.
John M. Purcell, American City Flags, Raven 9-10, 2002-2003

Symbolism

Blue and gold are the city’s official colors. The cornucopia’s abundance of fruits represents the area’s agricultural wealth.
John M. Purcell, American City Flags, Raven 9-10, 2002-2003

Selection

The Bakersfield Beautification Committee, on 2 February 1983, petitioned the city council to consider the adoption of a city flag, city colors, a city flower, and a city bird. The committee had commissioned the flag design and presented it to council.
Flag adopted: 9 March 1983 (official).
John M. Purcell, American City Flags, Raven 9-10, 2002-2003

Designer

Rick Alton, a local artist.
John M. Purcell, American City Flags, Raven 9-10, 2002-2003

More about the Flag

At the same time that it adopted the city flag and city colors, the city council adopted the Miss Bakersfield Camellia as the city flower and the western robin as its city bird.
John M. Purcell, American City Flags, Raven 9-10, 2002-2003

Extracted from www.makabusi.com/2002/07/01

BAKERSFIELD CITY FLAG

The Bakersfield City Council has recently been considering the creation of placing together a suitable memorial by inscribing "In God We Trust" either in a public place or on the City Hall building to commemorate this September 11th event.

This moment in time is most propitious to re-present the City of Bakersfield Flag. On behalf of the Founders of the Bakersfield Beautification Committee we wish to re-present the City Flag of Bakersfield as a symbol for all the citizens of Bakersfield. As you all know June the 14th is commemorated nationally as Flag Day. We wish to commit a renewed honor and dignity towards our local symbol. It is our strong desire to see our City flag flown on City Buildings.

We recommend that the City Council proudly flies this flag on all City Buildings. In order to promote pride in this symbol may we also suggest that it be included on the City's web page, together with a full explanation of all the other adopted City symbols such as the adopted Camellia as the City flower and the Western Robin as the City bird.

Dare we suggest that some different size flags be ordered to become symbols flying on official city vehicles, especially those of the City Council Members as well as for the desks of our local patriotic businessmen?

Please also consider the placement of oversize City Flags adjacent to the two static new monuments placed alongside the freeway for identity of City of Bakersfield arrival to those traveling on California State Highway Route 99 & 58. The dynamics of a large flag flying high will draw significant attention to these "gateway" monuments announcing to travelers a welcoming entry into our City Boundaries.

We do also recommend that all international dignitaries be presented certificates with the City of Bakersfield Flag as personal gifts. Likewise when Bakersfield City officials visit our international sister cities, it would be most diplomatic to provide the City of Bakersfield Flag to them as a valued gift.

The City of Bakersfield Council members under the leadership of Mayor Mary Shell adopted unanimously the City Flag and symbols at its meeting in June 1983 some 19 years ago. It is time to again fly the brilliant colors of this unique City Flag.

On behalf of all those who vested an effort in these symbols in the past may we respectfully request that this City flag be flown continuously from this day forward?

POSTSCRIPT

A Bakersfield Flag was re-presented to the Mayor, to each Councilman as well as the Police Chief and Fire Chief on the 12th of June at the City Hall Council Meeting.

It so happened that a few days later on the 14th of June National Flag Day was celebrated in the United States. One wonders when Bakerfolks will see this Bakersfield City Flag flown again on any City Buildings.

Keep a look out for this your City flag to be flown again!

By Graham Kaye-Eddie - Master Urban Designer.
Makabusi Inc. - Bakersfield - California

Submitted by Dov Gutterman, 24 December 2002

The City adopted a design for the Official Seal in January, 1898. In the center of the seal we see the cornucopia basket. What does all this mean? The cornucopia is known as "the horn of plenty" and in the Bakersfield Seal the basket is filled with the vegetables and fruit that grow in in Bakersfield.

History of the Cornucopia:
Cornucopia was first introduced into the English language in 1508. Cornucopia is also known as "the horn of plenty" and it is the emblem of the Stewards. According to myth, when the young Zeus (Jupiter) was playing with Amalthea, the goat who had suckled him in a cave on the island of Crete, and gave him everything else he needed to survive, he accidentally broke off one of her horns. To make amends, Zeus promised that from that day forward, the horn would always be filled with whatever fruit she desired. As such, the Cornucopia came to symbolize the unasked profusion of gifts from the gods. It has been used as an emblem of many deities, including Copia (Roman goddess of wealth and plenty who carries a cornucopia), Justitia (Roman goddess of justice), Spes (Roman goddess of hope), Honos (Roman deity of morality and military honor), and many others. The myth of the horn returns in the story of Hercules, who fights the river-god Achelous, who, having the power to change himself into anything, took the form of a bull. Achelous was the son of the ocean, and the god of the biggest river. Hercules breaks off one of the bull's horns, but after generously returning it, receives from Achelous the horn of plenty - the cornucopia. In Masonry, the cornucopia symbolizes peace, plenty and joy.
Blas Delgado Ortiz, 4 October 2005

Seal

image located by Paul Bassinson, 6 May 2019

Source: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/