GOLDEN EMPIRE

This 1960s film "Golden Empire" was produced by Cal Williams and narrated by Hugh Douglas. It presents Kern County, California as a diverse, rapidly growing “Golden Empire” whose rich past and expanding industries promise an even more prosperous future.

0:00 – Kern County, in California’s San Joaquin Valley, is vast with abundant agricultural and petroleum resources.
1:16 – The county’s lifestyle is defined by outdoor living, comfortable homes, year-round gardens, and open-air gatherings.
2:02 – Industrial growth is supported by research laboratories and proximity to major markets, including mining and processing of minerals like limestone and borax.
2:35 – Mechanized agriculture is vital.
3:06 – Cotton harvesting machines are used.
3:20 – Large land-leveling machines support the production of more than 80 crops.
3:52 – Crop-dusting planes support grain farming; major vineyards thrive.
4:10 – Kern hosts the world’s largest vineyards.
4:33 – Research facilities develop new crop strains, including improved cotton varieties.
4:57 – Cotton is a major crop.
5:47 – Cotton gins separate seeds from lint; high-quality Aala cotton is processed into bales.
7:36 – Potatoes are another major industry.
8:53 – Seed potatoes are prepared and planted using advanced machinery, helping Kern produce most of California’s potato crop.
9:28 – Mechanized diggers harvest potatoes
10:38 – Grapes, a multimillion-dollar crop
11:12 – Sugar beets and livestock diversify agricultural output.
12:05 – The Kern River provides crucial water; large irrigation projects support farming.
12:55 – Statewide water projects
13:30 – Irrigation methods include overhead sprinklers.
13:41 – Oil production is a major economic force, bringing in over $200 million annually and exceeding some Middle East output.
14:27 – Historic and modern drilling techniques highlight Kern's long leadership in petroleum production.
15:02 – The Elk Hills Naval Petroleum Reserve, the world’s largest
15:29 – Refineries process petroleum into gasoline and jet fuel; natural-gas production is also significant.
16:00 – Boron mining in eastern Kern includes the world’s largest borax mine
16:42 – Industrial expansion includes graphite electrode production, limestone quarries, and salt harvesting.
17:14 – Kern produced California’s first commercial uranium ore; mining also includes gold, silver, clay, and pumice.
17:29 – Industry is attracted by the climate and low congestion
18:00 – Meadows Field is a major air hub.
18:43 – Private aircraft ownership grows
19:01 – A vast highway system connects Kern; major military air bases demonstrate the county’s aviation role.
19:18 – Edwards Air Force Base and advanced military technology, including missile testing, highlight Kern’s importance in aerospace development.
19:20 – The desert hosts the world’s largest Air Force flight center.
19:31 – The U.S. Naval Ordnance Test Station at China Lake
19:44 – Kern’s heritage is preserved at Pioneer Village
19:53 – Fort Tejon, an 1854 Army post, is being restored as a state historical monument.
20:30 – Winter sports and outdoor recreation are widely available, supporting healthy outdoor living.
20:44 – The Kern River Canyon is a scenic, granite-lined gorge leading to Lake Isabella, Southern California’s largest artificial lake.
21:00 – Lake Isabella spans over 11,000 acres, enhancing recreational opportunities.
21:12 – The Kern State Fish Hatchery raises over half a million trout annually for regional streams.
21:38 – Pack trains provide access to the primitive mountain regions.
21:51 – Lake Isabella offers year-round fishing for trout and bass.
22:10 – The lake provides water skiing, swimming, boating, and extensive camping areas along its 38-mile shoreline.
22:25 – The Kern River is renowned for rainbow trout.
23:00 – Kern County’s ski areas offer slopes for all skill levels.
23:20 – Spring wildflowers
24:05 – Kern County schools
24:27 – Modern medical facilities
24:40 – Numerous churches
24:50 – Bakersfield. The new city hall showcases Bakersfield’s civic life.
25:08 – The county’s modern civic center.
25:22 – Bakersfield is a major convention destination.
26:00 – The county’s rich history and major growth are matched by a promising future.