Browse / United States / California / Bear Valley Springs
Bear Valley Springs
CaliforniaCDP
Bear Valley Springs
Total population
5,912
Median home value
$496,200
Bachelor's+
Median income
$120,481
Demographic figures from US Census Bureau · ACS 5-year estimates. Overview below cites Wikipedia and may reference a different year.
City facts
Overview
Bear Valley Springs is a guarded-gate community in Kern County, California, United States. The unincorporated community is in the Tehachapi Mountains and is part of the greater Tehachapi area. The elevation ranges from 4,121 feet (1,256 m) to 6,934 feet (2,113 m). The population fluctuates between a low during the winter months when snow is common, to a high in the summer months when its elevation keeps it much cooler than surrounding areas and major cities. The population was 5,592 at the 2020 census, up from 5,172 at the 2010 census. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Bear Valley Springs as a census-designated place (CDP). The census definition of the area may not precisely correspond to local understanding of the area with the same name.
Read more on WikipediaHistory & geography
History
While the nation had pushed to the western coast, the land the Fickert family settled in 1869 was still isolated and remote. For centuries, it had been the realm of Native Americans. Over the years, after purchasing squatter's rights to , the Fickerts expanded their holdings until, by the 1900s their ranch encompassed a vast region of . By 1959, the last of the immediate Fickert family were gone, joining their kin who had gone before in the tiny family cemetery just up the hill from the main house. Dart Resorts purchased the ranch from the Fickert heirs. Resource Ecology Associates was employed by Dart to plan and maintain the original natural value of the property, including wildlife. Bear Valley Springs was born. The first sales of property were in late 1970 with a full sales team starting January 1971. The project was sold out in November 1977. The Bear Valley Springs Community Services District was formed to act as a nonprofit organization for management and maintenance of the water, roads, and police protection. The Bear Valley Springs Property Owners Association was formed to administer the amenity package. Together they insure the upkeep of the facilities of Bear Valley Springs. The original concept was a second home destination resort where families could come to spend a weekend or longer and have a complete amenities package. The concept changed from second homes to full-time residents, approximately 3,700 homes. Former President Ronald Reagan bought a ranch in BVS . A number of athletes and TV/movie stars have made BVS their home.
Excerpted from the corresponding Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA).
Demographics & economy
Race & ethnicity
Source: US Census Bureau — American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.
Geography
Coordinates & boundaries from the US Census TIGER/Line shapefiles.
Climate
Current forecast
Forecast for Bear Valley Springs, CA from NOAA NWS API.
Air quality
Industrial & pollution facilities
Natural hazard risk
Health (adults)
Age-adjusted prevalence estimates from CDC PLACES (latest release).
Walkability
Amenities nearby
Wildlife & biodiversity
Schools
Largest nearby schools
- Arvin HighHigh · Arvin · 2,786 students · 25.8:1 ratio
- El Camino Real ElementaryElementary · Arvin · 833 students · 23.1:1 ratio
- Grow Academy ArvinElementary · Arvin · 824 students · 23.5:1 ratio
- Bear Mountain ElementaryElementary · Arvin · 745 students · 20.1:1 ratio
- Sierra Vista ElementaryElementary · Arvin · 729 students · 23.5:1 ratio
- Haven Drive MiddleMiddle · Arvin · 639 students · 20:1 ratio
- Cummings Valley ElementaryElementary · Tehachapi · 586 students · 24.4:1 ratio
- Di Giorgio ElementaryElementary · Arvin · 229 students · 22.9:1 ratio
Public K–12 schools within ~10 mi from Urban Institute Education Data Portal (NCES Common Core of Data, 2022).
Earthquake history
Photos
Sights & places nearby
Notable people from here
Nearby places in California
- Arvin9.2 mi away · pop. 19,539
- Mountain Meadows14.6 mi away
- Lamont15.1 mi away · pop. 13,164
- Mettler18.9 mi away
- Potomac Park21 mi away
- Cottonwood21.3 mi away · pop. 3,107
- Casa Loma21.8 mi away
- Lakeside23.7 mi away · pop. 807
- Old Stine24.3 mi away
- Old River25.4 mi away
- Olde Stockdale25.9 mi away
- Lebec26.5 mi away
Geography & sun
Elevation, sunrise/sunset and daylight from Open-Meteo. Solar climatology from NASA POWER.
Nearby airports
Public attention
Pageview totals from the Wikimedia Pageviews API.
Books about Bear Valley Springs


![Three years in California [1846-1849]](https://covers.openlibrary.org/b/id/6119339-M.jpg)





Search results from Open Library.
Recent natural events nearby
- Wildfire BUZZARD, Kern, CaliforniaWildfires · 2026-08-05 · 24 mi
- Wildfire RIDGE, Los Angeles, CaliforniaWildfires · 2026-08-07 · 28 mi
- Wildfire PLAINS, San Luis Obispo, CaliforniaWildfires · 2026-08-12 · 77 mi
- Prescribed Fire CRAWFORD CORRAL RX, Tulare, CaliforniaWildfires · 2026-09-19 · 100 mi
- Wildfire Plaskett, Monterey, CaliforniaWildfires · 2026-08-26 · 162 mi
- Wildfire DOME, Mariposa, CaliforniaWildfires · 2026-09-15 · 173 mi
- Wildfire Timber, Monterey, CaliforniaWildfires · 2026-08-09 · 185 mi
- Wildfire GANN, Calaveras, CaliforniaWildfires · 2026-08-03 · 234 mi
Wildfires, storms and other events from NASA EONET (last 12 months, within 250 mi).
Ground air-quality sensors
Recently spotted species









Research-grade observations from iNaturalist (within ~15 mi).
Nearest stream gauge
Events
Gallery
Sources
- • Wikipedia
- • US Census Bureau (ACS 5-year estimates)
- • NOAA National Weather Service
- • Wikidata
- • NCES via Urban Institute Education Data Portal
- • iNaturalist
- • CDC PLACES
- • Open-Meteo / sunrise-sunset.org
- • Wikipedia Pageviews API
- • Open Library
- • NASA EONET