The framework for the city government is defined in the City Charter . As of 2011 , it contained 11 articles and 4 addendums . The current version was adopted on January 23 , 1915 . Little information is known about the City Charter adopted in 1873 , or in 1898 , when the city was incorporated . The City Charter has been amended several times since it was adopted . One of the more definitive amendments was to change the Mayor from an appointed position ( by the City Council ) to an elected position in 1956 , which was done as a result of the 1952 Kern County earthquake
1952 Kern County earthquake
1952 Kern County earthquake
Bakersfield, California