On July 21 , 1952 , an earthquake occurred with the epicenter about south of Bakersfield . It measured 7.3 on the moment magnitude scale and killed 12 people . In addition to the deaths , it was responsible for hundreds of injuries and more than $ 60 million in property damage . The main shock was felt over much of California and as far away as Phoenix , Arizona and Reno , Nevada . The earthquake occurred on the White Wolf Fault and was the strongest to occur in California since the 1906 San Francisco earthquake . Tehachapi suffered the greatest damage and loss of life from the earthquake , though its effects were widely felt throughout central and southern California . The event had a significant aftershock sequence that persisted into July and August with the strongest coming on August 22 , an M5 .8 event with a maximum perceived intensity of VIII ( Severe ) and resulted in two additional deaths and an additional $ 10 million in property damage . Repercussions of the sequence of earthquakes were still being felt in the heavily damaged downtown area of Bakersfield well into the 1990s as city leaders attempted to improve safety of the surviving non-reinforced masonry buildings
1906 San Francisco earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
Kern County, California