After considering several locations , including nearby Delano and parts of Kings and Tulare County , a steering committee decided on Bakersfield .
At the time steering committee was the largest isolated metropolitan area in the United States without a four - year university .
After considering several locations , including nearby Delano and parts of Kings and Tulare County , a steering committee decided on Bakersfield because at the time it was the largest isolated metropolitan area in the United States without a four - year university .