Basque Americans in California

The presence of Basques in California dates back four centuries. Basque explorers arrived in what is now California in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.^[1] There is a significant presence of Basque-Americans in the Bakersfield area. Many of Bakersfield's oldest and most historic restaurants are Basque,^[2] including Woolgrowers, Noriega's, Pyrenees, Benji's, and Narducci's. Memorial Day weekend features the Kern County Basque Festival, sponsored by the Kern County Basque Club.^[3] This three-day festival features food, music, dance, and handball (pelota) games. Explorer Juan Bautista de Anza was of Basque heritage.