The Southwest contains major residential, commercial, and industrial sectors, as well as parks, shopping districts, and a four-year university.

Like other regions in Bakersfield, most districts and neighborhood boundaries in the Southwest vary depending on who a person talks to.

Centered around California Avenue and Mohawk Street is Bakersfield's Financial District.

[2] Chevron, Occidental Petroleum, and other companies were also located there, but have since moved to larger buildings farther to the southwest.

Oil well pumping units are scattered throughout the district, mainly in the parking lots.

Some of the tanks for storing the pumped oil are located just east of the intersection of Truxtun Avenue and Mohawk Street.

Located along Stockdale Highway, between the Kern River and Calloway Drive, it is a mixture of commercial and retail shopping.

The centerpiece to the development is The Park at River Walk, which contains two artificial lakes and a meandering stream.