Wofford Heights is a census-designated place in Kern County, California, set in the Kern River Valley of the southern Sierra Nevada at an elevation of about 2,700 feet. It fronts the western shore of Lake Isabella and lies a few miles south of Kernville, the valley's historic town, along California State Route 155, the only highway through the community. The settlement began in 1948, when founder I. L. Wofford laid out a resort on the hillside above the lake, and a post office followed in 1953. For decades the area has functioned as a recreation retreat, drawing visitors to the lake and the Kern River and to the surrounding Sequoia National Forest. The community had a brief brush with Hollywood as a filming location for the 1970 biker film Angels Die Hard. Wildfire has also shaped the modern community: the Erskine and Cedar fires in 2016 burned tens of thousands of acres and hundreds of structures nearby, and the region is mapped within a high fire-hazard zone, a factor that continues to influence local planning and building. Wofford Heights counted 2,213 residents in the 2020 census, and its population skews toward older adults and retirees, with a median age around 60 and many single-person households. Much of the housing is seasonal or second-home oriented, reflecting the town's resort origins. Daily life is quiet and outdoors-focused: fishing, boating and camping on Lake Isabella, whitewater rafting and fly fishing on the Kern River, and hiking through the national forest. The valley's semi-arid climate brings hot summers and mild winters, supporting year-round recreation. Basic services are found in nearby Lake Isabella and Kernville, while Bakersfield, roughly an hour away, provides the nearest full-service city.