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1954 Map of Avenal

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Avenal
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

The Kettleman Hills oil fields dominate this mid-century landscape at the boundary of Fresno and Kings Counties. Centered on the industrial topography of North Dome, the map reveals a complex network of oil infrastructure including an Oil Refinery, numerous Oil Sumps, and multiple Booster Stations. The town of Avenal sits in the southeast corner, serving as a hub for the surrounding energy operations and providing essential services such as a Hospital and Airport.

Beyond the industrial center, the landscape transitions into the agricultural and grazing lands of Pleasant Valley and the Kettleman Plain. Private landholdings like Weeth Ranch and Starkey and Erwin Ranch punctuate the arid terrain, while drainage systems like Zapato Chino Creek and Canoas Creek carve through the Kreyenhagen Hills. This map captures a pivotal era of resource extraction and rural settlement before the large-scale water projects of the later 20th century further altered the San Joaquin Valley.