1933 Map of Avenal Gap

About this map

Kettleman Hills dominate this portion of the western San Joaquin Valley, where the topographical complexity of Middle Dome and South Dome meets the flat expanses of the Antelope Plain. In the early 1930s, this landscape was defined by its transition from the steep ridges of Pintojo Ridge and El Caballete to the open ranching or petroleum lands near the Kings and Kern County line. The settlement of Devils Den and the nearby Devils Den Sch represent the sparse human footprint in this arid region, anchored by established travel routes like the Bakersfield Road and Coalinga Road. Seasonal drainage patterns are clearly marked by several arroyos, including Arroyo Toxo and Arroyo Ancho, which cut through the hills toward the Kettleman Plain. This survey captures the area just as the development of the Kettleman Hills oil fields was reshaping the local economy and infrastructure.