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1953 Map of Belridge

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Belridge
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

The South Belridge Oil Field dominates this mid-century landscape of Kern County, where the industrial footprint of petroleum extraction is etched into the arid terrain. A dense network of pipelines, oil tanks, and access roads like Lerdo Highway and Seventh Standard Road defines the area's economic character. The infrastructure of the oil industry is further detailed by numerous pumping stations and a dedicated Landing Strip for remote access.

Small pockets of settlement provide a glimpse into the local community during this era, including the Lease Camp and the small residential cluster at Missouri Triangle. Educational needs for these workers' families were met at the Belridge Sch, while the natural topography of the Temblor Valley and the drainage of Chico Martinez Creek provide a stark contrast to the gridded developments of the surrounding oil fields. This map preserves a specific moment when the energy industry was the primary driver of development in this part of the San Joaquin Valley.