1914 Map of Caliente

About this map

Bakersfield serves as the focal point for this Kern County landscape, where the flat agricultural valley meets the rising foothills of the Sequoia National Forest. The map documents a period of transition in the early 20th century, capturing the early industrial footprint of Oil Center and Oil City along the Kern River. To the east, the engineering complexity of the era is evident where the Southern Pacific tracks navigate the steep ascent toward The Loop, a famous spiral designed to overcome the elevation of the Tehachapi Pass.