1914 Map of Caliente

About this map

The Kern River flows through the northern reaches of this territory, where the early twentieth-century oil industry takes root at Oil Center. To the west, the flat expanse of the Joaquin Valley is punctuated by agricultural hubs like Bakersfield and Kern City, while the Southern Pacific railroad snakes eastward toward the mountains. This rail line undertakes a remarkable engineering feat at The Loop near Walong, designed to gain elevation through the steep terrain of the Kern National Forest. Moving south into the rugged foothills, large landholdings such as the Tejon Ranch dominate the landscape, alongside a network of rural schools including Rock Pile School and Cummings Valley School. The contrast between the burgeoning urban center of Bakersfield and the remote mountain outposts like Woodford Keene P O illustrates a region transitioning from isolated ranching to an industrial and transit powerhouse.