1955 Map of Coal Oil Canyon

About this map

Wheeler Ridge Oil Field dominates the southern landscape of this Kern County survey, where the steep terrain of Wheeler Ridge meets the flat expanse of the San Joaquin Valley. The map captures a significant period of water infrastructure development, noting the California Aqueduct as it cuts across the center of the sheet. To the north, the dry expanse of the Kern Lake Bed is ringed by a levee and rim, reflecting the reclamation of former wetlands for agricultural use, evidenced by the presence of a Cotton Gin and several pumping stations like the Emidio Pumping Station.