1955 Map of Coal Oil Canyon

About this map

Wheeler Ridge Oil Field dominates the southern landscape of this Kern County survey, where heavy industrial infrastructure meets the arid floor of the San Joaquin Valley. The map captures a pivotal moment of mid-century water engineering, showing the California Aqueduct (Under Construction) cutting northwest across the valley floor, alongside the projected Site for Wheeler Ridge Pumping Plant. To the north, the vast Kern Lake Bed suggests the historical hydrology of the region, now crisscrossed by the Copus Road and dotted with ranching and utility features like a Cotton Gin and several water tanks. Small pockets of local activity appear at the Lakeview Duck Club and the settlement of Lakeview, while the Fages-Zalvidea Trails Marker provides a rare nod to early California exploration routes crossing this rugged petroleum-rich terrain.