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1912 Map of Coalinga

Name: 1912 Topographic Map of Coalinga
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1930
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1930

About this map

Oilfields and Oil City dominate the foothills of Anticline Ridge, illustrating the intensive petroleum development in the western San Joaquin Valley during the early 20th century. This landscape is defined by the sharp transition between the rugged Diablo Range peaks like Joaquin Rocks and the industrial activity centered on Coalinga. The map traces the critical Southern Pacific rail line serving the Alcalde Branch, which connected remote mining and drilling outposts to the broader valley markets.

South of the oil districts, the terrain shifts into the broad Pleasant Valley and the vast Kettleman Plain. Water management is evident in the northeast, where the Stinson Canal and Crescent Canal redirect flow near the historic settlement of Wheatville. This survey preserves the locations of early rural infrastructure, from the Pumping Station to numerous family-named canyons like Urruttia Canyon and Hondo Canyon.