1956 Map of Coalinga

About this map

Coalinga sits at the nexus of California's energy and agricultural history, flanked by the Coalinga Oil Field and the Pleasant Valley Oil Field. The landscape is defined by the industrial grid of the Oilfields to the north and the seasonal paths of Los Gatos Creek and Warthan Creek. Significant mid-century infrastructure supports the town, including the Southern Pacific railroad and the Coalinga Pumping Station. Local education and community life are grounded in the presence of the Jr College, High School, and neighborhood sites like Sunset School and Cheney School. The 1970s-era urban expansion, marked in purple, shows the growth of the residential core south toward Jayne Ave and the Drive-in Theater. Small-scale features such as the Cemetery and the settlement at Ora provide essential touchstones for genealogical research in this San Joaquin Valley region.