1954 Map of Edison

About this map

Industrial and agricultural development define this mid-century landscape east of Bakersfield. The region is anchored by the Edison Oil Field and the Mountain View Oil Field, where dense patterns of wells and access roads reveal the scale of petroleum extraction in the mid-1950s. The northern portion of the map is dominated by the Southern Pacific railroad corridor, while the southern section shows the extensive A T & S F tracks serving the agricultural hub of Di Giorgio. This area illustrates the transition from oil production to intensive farming, supported by a network of numbered labor camps such as Camp 10 A, Camp 10 B, and Camp 8. Local transport is facilitated by landmarks like the Racetrack and the Winery, showing a diverse rural economy before late-twentieth-century expansion. The map also traces the natural drainage of Caliente Creek as it descends from the foothills toward the valley floor.