1933 Map of Kettleman Plain

About this map

An industrializing landscape emerges across the Kettleman Plain in this early 1930s survey, dominated by the vital Oil Pumping Sta along the highway. The map illustrates the region's transition into a major energy hub, with complex topography spanning from Reef Ridge to the Kettleman Hills. Numerous drainage features like Arroyo de las Panochas and Arroyo El Paso cut through the foothills, indicating the seasonal water patterns of the Central Valley. The layout of the State Highway No. 138 reveals the early infrastructure connecting these oil fields to Bakersfield and Lemoore. Prominent landmarks such as Bullwheel Ridge and Block Hill provide vertical context to the vast flatlands of the Mc Lure Valley, which extends into the southwestern corner of the quadrangle.