1953 Map of Kettleman Plain

About this map

Industrial infrastructure meets the arid ridges of the Kettleman Hills in this mid-century survey of the California oil fields. The landscape is defined by the extraction economy of the 1950s, dotted with oil wells, pumping stations, and oil tanks that follow the geology of the hills. Named outposts such as El Paso, El Campo, and El Dambo are scattered along the rising terrain, while Reef Station serves as a focal point in the lower Kettleman Plain. To the west, the topography shifts toward the Kreyenhagen Hills and Reef Ridge, where seasonal drainage from Arroyo Mellado and Big Tar Creek carves through the dry valleys. The straight lines of Tehama Avenue and Utica Avenue provide a stark geometric contrast to the winding tracks of Skyline Road and the natural contours of Drillers Hill.