1914 Map of Lost Hills

About this map

The San Joaquin Valley is the primary setting for this early twentieth-century survey, revealing a landscape defined by sparse water sources and the rise of the Lost Hills and Kettleman Hills. Topography from a 1907-1908 survey shows the Antelope Plain before the massive expansion of the regional petroleum industry, focusing instead on early landmarks like the Dudley-Lemoore Road and isolated outposts such as McDonalds Ranch. The map highlights the critical importance of water in this arid stretch of Kings and Kern counties, marking the County Well, Alamo Solo Spr, and Bitterwater Creek. Tracing the edge of the Temblor Range, the survey documents natural features such as Avenal Gap and Pyramid Hills that would later become synonymous with the California oil boom.