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1951 Map of Maricopa

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Maricopa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1951
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1951

About this map

The petroleum industry at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley is the defining characteristic of this landscape. The settlement of Maricopa sits at the junction of several arterial roads, surrounded by extensive Oil Wells and industrial infrastructure such as the Norwalk Oil Refinery and the Standard Oil Signa Sta. This 1951 edition highlights the density of the oil fields, where pipelines and sumps cross the terrain toward the Midway Valley.

West of the industrial activity, the topography rises sharply into the Temblor Range, marked by deep cuts like Devils Gulch. These arid uplands transition into the Elkhorn Plain and Beam Flat along the county line. Notable local landmarks for researchers include the Maricopa Airport, the small park at Capitola Park, and the unpotable waters of Bitterwater Spring, providing a clear record of the area's available resources and development during the mid-century oil boom.