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1933 Map of Oil Center

Name: 1933 Topographic Map of Oil Center
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1933
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1933

About this map

The Kern River Oil Field dominates this 1930s landscape, illustrating the industrial footprint of petroleum extraction north of Bakersfield. The map captures the specialized infrastructure of the era, from the concentration of workers at the Oil Center (P.O.) to small company-driven settlements like Oil City and Treadwell. The social fabric of these oil communities is revealed through localized institutions such as Petroleum Sch, Aztec Sch, and Toltec Sch.

Hydrological management for the arid region is clearly defined by the winding Kern River and its accompanying irrigation systems, including the Beardsley Canal and South Side Canal. While the northern portion of the sheet is industrial, the southern edge shows the early urban expansion of Bakersfield, featuring Nile Street and the Kern County General Hospital. This survey provides a precise look at the transition from wildcatting to established industrial operations just before mid-century.