1954 Map of Oil Center

About this map

Kern River petroleum production and the expanding urban footprint of north Bakersfield dominate this mid-century survey. The landscape is a dense network of industrial activity, characterized by the Kern River Oil Field and Kern Bluff Oil Field, where numerous oil tanks and sumps neighbor the Southern Pacific and Sunset Railway lines. Beyond the industrial zones, the map documents the growth of local institutions such as Bakersfield College and Garces High Sch. Recreational and natural landmarks provide a counterpoint to the oil industry, including the Hart Memorial Unit and the fossil-rich slopes of Sharktooth Hill. The inclusion of purple-tinted revisions from the early 1970s illustrates the rapid residential development pushing north toward the China Grade Loop and the historic settlement of Oil Center.