1978 Map of Oil Center

About this map

The Kern River carves a winding path through this central California landscape, revealing the stark transition between the developed streets of Bakersfield and the industrial terrain of the northern oil fields. This orthophotoquad provides an unvarnished aerial perspective of the region in the late 1970s, where the dense grid of residential neighborhoods in the southwest gives way to the open, rugged land surrounding the namesake settlement of Oil Center. The aerial photography highlights the topographical character of the area, specifically the distinct elevations of Round Mtn and Ant Hill that rise above the river valley. For researchers, the map clearly differentiates between the suburban expansion of the city and the specialized land use required for energy production during this era, capturing the footprint of infrastructure as it followed the natural contours of the Kern River basin.