1930 Map of Oildale

About this map

Oildale and the northern outskirts of Bakersfield are captured here during a period of significant industrial and infrastructural expansion. The landscape is defined by the convergence of major rail lines like the Southern Pacific and the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe, which serviced the burgeoning petroleum and agricultural interests of Kern County. A striking feature of this 1930 survey is the orderly grid of the Kern County Airplane Landing Field, situated just north of the Lerdo Canal. A complex network of waterways, including the Calloway Canal and the Beardsley Canal, draws from the Kern River to support the surrounding valley. Local education is well-represented by several rural institutions such as Norris Sch and Standard Sch, while small rail-side settlements like Jewetta, Oil Junction, and Seguro mark the transport hubs of the era.