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1954 Map of Oildale

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Oildale
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1979
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

The Kern River Oil Field, Kern Front Oil Field, and Poso Creek Oil Field dominate this mid-century landscape north of Bakersfield, reflecting the intensive petroleum extraction that fueled the regional economy. The settlement of Oildale is depicted as a dense industrial and residential hub, characterized by massive Oil Tanks and several educational institutions including Standard Sch and North High Sch.

Infrastructure is anchored by the Southern Pacific and Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroads, which parallel the complex network of canals like the Kern Island Canal. To the west, the landscape transitions toward smaller settlements such as Greenacres and Fruitvale. The 1968 photo-revisions, shown in purple, highlight the rapid post-war expansion of urban areas around the County Airport and along the Kern River.