1958 Map of Pleito Hills

About this map

Pleito Hills rise dramatically from the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, creating a rugged interface between early industrial development and the protected wilderness of the Los Padres National Forest. The 1958 survey captures a landscape defined by resource extraction and cattle ranching, with numerous Water Tanks, Oil Wells, and an Oil Sump concentrated along the northern foothills. Central to the area's geography is the Harris Ranch (Site), positioned near the headwaters of Pleito Creek, while the southern reaches are dominated by the high elevations of Antimony Pk. Deep drainage systems like Salt Creek and Black Bob Canyon carve through the terrain, linked only by a primitive Jeep Trail, reflecting the isolation of this corner of Kern County during the mid-century.