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1950 Map of Reward

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Reward
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

The Temblor Range dominates this landscape along the border of Kern and San Luis Obispo counties, where industrial oil extraction meets the arid terrain of the Central Valley foothills. The map reveals a dense network of energy infrastructure during the mid-century petroleum boom, specifically identifying the operations of Standard Oil, Tidewater Associated Oil, Union Oil, and the Welport Oil fields. These corporate holdings are interspersed with local landmarks like the Olig School and the settlement of Reward.

Transitioning from the industrial McKittrick Wells into the rugged interior, the map follows the Little Santa Maria Valley and numerous canyons such as Carneros Canyon and Browns Canyon. Water sources like Willow Springs and Sulphur Spring appear as vital points in this thirsty landscape, while the presence of the Cooper Ranch and Midway Mud Co illustrate the intersection of traditional ranching and the support industries required for heavy oil drilling.