1953 Map of Shale Point

About this map

Twisselmann Ranch sits at the heart of this dryland landscape, marking a point of human settlement between the rugged Temblor Range and the expanding industrial infrastructure of the North Antelope Hills Oil Field. In the early 1950s, this area of Kern County was characterized by its reliance on dispersed water sources and mineral extraction. The map reveals a network of vital springs tucked into the higher elevations, including Alex Cook Spr, Napoleon Spr, and Cedar Spr. These water points contrast with the industrial activity signaled by Oil Tanks and several Test Wells scattered across the Antelope Plain. Topographically, the transition from the high ridges of the Shale Hills down to the Bitterwater Valley illustrates the drainage patterns of ephemeral streams like Bitterwater Creek and Packwood Cr, which shaped the ranching and resource-gathering efforts of the era.