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1981 Map of Taft

Name: 1981 Topographic Map of Taft
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1982
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1982

About this map

The Naval Petroleum Reserve No 1 and Naval Petroleum Reserve No 2 dominate the center of this landscape, illustrating the critical role of energy extraction in the development of western Kern County. The map captures a complex industrial and natural geography where the arid Carrizo Plain meets the oil-rich Buena Vista Hills. The intricate infrastructure of the California Aqueduct and various sloughs like Jerry Slough underscore the massive water-management efforts required for both agriculture and settlement in the southern San Joaquin Valley.

Tectonic forces are vividly mapped through the San Andreas Rift Zone, which cuts a distinct path through the Temblor Range. To the east, the urban expansion of Bakersfield and Oildale contrasts with the specialized oil settlements of Taft, Fellows, and McKittrick. The transition from the high-desert terrain of the Caliente Range to the level expanse of the Buena Vista Lakebed reveals the varied topography that defined local commerce and travel before the late 20th-century shifts in the region's economy.