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1933 Map of Tupman

Name: 1933 Topographic Map of Tupman
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1942
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1942

About this map

Industrial encampments and extensive water engineering dominate this San Joaquin Valley landscape as it appeared during the late 1920s and early 1930s. The concentration of energy infrastructure is centered on the Elk Hills region, home to the Naval Petroleum Reserve No 1. These strategic oil fields supported multiple company settlements, including the Standard Oil Co (Tupman Camp), the Pan American Petroleum Co Camp, and the Western Water Co Camp. These self-contained camps provided essential housing for workers managing the vast petroleum resources of Kern County.

Agricultural and environmental management is visible through a complex network of waterways, including the Pioneer Canal, James and Dixon Canal, and Johnson Canal. The Kern River and Buena Vista Slough snake through the terrain, illustrating the era's reliance on both natural and man-made channels. Notable landmarks like the Mesquite Hunting Club and transportation corridors such as Bellevue Road and the Southern Pacific railroad line provide further context for the local economy and social life during this period of development.