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1954 Map of Tupman

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Tupman
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1970
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1970

About this map

The settlement of Tupman serves as the focal point for this landscape where industrial extraction and conservation collide. Significant portions of the map are dedicated to the North Coles Levee Oil Field and the South Coles Levee Oil Field, illustrating the intensive petroleum development within the Naval Petroleum Reserve No 1. Amidst this industrial footprint, the Tule Elk Reserve State Park provides a notable contrast in land use, while small enclaves like the Mesquite Hunting Club and Western Water Co Camp suggest the specialized communities that formed in this part of Kern County.

Water management is visibly critical to the region's character, evidenced by the complex network of the Bypass Channel, Main Canal, and the California Aqueduct. The presence of the Elk Hill School and family-scale ranching at Buena Vista Ranch offers a glimpse into the local social fabric during this era of mid-century growth. Traces of historical transport include the Southern Pacific rail line and numerous pipelines connecting the oil fields to the wider California economy.