1932 Map of West Elk Hills

About this map

The Naval Petroleum Reserve No 1 dominates the complex terrain of the Elk Hills in this 1932 topographic study. This area of Kern County was a critical site for American energy security during the early twentieth century, as evidenced by the extensive federal holdings shown here. Along the western edge of the hills, the settlement of McKittrick and the nearby Asphalto mark the focal points of the local economy and transport. The Southern Pacific railroad line skirts the base of the hills, providing a vital link for the region's industrial output. The McKittrick Bakersfield Highway cuts across the northern flats, connecting these oil-rich lands to the wider San Joaquin Valley. At Hillcrest Point, the map reveals the dramatic elevation changes that characterize this landscape, showing how early twentieth-century infrastructure adapted to the region's unique geography.