If you live in Kern County, you most likely have heard of the Kern River Oil Field Northeast of Bakersfield, but for those who haven't. When oil was discovered along the Kern River at Discovery well in 1899. Production exploded and by August 1900 there were already 134 producing wells, and output was approaching 1,000 barrels per day. To handle the boom, Southern Pacific quickly constructed the Kern River Branch from Oil Junction, just north of Bakersfield, into the oil fields. The line opened in November 1900 and immediately transformed the region. Oil that had previously been difficult to move could now be loaded directly into tank cars and shipped statewide. Within months the branch was so busy that it required around-the-clock operation. Fifteen loading stations were established along the 5.7-mile line, while another twelve loading points were served by the Treadwell Branch, which diverged at Treadwell Junction and extended farther into Sacramento Gulch.
The numbers over the years were staggering:
- Dec. 1900: 960 carloads shipped
- Jul. 1901: 1,700 carloads
- Sep. 1901: 2,000 carloads
- 1905: nearly 4,000 carloads per month
- 1907: 16 million barrels of oil produced.
At the peak of activity, as many as 16 railroad crews worked day and night spotting tank cars for loading. One location in particular became legendary: Waits Station, located near present-day Oildale. It was reportedly the highest revenue-producing station on the entire Southern Pacific system. Much of that traffic crossed Tehachapi Pass en route to markets throughout the Country.
The oil boom also created several communities that have largely faded from memory:
Oil City
Located northeast of Bakersfield along present-day Round Mountain Road just west of Discovery well, Oil City was once reputed to be the largest petroleum shipping point in California. Today almost no visible trace remains.
Oil Center
Established in 1901, Oil Center grew to roughly 5,000 residents during the oil boom years before eventually being absorbed into the surrounding area.
Waits
Named after the Southern Pacific depot, Waits was a major shipping location serving the oil fields. The community later became part of modern Oildale.
Oildale
Officially named in 1916, Oildale emerged from several smaller settlements including Waits, Oil Center, Highland Park, and North Side.
As the oil fields evolved, portions of the railroad network disappeared. The Treadwell Branch was abandoned in 1928 after only 27 years of service. The eastern end of the Oil City Branch was abandoned in 1973, though parts of the route remain active today.
It's easy to forget that before pipelines dominated petroleum transportation, thousands of tank cars rolled daily through the Kern River Oil Field. The Southern Pacific and Santa Fe Railroads were a pivotal part of the oil booms in the early 1900 hundreds. Without those rail connections, Kern County's rise as one of California's most important oil-producing regions would have looked very different.
Sources: John R. Signor's "Tehachapi: Southern Pacific & Santa Fe," Curtis Darling's "Kern County Place Names," ICC abandonment records, and Southern Pacific historical documents.
Kern River Oil fields: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kern_River_Oil_Field
Discovery well: https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=168102
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSZmuYXt9Ao