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Edward L. Doheny's Petroleum Development Company
This photograph captures an early 20th-century scene of oil derricks surrounding a reflective body of water, labeled as "Lake of Oil," near Bakersfield in Kern County, California. Kern County played pivotal roles in the early development of California's oil industry. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this region became a hub for oil exploration and production, particularly following the discovery of the prolific Kern River Oil Field in 1899.
Kern County's abundant oil reserves significantly contributed to California's rise as a leading oil-producing state in the United States. Companies such as the Petroleum Development Company (co-founded by Edward L. Doheny), mentioned in the photograph, were instrumental in exploiting these resources, facilitating the growth of infrastructure to support drilling and transportation. The proliferation of wooden derricks, as seen in the image, highlights the intensive extraction efforts characteristic of the era. These developments not only shaped the local economy but also established Kern County as a cornerstone of California's energy industry, influencing industrialization and urbanization throughout the state.
Edward L. Doheny, a key figure in early California oil development, co-founded the Petroleum Development Company in the late 19th century, pioneering oil exploration in Los Angeles and beyond. In 1892, Doheny and his partner Charles A. Canfield struck oil near present-day Dodger Stadium, sparking the Los Angeles oil boom. Expanding their operations, the Petroleum Development Company played a crucial role in early drilling efforts in Bakersfield, Kern County, an area that would become one of California’s most productive oil regions. Their work helped establish Kern County as a major center of petroleum production, attracting further investment and advancing oil extraction techniques that shaped California’s rise as an oil-producing powerhouse.
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