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Taft, a town in Kern County, southwest of Bakersfield, owes its existence to oil production.
This bird’s-eye view of Taft, California, showcases the area’s early 20th-century prominence as a hub of oil production. The foreground is dominated by wooden oil derricks, scattered across the rugged landscape, a testament to the region's oil boom. Dirt roads weave between the derricks, leading into a densely built town visible in the middle ground. The town is characterized by modest buildings, likely housing workers and businesses supporting the oil industry.
In the distance, more oil derricks dot the plains and hills, extending the industrial landscape to the horizon. The lack of vegetation and the visible oil infrastructure highlight the transformation of the natural environment for energy extraction. This scene reflects the critical role of oil in shaping Taft’s economy and its identity during the height of California’s petroleum industry expansion.
The photograph evokes the oil-greed depicted in Paul Thomas Anderson's epic film, There Will Be Blood, which was inspired by Upton Sinclair's novel Oil!, which itself was based on the life of Edward L. Doheny. In May 1899 Doheny, already a veteran oil man, bought up land surrounding the initial Kern River strike discovered by Jonathan Elwood. By the early 1920s big corporations largely pushed the independent oil man aside.
