In May 1899, Thomas A. Means owned the land on the north bank of the Kern River where James and Jonathan Elwood discovered oil. They first used a hand auger under the edge of the cliff while checking for oil, then moved to the top to drill, and oil surfaced from 256 feet on July 26, 1899. The Kern River Field has been the longest producing in the nation for over 100 years. As the Standard Oil Company grew in Kern County, a pipeline was constructed between here and the Pt. Richmond Refinery across from San Francisco. Standard Oil Company of California later changed its name to Chevron USA, Inc. The exploration department was located at 2401 N. Chester Avenue and can still be seen at 3311 Manor Street.