The abundance of water prompted local agriculture to erupt into a multi-million-dollar business, and the influences were felt in the towns surrounding Delano, including Richgrove, Earlimart, and Terra Bella. This collection of photographs portrays the early days of the area, including the part played by the Delano Airport in the defense of the Pacific Coast during World War II, the effects of the 1952 earthquake, and the region's most controversial agricultural labor strike.