California is one of the nation’s largest energy producing states and a lot of that energy comes from the oil fields in or adjacent to Los Angeles, the nation’s second largest city.

Indeed, it is oil — not entertainment, aerospace or other industries that grew in its wake — that made the emergence of Los Angeles as a world city possible. This story was told recently on NPR station KPCC in a segment entitled “Before Hollywood, the oil industry made Los Angeles.” As the segment noted:

“Los Angeles is a world center for transportation, fashion, manufacturing and above all entertainment. In the heart of this metropolis, oil is hidden in plain sight. If you go on a walk to clear your head at NPR’s Culver City studios, cross the street and you’re in one of the largest producing urban oil fields in America.”

The entire segment can be listened to, or read, here.