TAFT, Calif. -- Pete Gianopulos, a retired counselor at Taft Union High School and the city's unofficial historian, had a unique view of how the city has grown over the last century.

"Oil is what got this whole thing started," he said, referring to the discovery of the Midway-Sunset oil field that sustained the city through the early years and plays such a vital role in shaping the community today.

The city was officially incorporated in 1910. The first people who settled in what is now Taft wanted to call the town's train station Moro. But the Southern Pacific Railroad, which owned much of the land, thought that would cause confusion.

"So, in its infinite wisdom, the railroad added an N to Moro, making the name Moron," Gianopulos said.

Understandably, the residents did not take too kindly to that name, and leaders eventually renamed the city after President William Howard Taft.

Devastating natural events threatened the settlement in the early days, including a fire in 1909 that destroyed much of present-day South Taft, and wind storms that knocked over hundreds of wooden derricks.

"Taft was born in a hurry, and wasn't expected to last," Gianopulos said. "And that's how many things were built here, to be temporary.

The city also endured one of the largest invasions of mice in the nation's history in 1926-27. Millions of mice emerged from the Buena Vista lake bed, covering the road from Taft to Bakersfield. The Pied Piper didn't stop the infestation, but coincidentally, a man named Stanley Piper did, eradicating an estimated 30 million mice.

"The road to Bakersfield looked like it was covered in fur," Gianopulos said.

Still, that didn't stop culture and education from planting roots in the city. Taft was home to the first motorized transportation system for public schools, Gianopulos said. Residents frequently enjoyed boxing and baseball, including a year when the Chicago Cubs held spring training in Taft.

Taft is also famous for Gardner Field, which was a facility for test pilots during World War II. Pilots like Chuck Yeager received their training at Gardner. It was also the site of an emergency landing by renowned pilot Amelia Earhart.

The city is also well-known for parades and celebrations. A women's marching band from Taft took part in the Tournament of Roses Parade in the 1920s. The city is host to the week-long Oildorado Days festival, which will be held next year. The celebration next year is expected to host the unveiling of the much-anticipated Oil Worker Monument.

When thinking about how Taft has grown over the last 99 years, Gianopulos says its growth is remarkable.

"It's been really nice," he said.