page_title: Signal Hill, California
section_title: Discovery of oil
hierarchical_section_title: Signal Hill, California / History / Discovery of oil
caption_attribution_description: English: Panoramic view of Long Beach, California, as seen from Skyline Drive on Signal Hill.
context_page_description: Signal Hill is a city in Los Angeles County, California. Situated high on a hill, the city is an enclave completely surrounded by the city of Long Beach. Signal Hill was incorporated on April 22, 1924, roughly three years after oil was discovered there. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 11,016.
context_section_description: Signal Hill changed forever when oil was discovered. The hill would soon become part of the Long Beach Oil Field, one of the most productive oil fields in the world. On June 23, 1921, Royal Dutch Shell's Alamitos #1 well  erupted. The gas pressure was so great the gusher rose 114 ft (35 m) in the air. Soon Signal Hill was covered with over 100 oil derricks, and because of its prickly appearance at a distance became known as "Porcupine Hill". Today, many of the original oil wells and pumpjacks are gone, although Signal Hill is still a productive oil field and several wells and derricks still remain. Signal Hill is now a mix of residential and commercial areas.
  The city was incorporated on April 22, 1924. Among the reasons for incorporation was avoiding annexation by Long Beach with its zoning restrictions and per-barrel oil tax. Proving to be a progressive city, Signal Hill elected as its first mayor, Mrs. Jessie Nelson. She was California's first female mayor.
caption: View of Long Beach from Skyline Drive on Signal Hill.
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