Signal Hill is a city in area in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Partially high on an eponymous 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 2020 census, the population was 11,848, up from 11,016 at the 2010 census.
Etymology
Signal Hill was originally known as Los Cerritos ("The Little Hills") but got its current name when it became the signal point of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey in 1889.
thumb|Aerial view of Signal Hill oilfield in 1930
History
The hill that the city is named after is above the surrounding city of Long Beach. Because of this height, it was used by the local Tongva Indians for signal fires that could be seen throughout the surrounding area and even out to Catalina Island, away.
After the Spanish claimed Alta California ("Upper California," or what is now the state of California), Signal Hill eventually became part of the first large rancho grant to be allotted under Spanish rule in Alta California. The Rancho San Pedro (Dominguez Rancho) land grant exceeded as granted to a soldier, Juan Jose Dominguez, who accompanied Junipero Serra, by Governor Fages through authority of King Carlos III of Spain in 1784.
Between 1913 and 1923 an early California movie studio, Balboa Amusement Producing Company (also known as Balboa Studios), was located in Long Beach and used 11 acres (45,000 m<sup>2</sup>) on Signal Hill for outdoor locations. Buster Keaton and Fatty Arbuckle were two of the Balboa Studios actors who had films shot on Signal Hill.
Before oil was discovered in Signal Hill, there were large homes built on the hill itself, and in the lower elevations there were agricultural fields where fruits, vegetables, and flowers were grown.
Discovery of oil
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 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 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.
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Gallery
Government
Signal Hill has a council-manager form of government. The city council has five members who are elected to four-year, staggered terms; council members elect the mayor from among their ranks.
On the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Signal Hill is represented by 4th District Supervisor Janice Hahn.
In the United States House of Representatives, Signal Hill is in .
In the California State Legislature, Signal Hill is in , and in .
Emergency services
The Signal Hill Police Department provides local law enforcement. In 2018, it budgeted for 38 police officers to enforce the law in the 2 square mile municipality.
Basic life support and ambulance transport is provided by Care Ambulance Service
The Long Beach Memorial Medical Center provides medical services to the City and LACFD Station 60.
The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Whittier Health Center in Whittier, serving Signal Hill.
Fire
The Los Angeles County Fire Department provides fire protection services for the city of Signal Hill.
Economy
Prior to its dissolution, the airline Jet America Airlines was headquartered in Signal Hill. The diner chain Hof's Hut is headquartered in Signal Hill.
Top employers
According to the city's 2017 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of Employees
|-
| 1
|Office Depot
|428
|-
| 2
|The Home Depot
|343
|-
| 3
|Costco
|301
|-
| 4
|Target
|265
|-
| 5
|Edge Systems LLC
|191
|-
| 6
|Warren Distributing
|163
|-
| 7
|Long Beach BMW Auto
|143
|-
| 8
|Accountable Healthcare IPA
|136
|-
| 9
|Allied Refrigeration
|130
|-
| 10
|Mercedes-Benz of Long Beach
|127
|-
|}
Education
Primary and secondary school
Public schools
Signal Hill is served by Long Beach Unified School District.
There are two operating elementary schools within the city limits: Signal Hill Elementary School and Juan Bautista Alvarado Elementary School. The former Burroughs Elementary School and adjacent Teacher Resource Center now serves as office space for the Head Start Program. Juan Bautista Alvarado Elementary School is located on the site of the former all male boarding school, the Southern California Military Academy. There is one middle school within the city limits: Jessie Elwin Nelson Academy. High school students usually attend Long Beach Polytechnic High School (usually referred to as Long Beach Poly), although some students choose to attend Long Beach Wilson Classical High School.
Signal Hill Elementary School has earned the California Achieving Schools Award, and the National Achieving Schools Award. Signal Hill and Alvarado are both California Distinguished Schools.
Colleges and universities
Community college students attend one of the two nearby campuses for Long Beach City College.
California State University, Long Beach and DeVry University are located less than away.
American University of Health Sciences (AUHS) is located within the city of Signal Hill. The university offers an education in Allied Healthcare, offering degrees such as a Bachelor and Master of Science in Nursing (BSN; MSN), Master of Science in Clinical Research (MSCR), Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Science (BSPS), and a Doctorate of Pharmacy (PharmD) program.
City parks
thumb|Hilltop Park
thumb|Sun setting over Long Beach from Signal Hill Hilltop Park.
thumb|Discovery Well Park, [[California Historical Landmark 580 - Alamitos #1, 1921]]
Although a small town, Signal Hill has several parks. The largest is Signal Hill Park at . It is adjacent to City Hall, the Community Center and the Library. The park has picnic tables, a playground, basketball courts, a softball field, and restrooms. There is also an amphitheater where there are weekly outdoor concerts during the summer.
Hilltop Park is at the top of Signal Hill and is very popular for its scenic views. There are several telescopes in the park. There is also some public artwork in the park and a mist tower. This park is a popular location for geocaching. On a clear day you can see as far as the Santa Monica Mountains, Downtown Los Angeles, the San Gabriel Mountains, and Santa Catalina Island.
Reservoir Park near the California Heights neighborhood of Long Beach is a large grassy area with picnic tables next to a 4.7 million gallon water reservoir.
Discovery Well Park , flat is near the original well on Signal Hill.
There are also six pocket parks of roughly or less, including Calbrisas Park, Hillbrook Park, Panorama Promenade, Raymond Arbor Park, Sunset View Park, and Temple View Park.
Near the Panorama Promenade, there is the Unity Sculpture, a 12' height sculpture atop a 4' pedestal with a seating courtyard that is dedicated in memory of the victims of September 11.
There are also several pedestrian-only trails that travel between various parks and roadways. Hiking along these trails, as well as on the sidewalks in Signal Hill is very popular. Some sections can be found that are between a 15% and 25% grade.
Proposed nature preserve
On the north slope of Signal Hill is a large area that is currently used for oil operations. This area has been proposed as a nature preserve.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , virtually all land. The city is surrounded on all sides by the city of Long Beach, California.
Signal Hill lies in the 562 area code. The city once shared three different postal ZIP codes with the city of Long Beach but in July 2002, the city of Signal Hill received its own ZIP code, 90755.
Climate
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Signal Hill has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.