Editing Signal Hill, California (section)

==History==
The hill that the city is named after is {{convert|365|ft|m}} above the surrounding town of Long Beach. Because of this height, it was used by the local [[Tongva people|Tongva]] [[American Indians in the United States|Indian]]s for [[Smoke signal|signal fire]]s that could be seen throughout the surrounding area and even out to [[Santa Catalina Island, California|Catalina Island]], {{convert|26|mi|km}} away.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Walker|first1=Richard|title=Signal Hill park honors Gabrielinos|url=https://indiancountrymedianetwork.com/news/signal-hill-park-honors-gabrielinos/|website=[[Indian Country Media Network|Indian Country Today Media Network]]|date=October 20, 2005}}</ref>

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 {{convert|74000|acre|km2}} as granted to a soldier, [[Manuel Dominguez#Juan Jose Dominguez|Juan Jose Dominguez]], who accompanied Junipero Serra, by Governor Fages through authority of [[Charles III of Spain|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&nbsp;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.<ref name="MMS">Schmitt, R. J., Dugan, J. E., and M. R. Adamson. "Industrial Activity and Its Socioeconomic Impacts: Oil and Three Coastal California Counties." MMS OCS Study 2002-049. Coastal Research Center, Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California. MMS Cooperative Agreement Number 14-35-01-00-CA-31603. 244 pages; p. 47.</ref> On June 23, 1921, [[Royal Dutch Shell]]'s [[Alamitos oil well|Alamitos #1]] well <ref>Alamitos Well 1 Location: NE corner of Temple Ave and Hill St, Signal Hill. California Historic Landmark #580.</ref> erupted. The [[natural gas|gas]] pressure was so great the [[oil gusher|gusher]] rose {{convert|114|ft|m|abbr=on}} in the air. Soon Signal Hill was covered with over 100 [[Oil derrick#Oil derrick|oil derrick]]s, and because of its prickly appearance at a distance became known as "Porcupine Hill". Today, many of the original oil wells and [[pumpjack]]s 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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