Surrounded by Long Beach, the relatively small city of Signal Hill has a
rich and colorful history. Because they used the hill as a view and
signal point for the surrounding ranchos, early Spanish settlers called
the area Loma Sental, which translates to Signal Hill. At the turn of
the 20th century, large estate homes were built to take advantage of the
magnificent views and coastal breezes. Then came the oil. On June 23,
1921, Royal Dutch Shell Oil Company hit the first gusher, signaling the
start of one of the most productive oil fields in the world. In fact,
the area was so dense with derricks during the mid-century it earned the
moniker Porcupine Hill. Today, though oil is still being pumped, the
community also proudly boasts stately hillside homes with commanding
views of the coastline of Long Beach and Catalina.