Signal Hill
Signal Hill is a small hilltop city of roughly 12,000 residents entirely surrounded by the City of Long Beach, occupying the distinctive 365-foot hill that rises above the Long Beach basin. The hill was named for the signal fires that local Tongva people once maintained on it, and the city has one of the most well-documented oil-industry histories in California (the 1921 discovery of the Signal Hill oil field triggered one of the largest oil booms in state history). Housing runs from historic single-family stock on the flatter blocks to substantial newer hillside townhomes and view homes climbing the hill, with panoramic views across the LA basin and toward the Pacific Ocean.
Signal Hill market notes.
Detailed market figures for Signal Hill are coming soon as MUVE connects each city's live data feed. In the meantime, ask a MUVE agent for current pricing, inventory, and days on market specific to your price range and target neighborhoods.
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Signal Hill's submarkets sort by elevation on the hill. The hilltop and upper hillside blocks carry the deepest view premium; the flatter blocks around the hill's base form the entry point.
- 01
Hilltop and Crescent Heights
The residential blocks on and near the hilltop, including the Crescent Heights and Hilltop Park areas. Substantial single-family homes and newer townhome complexes with panoramic 360-degree views across the LA basin, Long Beach, the Pacific Ocean, and Catalina Island.
- 02
Central Signal Hill (hillside)
The residential blocks on the mid-elevation hillside terrain. A mix of historic single-family and newer townhome and condominium construction, with substantial view lots and modern hillside architecture in several pockets.
- 03
Signal Hill flats (base)
The residential blocks on the flat terrain at the base of the hill. Historic mid-century single-family stock, some older stock from the earliest oil-era development, and one of the more approachable residential pockets in the city.
- 04
California Heights edge
The residential blocks near the California Heights neighborhood of adjacent Long Beach. Historic single-family stock on tree-lined blocks with a similar residential character to the historic Long Beach neighborhoods.
Schools, amenities, and getting around.
Schools
Long Beach Unified School District serves the city. Signal Hill Elementary is the local LAUSD... (actually LBUSD) elementary. Middle and high school students most commonly attend Hughes Middle School and Long Beach Polytechnic High School or Cabrillo High School depending on address. LBUSD is one of the larger districts in the region.
Amenities and access
Hilltop Park at the top of Signal Hill has panoramic 360-degree views across the LA basin, Long Beach, the Pacific Ocean, and Catalina Island — one of the most-photographed panoramic viewpoints in Los Angeles County. Signal Hill has a well-documented oil-industry history dating to the 1921 oil field discovery. The 405 and 710 freeways are both a short drive for regional access. Downtown Long Beach is a 10-minute drive south.
Homes for sale in Signal Hill.
Live MLS listings for Signal Hill, updated throughout the day. Filter by price, beds, and neighborhood inside MUVE's full search experience.
Browse Live Signal Hill Listings →Buying or selling in Signal Hill.
What buyers and sellers ask most often about Signal Hill.
Why is Signal Hill entirely surrounded by Long Beach?
Signal Hill incorporated as an independent city in 1924, three years after the Signal Hill oil field discovery, specifically to preserve tax revenue from the substantial oil operations for local use rather than share it with the surrounding City of Long Beach. Long Beach never annexed around the small hill, leaving Signal Hill as a fully-surrounded independent enclave. That unusual boundary structure has persisted for a century.What is Signal Hill's oil-industry history?
Signal Hill was the site of one of the largest oil field discoveries in California history when the Shell Oil Company brought in the first well on the hill in June 1921. At its peak, over 250 derricks covered the hill and it produced substantial oil for decades. A small number of production wells still operate, and the oil heritage is visible in preserved historic derricks and interpretive markers throughout the city.What is Hilltop Park?
Hilltop Park at the top of Signal Hill is a public park with panoramic 360-degree views across the LA basin, Long Beach, the Pacific Ocean, and Catalina Island. It is one of the most-photographed panoramic viewpoints in Los Angeles County and is easily accessible from throughout the city. It anchors the hilltop residential blocks and is a common visitor destination.How does Signal Hill compare with Long Beach?
Signal Hill is a small independent city (about 12,000 residents on 2.2 square miles) entirely surrounded by Long Beach (about 460,000 residents on 51 square miles). Signal Hill has its own city hall, police, and municipal services, but shares Long Beach Unified School District coverage. The two cities have distinct property tax structures reflecting Signal Hill's oil-industry origins.What kind of housing dominates Signal Hill?
Housing on the hilltop and upper hillside is dominated by newer townhome complexes and substantial single-family view homes built primarily from the 1990s onward as former oil-industry parcels were redeveloped. The flatter blocks at the base of the hill have historic mid-century single-family stock. Views are the defining feature of most higher-elevation properties.
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