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Changing Face of Southern California

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Changing Face of Southern California

Producing oil wells on famous Signal Hill, Long Beach, Calif.

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Producing oil wells on famous Signal Hill, Long Beach, Calif.

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Identifier	clloy_139
Title	Producing oil wells on famous Signal Hill, Long Beach, Calif.
Creator	Unknown
Date Published	circa 1940
Subject (Topic)	Oil fields--California--Signal Hill; Oil wells--California--Signal Hill;
Subject (Place)	Signal Hill (Calif.); Long Beach (Calif.);
Type	image
Form/Genre	Postcards
Physical Description	1 postcard : Color ; 9 x 14 cm.
Institution	Department of Archives and Special Collections, William H. Hannon Library, Loyola Marymount University
Country of Creation	US
Copyright Status	public domain
Copyright Statement	http://library.lmu.edu/generalinformation/departments/digitallibraryprogram/copyrightandreproductionpolicy/
Publisher	Drown News Agency
Place of Publication	Long Beach, Calif.
Language	eng
Description	A view of oil derricks stretching into the distance on Signal Hill. In the foreground are industrial buildings, possibly oil refineries.
Historical Background	Signal Hill is a small city encompassing only 2.2 square miles, and completely surrounded on all sides by the City of Long Beach. The land rises 365 feet above sea level, and was used by native tribes to signal other tribes on Santa Catalina Island approximately 26 miles away. After the area's settlement by Europeans, the land was used for grazing and agriculture until the end of the 19th century, when expensive homes were built to take advantage of the panoramic view. In 1917, the Union Oil Company began drilling for oil, but was unsuccessful and abandoned the project. In 1921, the Royal Dutch Shell Oil Company resumed exploration, this time meeting with success. By 1923, 259,000 barrels of crude oil were being produced every day from nearly 300 wells. By the 1940s, the hill was studded with 20,000 oil derricks, earning it the nickname "Porcupine Hill." At that time, Signal Hill was an unincorporated territory within the City of Long Beach, but in order to avoid Long Beach's heavy per-barrel tax on oil, the city voted to incorporate. In the 1970s, falling oil prices reduced production, and the oil rigs began to be replaced once more with luxury homes.
Additional Printed Matter	On back: "From seemingly inexhaustible reservoirs, hundreds of wells have given forth their wealth estimated to be in excess of $850,000,000 since the day oil was discovered here in 1921. Approximately 180 oil companies operate on Signal Hill and nearby fields. Like sentinels guarding the great treasure chest of black and gold, more than 2100 derricks stud the mound like a giant pin-cushion."
Publisher's Identifier	Publisher's serial number: 13733
Additional Notes	Natural color post card made in U.S. A. by E. K. Kropp Co., Milwaukee, Wis."E. K. C. Co." printed in four corners of the stamp box.
Source	Werner von Boltenstern Postcard Collection