Hamilton, Ohio

Hamilton is a city in Butler County, Ohio, United States, and it is the county's main city. It lies about 20 miles north of Cincinnati alongside the Great Miami River. According to the 2020 census, Hamilton had a population of 63,399 people, making it the second-largest city in the Cincinnati metropolitan area and the tenth-largest city in Ohio overall. Most students in the area attend schools in the Hamilton City School District. The city has a rich history and offers many places to explore and learn about the past.

History

Fort Hamilton

Hamilton began as Fort Hamilton, named after Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury. General Arthur St. Clair, governor of the Northwest Territory, built the fort in 1791. It served as a supply station for soldiers during the Northwest Indian War. Later, General Anthony Wayne used it too. The fort was located near the Great Miami River, which was easy to cross because the river was shallow there. In 1792, General Wayne added a stable area, but the fort was abandoned in 1796 after a peace treaty was signed.

Settlement and growth

A small community grew around Fort Hamilton and was named Fairfield in 1794. By 1800, Hamilton became a center for farming and trade. It was officially incorporated as a city in 1810, lost its status for a few years, and then was reestablished in 1827. Hamilton became the county seat and grew into a city in 1857.

On September 17, 1859, Abraham Lincoln visited Hamilton and gave a speech supporting William Dennison, who was running to be Ohio governor. Lincoln spoke about the importance of the Miami Valley, calling it “the garden spot of the world.”

Hamilton Hydraulic

The Hamilton Hydraulic was a system built to provide water power for mills and factories. It used canals and reservoirs to bring water from the Great Miami River into the town. The system began operating in 1845 and helped Hamilton grow during the 1840s and 1850s. One of the first factories was the Beckett Paper Company, founded in 1848. The hydraulic system remained important until the 1870s when steam engines became more practical. Later, Henry Ford was interested in the area for his tractor factory because of this water power system.

Industrialization

By the mid-1800s, Hamilton became known for making many different products, including farming equipment, machine tools, paper, carriages, and even whiskey. By the early 1900s, the city was a major manufacturing center, making things like safes, automobile parts, and railroad equipment. During World War I and World War II, Hamilton’s factories produced supplies for the war effort, including engines for ships and parts for tanks.

The Butler County Courthouse, built between 1885 and 1889, is a historic building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Hamilton attracted many immigrants from Germany, Italy, and Eastern Europe, who added to the city’s culture and food. The city also had a Jewish community, which built Beth Israel Synagogue in 1901.

Great Miami River Flood 1913

Floods have happened often in the Miami Valley for a very long time. In March 1913, a huge flood struck Hamilton after heavy rains fell on already wet ground. The flood caused great damage, destroying bridges and homes. Many people had to climb to rooftops to escape the rising water. After this disaster, the community worked together to create the Miami Conservancy District to prevent future floods. This system of channels and dams has protected the area ever since.

20th century to present

In the 1920s, some famous gangsters from Chicago lived in Hamilton, giving it the nickname “Little Chicago.” During World War II, the city’s factories made parts for the war. In the 1950s, a new highway, I-75, was built but bypassed Hamilton, affecting the city’s growth. Later, Hamilton faced challenges as many factories closed or moved away. The city has worked to attract new residents and businesses.

In 2009, 2010, and 2015, Hamilton’s water won awards for being some of the best-tasting in the United States and the world.

Geography

Hamilton, Ohio, covers an area of 22.08 square miles (57.19 km²). Out of this, 21.60 square miles (55.94 km²) is land and 0.48 square miles (1.24 km²) is water. The city is located along the Great Miami River.

Demographics

2020 census

According to the 2020 census, Hamilton, Ohio had a population of 63,399 people. This means there were about 2,955 people living in each square mile. There were 27,392 places to live, called housing units, and about 7.6% of them were empty.

In Hamilton, about 29.9% of homes had children younger than 18 living in them. About 35% of homes were made up of married couples, while about 21.6% had a man living alone without a partner, and 33.5% had a woman living alone without a partner. Over one-third of homes were made up of just one person, and about 12% of homes had someone who was 65 years old or older living alone.

The average age of people in Hamilton was 37.2 years. About 23.5% of people were younger than 18, and 15.6% were 65 or older. For every 100 females, there were about 95.7 males.

The median yearly income for a home in Hamilton was about $52,995, and for a family it was about $62,579. About 19.6% of people lived below the poverty line, including nearly 30% of children under 18. About 56% of people had a job, and around 15% had finished college.

2010 census

In the year 2010, Hamilton had 62,477 people living there. The city was made up of about 84% White people, 8.5% African American, and smaller amounts of other groups. About 6.4% of the people were Hispanic or Latino.

About one-third of homes had children under 18 living in them. About 39% of homes were made up of married couples, 17% had a woman living alone without a husband, and 6% had a man living alone without a wife. Over one-third of homes were not families.

The average age was 35.3 years. About 25% of people were younger than 18, and 13% were 65 or older. The city had slightly more females than males.

2000 census

In the year 2000, Hamilton had 60,690 people. The city was mostly White at about 89%, with about 7.5% African American and smaller amounts of other groups. About 2.6% were Hispanic or Latino.

About 31% of homes had children under 18. About 45% of homes were made up of married couples, 15% had a woman living alone without a husband, and over one-third of homes were not families.

The average age was 35 years. About 26% of people were younger than 18, and 14% were 65 or older. There were slightly more females than males.

The median yearly income for a home was $35,365, and for a family it was $41,936. About 10.6% of families and 13.4% of all people lived below the poverty line, including nearly 18% of children under 18.

Arts and culture

Hamilton has three special areas called Historic Districts: Dayton Lane, German Village, and Rossville. In 2000, the city decided to focus on art and called itself the "City of Sculpture." Because of this, many interesting sculptures can be found around Hamilton, including those at the Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park.

The Lane Public Library is in a very old and important building in German Village. It was built in 1866 by a man named Robert Clark Lane, who also gave the library its first 3,000 books. Over time, the library has grown and now has more than 123,000 books. It even has a special room for local history and family research, as well as a technology center in downtown Hamilton.

Sports

Hamilton has a history of hosting baseball teams. In years past, the city had minor league teams called the Hamilton Mechanics. Today, the Hamilton Joes are a summer baseball team for college players. They began playing in 2009 and have won championships in 2010 and 2016.

The West Side Little League from Hamilton has competed in the Little League World Series many times. In 2021, they reached the championship game but did not win. They have also won the state championship many times.

Government

See also: List of mayors of Hamilton, Ohio

Hamilton has a city council with seven members who are chosen by voters in special elections and serve four years. They pick a mayor from among themselves and also choose a city manager to help run the city. The council helps guide the city, while the city manager oversees daily operations with help from over 675 workers and a budget of more than $400 million. There is also a Public Safety Director who looks after police and fire services.

The current mayor is Patrick Moeller, and the city manager is Craig R. Bucheit. Hamilton started using this council-manager style of government in 1926, which was designed to better serve the needs of a changing population. This system allowed more people, including minorities and women, to get involved in local politics. However, after many attempts, the city later changed back to a simpler voting system.

Education

Hamilton’s schools are run by the Hamilton City School District, which includes Hamilton High School. The district is improving its schools with a big plan worth $200 million. This includes building eight new elementary schools, a school just for ninth graders, updating two middle schools, and making changes to the high school like adding new gyms and classrooms.

In 2002, President George W. Bush came to Hamilton to sign important education laws at Hamilton High School. Some students in Hamilton go to schools in nearby areas, like the Talawanda district in Oxford, Ohio or the Ross district. There are also private Catholic schools, such as Father Stephen T. Badin High School, run by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

Miami University, which is mainly in Oxford, Ohio, also has a campus in Hamilton. Miami University Hamilton opened in 1968 and now has over 5,000 students.

Transportation

Hamilton station is not in use right now. In the past, it had trains going to cities like Detroit, Chicago, Washington, and New York City.

The Butler County Regional Transit Authority runs buses in the city. These buses connect to places like Middletown, Oxford, and Springdale. In Springdale, people can get on buses from the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority, which goes to larger parts of Cincinnati.

Notable people

Hamilton, Ohio, has been home to many interesting people. Some of them became well-known in sports, like Denicos Allen, a football player for Michigan State University, and Aaron Cook, a professional baseball player. Others made their mark in entertainment, such as Ray Combs, a comedian who hosted the show Family Feud, and Eric Lange, an actor known for roles in Lost and Victorious.

The city has also been home to authors, musicians, and public servants. For example, Robert McCloskey was a beloved children’s book author and illustrator, and William Dean Howells was a famous writer. Many people from Hamilton have contributed to various fields, making the city a place of diverse talents.