Hamilton, Ontario

Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is about 45 kilometres southwest of Toronto in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

The city began when George Hamilton bought the Durand farm after the War of 1812. It grew into an important industrial area at the west end of Lake Ontario, part of the Golden Horseshoe. On January 1, 2001, the city’s current boundaries were set after combining the original city with other nearby towns from the Regional Municipality of Hamilton–Wentworth.

Hamilton is famous for its steel and manufacturing history, but in recent years, it has focused more on health and science services. The city has beautiful places like the Royal Botanical Gardens and the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. There are also schools such as McMaster University, Mohawk College, and Redeemer University. People who live in Hamilton are called Hamiltonians.

History

Main article: History of Hamilton, Ontario

Long ago, the Neutral First Nation lived on the land that is now Hamilton. Later, the Five (later Six) Nations, who were friends with the British, moved there. After the American Revolutionary War, many people who were loyal to the British moved from the United States to what is now Ontario. In 1792, the land was bought from the Mississaugas, and settlers began to arrive.

Hamilton was created by George Hamilton after the War of 1812. He worked with Nathaniel Hughson to plan a town. Hamilton became an important place, especially when a canal was built in 1832, allowing boats to reach the city easily. Over time, Hamilton grew with new buildings, roads, and industries. By the mid-1800s, it had banks, churches, and many businesses.

In the 1900s, Hamilton became known for steel manufacturing and other industries. However, since the 1970s, many big factories have closed, changing the city's economy. Today, Hamilton is a larger city after joining together with nearby areas in 2001.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Hamilton, Ontario

Hamilton is in Southern Ontario at the western end of the Niagara Peninsula. The city wraps around the western part of Lake Ontario and sits in the middle of the Golden Horseshoe. Key features include Hamilton Harbour to the north and the Niagara Escarpment, which runs through the city and divides it into upper and lower parts. The highest point in Hamilton is 250 meters above Lake Ontario.

The area was once called Attiwandaronia by the Neutral people. Hamilton is known for its mix of industry and nature. Many parks and green spaces were created thanks to local leaders in the 1930s.

Hamilton Harbour is a natural harbor with a large sandbar called the Beachstrip, formed during the last ice age. The city’s deep sea port uses a ship canal that goes through this sandbar. Two bridges cross the canal: the QEW's Burlington Bay James N. Allan Skyway and the lower Canal Lift Bridge.

The city has many parks, especially along the Niagara Escarpment, which stretches from Tobermory to Queenston. The Bruce Trail is a popular hiking path along the escarpment. Hamilton is home to over 100 waterfalls and cascades, many near the Bruce Trail.

Climate

Hamilton has a humid-continental climate, so the weather can change a lot. Summers are warm, and winters can be cold. The city’s climate is milder than many other places in Canada. Some areas of the city have air quality concerns due to nearby industrial sites.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Hamilton, Ontario

See also: Film industry in Hamilton, Ontario and List of head offices in Hamilton, Ontario

Manufacturing is very important in Ontario’s economy. The area around Lake Ontario is called the Golden Horseshoe and is one of Canada’s most industrial places. Hamilton is in the middle of this area.

Hamilton is known for making steel. Two big companies, Stelco and Dofasco, help make most of Canada’s steel. Dofasco makes steel for many things like cars and buildings. It employs thousands of people and makes a lot of steel each year.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population led by Statistics Canada, Hamilton had a population of 569,353 people. The area covers 1,118.31 km² (431.78 sq mi), with people living in many homes.

The larger area around Hamilton, called the census metropolitan area, includes places like Burlington and Grimsby and has many people. This area spans a large space.

Many people in Hamilton come from different places. Some moved here from Italy, England, Scotland, Germany, and Ireland. There are also people from former Yugoslavia, Poland, India, China, the Philippines, and Iraq.

Hamilton has a small community that speaks French. There are schools and services to support them.

Government

Main article: Politics of Hamilton, Ontario

See also: Hamilton City Council (Ontario) and Category:Mayors of Hamilton, Ontario

People in Hamilton help make rules for Canada in three ways: for the whole country, for Ontario, and for the city itself.

For the whole country, Hamilton chooses five people to help make laws. For Ontario, it also chooses five people to help make laws.

Hamilton has its own city government. A mayor leads the city. The mayor is chosen by everyone who lives in Hamilton. Right now, the mayor is Andrea Horwath. She was chosen on October 24, 2022. The next city vote will be in 2026. Hamilton has schools led by four groups. Each group has leaders called trustees who help decide about the schools.

The Canadian Military has a place in Hamilton where soldiers and sailors learn and work.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Hamilton, Ontario

See also: Media in Hamilton, Ontario and List of attractions in Hamilton, Ontario

Hamilton has many interesting places to visit, such as the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, the HMCS Haida National Historic Site, Dundurn Castle, the Royal Botanical Gardens, and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. The city also has public art, an art gallery, and a museum of steam and technology.

Supercrawl is a big festival for arts and music that happens every September. Hamilton also has a film festival and many art galleries and creative centers.

Sports

Main article: Sports in Hamilton, Ontario

See also: List of sports venues in Hamilton, Ontario

Hamilton has a rich sports history. It hosted the first Commonwealth Games and co-hosted the Pan Am Games. The city is home to the Tiger-Cats football team and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. Other teams include Forge FC in soccer, the Hamilton Honey Badgers in basketball, and the Hamilton Cardinals in baseball.

Hamilton also has race tracks for cars and horses, and it hosts the Around the Bay Road Race.

Education

Further information: List of secondary schools in Ontario § Hamilton

Hamilton has many places for students to learn after high school.

• McMaster University moved to the city in 1930 and now has many students, many from outside Hamilton.
• Brock University from St. Catharines, Ontario has a smaller campus in Hamilton for training teachers.
• McMaster Divinity College is a Christian school for training religious leaders, located on the McMaster University campus.
• Mohawk College offers programs in arts and technology, with many students.
• Redeemer University is a private Christian university that opened in 1982.

There are four groups that run public schools for children from kindergarten to high school. The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board runs public schools, and the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board runs schools. Two French-language school groups also operate schools in the area.

There are also several private Christian schools, such as Calvin Christian School and Hamilton District Christian High School. Other special schools include Hillfield Strathallan College, which offers education from early ages through grade twelve, and Columbia International College, a large private boarding school with students from many countries.

Hamilton is also home to art schools like the Dundas Valley School of Art and the Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts, where young people can learn acting, dancing, music, and more. The city also has two groups that study and discuss culture, cities, and education.

Infrastructure

See also: Transportation in Hamilton, Ontario and List of streets in Hamilton, Ontario

Hamilton has many important roads, including Highway 403, the QEW, the Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway, and the Red Hill Valley Parkway. Other roads like Highway 5, Highway 6, and Highway 8 also connect the city. People can ride buses all over Hamilton thanks to the Hamilton Street Railway. Plans are in place to build a new train line called the Hamilton LRT. Trains and buses also go to nearby cities such as Toronto, thanks to GO Transit. There are three main train stations in Hamilton: the Hamilton GO Centre, Confederation GO Station, and West Harbour GO Station.

The John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport started as a training place for planes long ago. Today, it welcomes many travelers each year to places in the United States, Mexico, and Central America. The airport also helps move goods for companies like United Parcel Service. There are also plans to build job areas near the airport.

Hamilton is important for ships and boats because the Port of Hamilton is one of the busiest places for moving goods in Ontario.

Major highways

•  Highway 403
•  Queen Elizabeth Way
• Red Hill Valley Parkway
• Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway
•  Highway 5
•  Highway 6
•  Highway 8

Health

Hamilton has several hospitals that help people stay healthy. The Hamilton Health Sciences group runs five hospitals, including McMaster Children's Hospital. There is also St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, which has three places where people can get help. These hospitals work with schools like McMaster University to help doctors learn and improve.

Sister cities

Hamilton, Ontario, has ten sister cities around the world. These partnerships help people share ideas and experiences.

The sister cities are:

• Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada (1958)
• Kaga, Ishikawa, Japan (1968)
• Mangalore, Karnataka, India (1968)
• Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan (1975)
• Racalmuto, Sicily, Italy (1987)
• Ma'Anshan, Anhui, China (1987)
• Flint, Michigan, United States (1987)
• Sarasota, Florida, United States (1991)
• Valle Peligna, Abruzzo, Italy (1991)
• Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico (1993)