The first European to visit what is now Hamilton was probably Étienne Brűlé in 1616.
The United Empire Loyalists moved into the Hamilton area during and after the American Revolution. The town of Hamilton took its name from George Hamilton, a local politician.
Scenic Burlington Bay is a natural harbor, and a canal built in 1827 helped new industries get started in the area. In 1840, Hamilton officially became a city, and by the early 1900s, the "Ambitious City" became important as an iron and steel city. Soon the city expanded onto "The Mountain", which is the name that Hamiltonians give to the land on top of the Niagara Escarpment.
In the 1980s Hamilton has entered the economic downturn common to most steel towns in the developed world. Since then, considerable effort has been put into diversifying the economy and revitalizing the moribund city centre. Recent efforts have been concentrating on emphasizing Hamilton's impressive natural landscape, and moving the waterfront away from the heavy industry represented by the two main steel corporations, Stelco and Dofasco.
In 2001 the former Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth was amalgamated into a unified City of Hamilton. This amalgamation included the former City of Stoney Creek, Towns of Dundas, Flamborough and Ancaster along with the Township of Glanbrook. Prior to amalgamation the population of Hamilton was 331,100.
Tourist attractions include Dundurn Castle, the Royal Botanical Gardens, the Museum of Steam and Technology, Whitehern and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
McMaster University and Mohawk College are located in Hamilton.
Hamilton is the birthplace of Florence Lawrence, Hollywood's first movie star.
| North: Puslinch, Milton, Burlington | |||||
| West: North Dumfries | Hamilton | East: Grimsby, West Lincoln | |||
| South: Brant, Haldimand |