Hamilton, Ontario, a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario, is a bustling metropolis with a rich history and vibrant culture. With a population of 569,353 and a census metropolitan area encompassing Burlington and Grimsby with a population of 785,184, Hamilton is a significant urban center in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA).
Hamilton's history dates back to pre-colonial times when the Neutral First Nation occupied much of the land. The city was conceived by George Hamilton after he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812. Hamilton became the center of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe.
On January 1, 2001, the current boundaries of Hamilton were created through the amalgamation of the original city with other municipalities of the Regional Municipality of Hamilton–Wentworth. The city's residents are known as Hamiltonians.
Hamilton's economy has traditionally been led by the steel and heavy manufacturing industries. However, during the 2010s, a shift toward the service sector occurred, such as health and sciences. The city is home to several notable institutions, including the Royal Botanical Gardens, the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, the Bruce Trail, McMaster University, Mohawk College, and Redeemer University.
Hamilton is situated in Southern Ontario on the western end of the Niagara Peninsula and wraps around the westernmost part of Lake Ontario. The city is in the geographic center of the Golden Horseshoe. Its major physical features are Hamilton Harbour, marking the northern limit of the city, and the Niagara Escarpment running through the middle of the city across its entire breadth, bisecting the city into "upper" and "lower" parts.
Hamilton's climate is humid-continental, characterized by changeable weather patterns. However, its climate is moderate compared with most of Canada. The highest temperature ever recorded in Hamilton was 41.1 °C (106 °F) on July 14, 1868. The coldest temperature ever recorded was −30.6 °C (−23 °F) on January 25, 1884.
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Hamilton had a population of 569,353 living in 222,807 of its 233,564 total private dwellings. At the census metropolitan area (CMA) level in the 2021 census, the Hamilton CMA had a population of 785,184.
Hamilton maintains significant Italian, English, Scottish, German, and Irish ancestry. The city also has a notable French community for which provincial services are offered in French.
Hamilton's local attractions include the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, the HMCS Haida National Historic Site, Dundurn Castle, the Royal Botanical Gardens, the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, the African Lion Safari Park, the Cathedral of Christ the King, the Workers' Arts and Heritage Centre, and the Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology.
The primary highways serving Hamilton are Highway 403, the QEW, the Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway, and the Red Hill Valley Parkway. Public transportation is provided by the Hamilton Street Railway, which operates an extensive local bus system.
The city is served by the Hamilton Health Sciences hospital network of five hospitals with more than 1,100 beds. The only hospital in Hamilton not under Hamilton Health Sciences is St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, which has 777 beds and three campuses.
The City of Hamilton is twinned with ten sister cities, including Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada; Kaga, Ishikawa, Japan; Mangalore, Karnataka, India; Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan; Racalmuto, Sicily, Italy; Ma'Anshan, Anhui, China; Flint, Michigan, United States; Sarasota, Florida, United States; Valle Peligna, Abruzzo, Italy; and Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.
