Hamilton, Ohio

Infobox Settlement
official_name = City of Hamilton
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

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imagesize = 250px
image_caption = High Street, looking east, about 1911


image_

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Hamilton, Ohio


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Ohio
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Butler

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 57.2
area_land_km2 = 56.0
area_water_km2 = 1.2
area_total_sq_mi = 22.1
area_land_sq_mi = 21.6
area_water_sq_mi = 0.5

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 60690
population_density_km2 = 1084.2
population_density_sq_mi = 2808.2

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes = GR|3
elevation_m = 181
elevation_ft = 594
latd = 39 |latm = 23 |lats = 45 |latNS = N
longd = 84 |longm = 33 |longs = 54 |longEW = W

postal_code_type =
postal_code =
area_code = 513
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 39-33012GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1064784GR|3
website = http://www.hamilton-city.org/
footnotes =

Hamilton is a city in Butler County, southwestern Ohio, United States. The population was 60,690 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Butler CountyGR|6. The city is near the metropolitan areas of Cincinnati and Dayton.

The city's mayor is Donald Ryan. Most of the city is in the Hamilton City School District. It has been named the number one urban school district in Ohio, and its superintendent, Janet Baker, has been named Ohio's superintendent of the year.

History

Hamilton was laid out as Fairfield in 1794, but took the name of Fort Hamilton, the army post established by General Arthur St. Clair and named for Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton. From there, St. Clair and General Richard Butler, namesake of the county, marched north in 1791 to fight Indians. Butler was killed in the expedition. The 'father of Hamilton' and a leading statesman was James McBride.

Hamilton was first incorporated by act of the Ohio General Assembly in 1810, but lost its status in 1815 for failure to hold elections. It was reincorporated in 1827 with Rossville, the community across the Great Miami River in St. Clair Township but the two places severed their connection in 1831 only to be rejoined in 1854. It became a city in 1857. On March 14, 1867, Hamilton withdrew from the townships of Fairfield and St. Clair to form a paper township, but the city government is dominant.

The county courthouse, listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its monumental architecture, was constructed between 1885 and 1889. The city has three historic districts that demonstrate part of its past, with areas of turn-of-the-century homes. Like Cincinnati, Hamilton had many German immigrants, whose influence showed in culture, architecture and food.

The paper industry, iron works, and manufacturing works thrived in Hamilton in the early to mid-twentieth century due in part to the immigration of skilled German workers and availability of a good water supply needed by industry. The Great Miami River, Miami Aquifer and the old Miami and Erie Canal system supported industry and transportation. The rivers also created risk; Hamilton was one of the Ohio cities severely damaged by the Great Dayton Flood of 1913.

In the 1920s, many Chicago gangsters had second homes in Hamilton. This gave Hamilton the nickname "Little Chicago." John Dillinger was documented as a visitor to Hamilton.

During World War II, due to the large number of gambling and prostitution establishments such as Madame Freeze's and the long row of prostitution establishments along Wood Street (now called Pershing Ave), the entire city was declared off-limits to military personnel. Military supplies needed for WWII were manufactured in Hamilton, including tank turrets, Liberty Ship and submarine engines, and machined and stamped metal parts.

The construction of I-75 in the 1950s followed the Miami and Erie Canal which bypassed the city. Hamilton became the second largest city in the United States without direct interstate accessGR|3 until 1999 when the Butler County Veterans Highway was built.

The city has become known for its support of the arts, especially public sculpture.

Geography

Hamilton is located at coor dms|39|23|45|N|84|33|54|W|city (39.395806, -84.564920).GR|1

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.1 square miles (57.2 km²), of which, 21.6 square miles (56.0 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.2 km²) of it (2.13%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 60,690 people, 24,188 households, and 15,867 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,808.2 people per square mile (1,084.3/km²). There were 25,913 housing units at an average density of 1,199.0/sq mi (463.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.94% White, 7.55% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.46% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.58% of the population.

There were 24,188 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.5% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,365, and the median income for a family was $41,936. Males had a median income of $32,646 versus $23,850 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,493. About 10.6% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Hamilton is served by the Hamilton City School district. The district has underway a major $200 million capital program including construction of eight elementary schools, a freshman school, two completely renovated middle schools, and an upgraded high school with two new gyms, a new media center, six new classrooms and a new cafeteria. Talawanda, Ross, and New Miami School Districts also serve corners of the city.

Miami University has a regional campus in the city. Miami University Hamilton opened in 1968 and now has more than 3,400 students. Another campus is found in nearby Middletown, Ohio and has about 2,500 students.

Stephen T. Badin High School, a private Catholic high school of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, and several Catholic elementary schools serve the city and its surrounding area.

Trivia

* Hamilton is one of the few towns located at the intersection of 4 consecutively numbered highways--US 127, and State Routes 128, 129, and 130. Additionally, since State Route 126 is just south of the city, it could be argued that it lies at the intersection of 5 consecutively numbered highways.

* Hamilton is the only city in the United States to have legally adopted an exclamation point as part of its name. The name was not accepted by geographers; it has not technically been part of the name since 2003.

* Three teams from Hamilton's West Side Little League have played in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Manager Ray Nichting took teams in 1991 and 1993. His son Tim Nichting managed the 2007 team that advanced to the World Series after winning the Great Lakes championship.

Notable natives

*William Allen, born near Hamilton, later United States Congressmancite book | title = Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896 | publisher = Marquis Who's Who | date = 1967]
*Franklin Howard Scobey, Founder of the Sigma Chi Fraternity
*Mark Peck, New Zealand Member of Parliament

*William Dean Howells, Author
*Robert McCloskey, Author

*John Cleves Symmes, Jr., soldier, philosopher
*Steve Vaughn, Award winning Radio Journalist, WLW, WMOH
*Charles Richter, seismologist and creator of the Richter scale
*Ray Combs, comedian and second host of "Family Feud"

*Jim Tracy, Professional Baseball Player and Manager
*Greg Dulli, musician
*Greg Stokes, Professional Basketball Player (Born elsewhere, bu played high school basketball at Hamilton High)
*Kevin Grevey, Professional Basketball Player
*Brandon Lampley, Collegiate Basketball Player
*Mark Lewis, Professional Baseball Player
*Joe Nuxhall, Professional Baseball Player
*Aaron Cook, Professional Baseball Player
*Roger Troutman, singer, songwriter
*Pat McCollum, naturalist
*Del Gray, musician, drummer for Little Texas

References

*Jim Blount. "The 1900s: 100 Years In the History of Butler County, Ohio." Hamilton, Ohio: Past Present Press, 2000.
*Butler County Engineer's Office. "Butler County Official Transportation Map, 2003". Fairfield Township, Butler County, Ohio: The Office, 2003.
* [http://www.cincinnati-transit.net/butler.html Cincinnati Transit Net]

External links

* [http://www.hamilton-city.org/ City of Hamilton official site]
* [http://www.hamiltoncityschools.com/index.cfm Hamilton City Schools official site]
* [http://www.hamilton-cvb.com/ Greater Hamilton Convention & Visitors Bureau]
* [http://cityofsculpture.org/ Hamilton, OH City of Sculpture]
* [http://www.cincyrails.com Railroads of Cincinnati, includes rail information and history of Hamilton]
* [http://www.lanepl.org/ Lane Public Library]
* [http://www.laneteenzone.org/ laneteenzone.org]
* [http://www.wmoh.com/ WMOH Radio Website]