Hamilton

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, is located on the western end of Lake Ontario. The population of the metropolitan area is 680,600 (2001)and that of the city proper about 330,000.

The first European visitor to visit what is now Hamilton was probably Etienne Brûlé 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 Hamilton 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.

Tourist attractions include Dundurn Castle, the Royal Botanical Gardens, and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.