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Hamilton, Alabama
City
Flag of Hamilton, Alabama
Flag
 Official seal of Hamilton, Alabama
Seal
Location in Marion County, Alabama
Location in Marion County, Alabama
Country United States
State Alabama
County Marion
Area
 • Total 38.08 sq mi (98.6 km2)
 • Land 38.06 sq mi (98.6 km2)
 • Water 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation
489 ft (149 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 7,042
 • Density 185.01/sq mi (71.43/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
35570
Area code(s) 205, 659
FIPS code 01-32848
GNIS feature ID 0119627

Hamilton is a friendly city located in Marion County, Alabama, in the United States. It's also the county seat, which means it's where the main government offices for the county are. The city was officially formed in 1896. Since 1980, Hamilton has been the largest city in Marion County, growing bigger than Winfield. In 2020, about 7,042 people called Hamilton home.

A Look Back at Hamilton's History

Hamilton was settled in the early 1800s. People moved here from states like Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia. This area was once used as hunting grounds by the Chickasaw people.

The city was first known as "Toll Gate." Later, its name changed to honor Captain Albert James Hamilton. He was a respected citizen who represented Marion County in the state government. Captain Hamilton generously gave 40 acres of his land to the town. This land was then divided and sold to help pay for building the courthouse.

In 1881, the Toll Gate community was chosen to be the new county seat. The old courthouse in Pikeville stopped being used by 1883. When the courthouse moved to Toll Gate, the town's name officially changed to Hamilton. A new courthouse was built in 1887, but it was sadly destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt with wood, and then in 1901, a stronger courthouse made of local sandstone was constructed.

During the American Civil War, soldiers from the Union army passed through Hamilton. They were looking for supplies and horses.

Exploring Hamilton's Geography

Hamilton is located in the western part of Marion County. It sits in the valley of the Buttahatchee River. A major highway, Interstate 22, goes around the southern and western sides of the city. You can get to Hamilton from several exits on I-22. This highway connects Hamilton to Tupelo, Mississippi to the west and Birmingham to the southeast.

Other important roads, U.S. Route 43 and U.S. Route 278, also pass through Hamilton. US 43 goes north towards Florence, and US 278 goes east towards Cullman. These two highways meet in the center of Hamilton and then travel south together towards Guin.

The city covers an area of about 38.1 square miles. Most of this is land, with a very small amount of water. The Buttahatchee River, which flows into the Tombigbee River, runs through the city, just east of downtown.

Hamilton's Climate

Hamilton has a humid subtropical climate. This means it generally has hot, humid summers and mild winters. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Hamilton was 109°F (43°C) on August 16, 2007. The coldest temperature recorded was -19°F (-28°C) on January 30, 1966.

Climate data for Hamilton, Alabama, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1962–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 79
(26)		 87
(31)		 90
(32)		 95
(35)		 98
(37)		 103
(39)		 107
(42)		 109
(43)		 104
(40)		 102
(39)		 91
(33)		 81
(27)		 109
(43)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 72.3
(22.4)		 76.8
(24.9)		 84.0
(28.9)		 88.1
(31.2)		 91.5
(33.1)		 95.9
(35.5)		 98.3
(36.8)		 98.7
(37.1)		 95.8
(35.4)		 88.8
(31.6)		 80.4
(26.9)		 72.8
(22.7)		 100.2
(37.9)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 52.5
(11.4)		 57.6
(14.2)		 66.7
(19.3)		 75.1
(23.9)		 81.9
(27.7)		 88.5
(31.4)		 91.5
(33.1)		 91.3
(32.9)		 86.5
(30.3)		 76.1
(24.5)		 64.1
(17.8)		 55.1
(12.8)		 73.9
(23.3)
Daily mean °F (°C) 40.4
(4.7)		 44.3
(6.8)		 52.1
(11.2)		 60.1
(15.6)		 68.5
(20.3)		 76.3
(24.6)		 79.8
(26.6)		 79.1
(26.2)		 73.3
(22.9)		 61.6
(16.4)		 50.1
(10.1)		 43.3
(6.3)		 60.7
(16.0)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 28.3
(−2.1)		 31.1
(−0.5)		 37.5
(3.1)		 45.1
(7.3)		 55.1
(12.8)		 64.1
(17.8)		 68.1
(20.1)		 66.9
(19.4)		 60.1
(15.6)		 47.1
(8.4)		 36.1
(2.3)		 31.4
(−0.3)		 47.6
(8.7)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 9.5
(−12.5)		 13.9
(−10.1)		 19.3
(−7.1)		 27.4
(−2.6)		 38.5
(3.6)		 52.3
(11.3)		 59.1
(15.1)		 57.3
(14.1)		 43.9
(6.6)		 29.1
(−1.6)		 19.5
(−6.9)		 15.2
(−9.3)		 7.5
(−13.6)
Record low °F (°C) −19
(−28)		 −1
(−18)		 5
(−15)		 21
(−6)		 30
(−1)		 37
(3)		 48
(9)		 46
(8)		 30
(−1)		 21
(−6)		 9
(−13)		 −5
(−21)		 −19
(−28)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 5.46
(139)		 6.01
(153)		 5.29
(134)		 6.09
(155)		 5.79
(147)		 4.86
(123)		 5.12
(130)		 4.31
(109)		 3.94
(100)		 3.84
(98)		 4.58
(116)		 6.42
(163)		 61.71
(1,567)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 0.4
(1.0)		 0.4
(1.0)		 0.3
(0.76)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.2
(0.51)		 1.3
(3.27)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 10.5 10.2 10.5 8.7 8.9 9.6 10.2 9.1 6.3 6.8 8.5 10.0 109.3
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 — — — — — — —
Source 1: NOAA
Source 2: National Weather Service

People and Population in Hamilton

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1900 235 —
1910 422 79.6%
1920 487 15.4%
1930 695 42.7%
1940 1,002 44.2%
1950 1,623 62.0%
1960 1,934 19.2%
1970 3,088 59.7%
1980 5,093 64.9%
1990 5,787 13.6%
2000 6,786 17.3%
2010 6,885 1.5%
2020 7,042 2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

The population of Hamilton has grown steadily over the years. In 1900, there were only 235 people. By 2020, the population had reached 7,042.

Hamilton's Diverse Community

In 2010, there were 6,885 people living in Hamilton. Most residents were White, with a significant number of Black or African American residents. There were also smaller groups of Native American, Asian, and other racial backgrounds. About 3.1% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

There were 2,717 households in the city. Many were married couples living together. Some households had children under 18. The average age of people in Hamilton was about 43 years old.

Hamilton racial composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 5,907 83.88%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 491 6.97%
Native American 30 0.43%
Asian 23 0.33%
Pacific Islander 7 0.1%
Other/Mixed 292 4.15%
Hispanic or Latino 292 4.15%

The 2020 census showed 7,042 people living in Hamilton. The community continues to be diverse, with various racial and ethnic backgrounds.

Fun Things to Do in Hamilton

Hamilton offers several activities and events for its residents and visitors.

Local Traditions and History

Some cemeteries in Hamilton still hold annual Decoration Days. These special days happen in the spring and summer. People gather to clean and decorate graves, honoring their ancestors.

Interesting Places to See

  • Indian Mounds site: This historical site shows traces of early Native American life.

Exciting Festivals and Events

Hamilton hosts several fun festivals throughout the year:

  • Jerry Brown Arts Festival: Held every year on the first weekend of March.
  • Buttahatchee River Fall Fest: An annual event in October, celebrating the local river.
  • Hamilton's Hometown Christmas: A festive celebration held every December.

Community Parades

  • Homecoming parade: Organized by Hamilton High School each fall.
  • Hamilton Christmas parade: A joyful parade held every December.

Parks and Recreation in Hamilton

Hamilton has great places for outdoor fun and activities:

  • E.T. Sims Jr. Recreation Center: This center includes a park and a playground.
  • Key Branch Nature Trail: A lovely trail for walking and enjoying nature.
  • Aggieland Disc Golf course: A place to play disc golf, a sport similar to golf but with frisbees.
  • Splash Pad playground: A fun water play area, perfect for cooling off.

Education in Hamilton

Hamilton is part of the Marion County School District. Students in Hamilton attend:

  • Hamilton Elementary School
  • Hamilton Middle School
  • Hamilton High School

For higher education, Hamilton also has a branch campus of Bevill State Community College.

Media and News in Hamilton

Hamilton has its own local newspaper called The Journal Record. It also has two local television stations:

  • WMTY TV 46 (which is cable channel 5)
  • TV8-WATVC

Getting Around Hamilton

The Marion County – Rankin Fite Airport is located in Hamilton, providing air travel services.

While there isn't a regular bus service, the Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments offers a special transit service called NACOLG Transit. This service allows people to call and arrange for a ride.

Famous People from Hamilton

Hamilton has been home to several notable individuals:

  • Bookie Bolin: A former player in the National Football League (NFL).
  • Jerry Brown: A talented folk artist known for his traditional pottery.
  • Roger Brown: Another well-known artist.
  • Clay Dyer: A professional bass fisherman.
  • Rankin Fite: Served in the Alabama State Legislature.
  • Rex Frederick: The first head coach for the University of South Alabama men's basketball team.
  • John Dabney Terrell Sr.: A planter and legislator.
  • Karen Wheaton: A Christian music artist and minister, who founded The Ramp.

Images for kids

  • Flag of Hamilton, Alabama

    The official flag of Hamilton, Alabama.

  • Seal of Hamilton, Alabama

    The official seal of Hamilton, Alabama.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Hamilton (Alabama) para niños

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