Hamilton (village), New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Village of Hamilton, New York
|
|
|---|---|
|
Village
|
|
The Village of Hamilton
|
|
 Hamilton (village), New York
Location in New York
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Madison |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.69 sq mi (6.96 km2) |
| • Land | 2.49 sq mi (6.46 km2) |
| • Water | 0.19 sq mi (0.50 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,122 ft (342 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 4,107 |
| • Density | 1,646.75/sq mi (635.91/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
13346
|
| Area code(s) | 315 |
| FIPS code | 36-31709 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0952091 |
The Village of Hamilton is a small community in Madison County, New York, United States. It's known for being the home of Colgate University. In 2020, about 4,107 people lived here.
Contents
Geography and Climate
Hamilton Village is located in the Chenango Valley. This is just south of where the Chenango River begins. Another river, Payne Brook, flows through the village. It starts at Lake Moraine and joins the Chenango River.
The village is about 40 miles (64 km) southeast of Syracuse. It is also about 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Utica. The land area of the village is about 2.5 square miles (6.5 km2).
Winter Weather in Hamilton
Snow is a big part of the weather here. Hamilton gets a lot of snow, like other parts of Upstate New York. This snow often comes from lake-effect snow off Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. The village usually gets about 80 inches of snow each winter. Sometimes, heavy snowfalls can bring 1 to 4 feet of snow at once!
History of Hamilton Village
The area around Hamilton was first home to the Iroquois people. Some of this land is still important to the Oneida Indian Nation. After the American Revolution, the land became part of New York State.
Early Settlements and Growth
The town of Hamilton began to grow with farms and small communities. In 1794, Samuel Payne started a farm on a hill. This hill is now where Colgate University stands. A year later, his brother Elisha Payne moved to an unsettled area nearby. This area grew into today's Village of Hamilton. People called it "Payne's Settlement" because of Elisha's efforts.
Elisha Payne built the first framed building in the village. In 1802, he opened a tavern. This tavern later became the Park House hotel. Today, the Colgate Inn stands in its place. By 1800, the settlement had several framed buildings and a sawmill. Farmers cleared land for orchards and farms. Salt was even used as money back then!
Economic Boom and Village Incorporation
Payne's Settlement saw a big money boost from 1800 through the War of 1812. Farmers sold many crops to Europe. Prices for supplies were also high in New York during the war. The village became a busy trading center. In 1808, the Skaneateles Turnpike opened. This road connected Hamilton to western New York, helping the economy even more.
Payne's Settlement became the main center of the area. In 1812, it officially became the Village of Hamilton. Early businesses included grocery stores, blacksmiths, and furniture makers. The first newspaper, the Hamilton Recorder, started in 1817. The Chenango Canal also passed through the village from 1834 to 1878. This canal helped connect Hamilton to the Erie Canal and markets on the East Coast.
Colgate University's Founding
Colgate University was founded in Hamilton in 1819. The university's campus is on what used to be Samuel Payne's farm. In 1827, Samuel Payne and his wife gave their 123-acre farm to the Baptist Theological Society. This became the new home for their school. The school's name changed to Madison University in 1846. In 1890, it became Colgate University. This was to honor the Colgate family, who had supported the school for many years.
Modern History
In 1903, John Vincent Atanasoff was born in Hamilton. He later created the first digital electronic computer.
A large part of the village's historic center is called the Hamilton Village Historic District. Many buildings in the village today were rebuilt in 1895. This was after a "great fire" destroyed much of the village. You can often see "1895" on the fronts of these buildings.
The movie Pottersville was filmed here in 2017.
Other historic places in Hamilton include the Old Biology Hall (now Hascall Hall) at Colgate University. The Adon Smith House and the United States Post Office are also listed.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 1,599 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,529 | −4.4% | |
| 1880 | 1,638 | 7.1% | |
| 1890 | 1,744 | 6.5% | |
| 1900 | 1,627 | −6.7% | |
| 1910 | 1,689 | 3.8% | |
| 1920 | 1,505 | −10.9% | |
| 1930 | 1,700 | 13.0% | |
| 1940 | 1,790 | 5.3% | |
| 1950 | 3,507 | 95.9% | |
| 1960 | 3,348 | −4.5% | |
| 1970 | 3,636 | 8.6% | |
| 1980 | 3,725 | 2.4% | |
| 1990 | 3,790 | 1.7% | |
| 2000 | 3,509 | −7.4% | |
| 2010 | 4,239 | 20.8% | |
| 2020 | 4,107 | −3.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 3,509 people living in the village. The population was made up of different groups. Most residents were White (90.85%). There were also African American (2.91%) and Asian (3.70%) residents. About 2.28% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The median age in the village was 21 years old. This is because many young people attend Colgate University.
Education in Hamilton
Hamilton has a K–12 school called Hamilton Central School. It serves students from the village and nearby towns. These towns include Eaton, Madison, Lebanon, and Brookfield.
Colgate University's Impact
Colgate University is a very important part of Hamilton. It is the biggest employer and economic influence in the village. The village's population is just a bit larger than Colgate's student body. Most of the university's teachers live close to the campus.
The village, the town, and Colgate University work together. They formed the Partnership for Community Development. This group helps local businesses and improves historic buildings. To make the connection stronger, Colgate moved its campus bookstore to the downtown area. This helps bring more people to the village center.
Fun Places to Visit
Hamilton has several interesting spots:
- The Seven Oaks Golf Course is on the east side of the village. It was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr..
- The Picker Art Gallery is located on the Colgate University campus.
- The Towpath Trail starts in the village. It follows parts of the old Chenango Canal for about 6 miles (9.7 km).
- Good Nature Farm Brewery & Tap Room opened in 2012. It was the first brewery in Madison County. In 2017, they opened a new brewery in the village.
Famous People from Hamilton
- John Vincent Atanasoff: He was a physicist and inventor. He created the first electronic digital computer.
- William L. Greenly: He was the sixth Governor of Michigan.
- Matt Malloy: An actor and producer.
- Philo A. Orton: A Wisconsin lawmaker and judge.
- Henry B. Payne: A United States Senator and Representative.
- Sereno E. Payne: A United States Representative and the first House Majority Leader.
- You can find more famous people connected to the university at List of Colgate University people.
See also
In Spanish: Hamilton (villa) para niños
