Hamilton

Hamilton, city (1991 pop. 318,499), S Ont., Canada, at the western end of Lake Ontario. It is situated on a narrow plain between its harbor (connected by canal with the lake) and the Niagara escarpment. Hamilton is an important port, transportation center, and manufacturing city. It is Canada's leading producer of iron and steel; other manufactures include automobiles, heavy machinery, chemicals, and electrical, paper, and textile products.

The site was settled by United Empire Loyalists in 1778. It became an important port city with the opening (1830) of the Burlington Canal, which linked Hamilton Harbor with Lake Ontario. Places of interest include the Royal Botanical Gardens, the open-air market, the historical museum in Dundern Park, and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. McMaster Univ. (1887) is in the city, which is also home to a Canadian Football League team.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.