Hamilton

Hamilton, a city of Canada, the chief town in the county of Wentworth, Ontario, is situated on Burlington Bay, at the west end of Lake Ontario, 40 miles by rail SW. of Toronto, and 56 WNW. of Niagara Falls. The business portion lies at the foot of 'The Mountain,' on whose slope many fine residences are embowered among trees and gardens. Trees line the wide, handsome streets; the houses are mostly substantial stone erections, and the court-house and county buildings are among the finest in Canada. The city is an important railway centre, stands in the midst of a populous and highly-cultivated district, at the head of the lake navigation, and is said to possess a larger number of manufactories of iron, cotton, and woollen goods, sewing-machines, boots, glass-ware, &c. than any other town in Canada. Hamilton, which was founded in 1813, is the seat of an Anglican and of a Roman Catholic bishop, and sends two members to the House of Commons and one to the provincial legislature. Pop. (1861) 19,096; (1881) 35,961; (1891) 48,980.