Hamilton

City and port in southwestern Ontario, Canada, at the head of Lake Ontario, 65 km/40 mi southwest of Toronto and 90 km/56 mi northwest of the Niagara Falls; population (2001 est) 490,300; metropolitan area 662,400. Hamilton Harbour, one of the largest landlocked harbours on the Great Lakes, is linked with Lake Ontario via the Burlington Canal (completed in 1830). The city lies at the centre of a fruit-growing district, and is Canada's leading producer of steel; other industries include the manufacture of heavy machinery, electrical equipment, biotechnology, farm and machine tools, chemicals, and textiles.

History

In the 19th century Hamilton became well known for its metal industries, and the first of the city's three major iron and steel works was established here in 1895. During the War of 1812 an English force (under Colonel John Harvey) defeated a US force (under Generals Chandler and Winder), in the Battle of Stoney Creek. The site of this battle is now a public park with a memorial.

The first dwelling in Hamilton is said to have been a log cabin built in 1778 by Robert Land, a United Empire Loyalist. Hamilton is now the seat of McMaster University (1887), which is located at the top of the Niagara escarpment, and Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology (1967).