Hamilton, Alabama

10 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1956 and the latest in 1980. It stands in the Hamilton census division. It lies in ZIP code area 35570. It stands on Ragsdale Creek. The Survey maps it on the Hamilton quadrangle. 7,042 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 489 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Hamilton within Marion County

On record in Hamilton

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 2 records

Ernest Baxter Fite Houselisted 1997
Pearce's Milllisted 1976

Population over time

2 figures

Hamilton grew from 6,885 to 7,042 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

Year	People	Change
2010	6,885
2020	7,042	+157 (+2%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

6 surveys from 10 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

1956 USGS Gadsden quadrangle1:250000, 3 printings
1958 USGS Gadsden quadrangle1:250000
1960 USGS Gadsden quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
1963 USGS Gadsden quadrangle1:250000
1967 USGS Hamilton quadrangle1:24000, 2 printings
1980 USGS Haleyville quadrangle1:100000

Fires near this place

191 since 1994

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 191 fires within 5 miles of Hamilton between 1994 and 2020, burning about 672 acres in total. 2 started naturally. 60 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause	Fires
Debris and open burning	75
Arson/incendiarism	60
Missing data/not specified/undetermined	21
Equipment and vehicle use	11
Recreation and ceremony	9
Misuse of fire by a minor	8
Railroad operations and maintenance	2
Power generation/transmission/distribution	2
Natural	2
Smoking	1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

Date	Cause	Size	Reported by	Name on the report
9 September 2016	Arson/incendiarism	10 acres	Alabama Forestry Commission	20160909-2
8 September 2002	Arson/incendiarism	under an acre	Alabama Forestry Commission	not named
5 September 2000	Arson/incendiarism	12 acres	Alabama Forestry Commission	not named
5 September 1999	Arson/incendiarism	under an acre	Alabama Forestry Commission	not named
30 September 2016	Arson/incendiarism	under an acre	Alabama Forestry Commission	20160930-11
29 September 2004	Equipment and vehicle use	10 acres	Alabama Forestry Commission	not named
28 September 1995	Railroad operations and maintenance	2.0 acres	Alabama Forestry Commission	not named
21 September 2018	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Alabama Forestry Commission	20180921-5

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Marion County

Mines and quarries near this place

4 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 4 workings within 5 miles of Hamilton: 4 producers. All of them still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Site	Commodity	Status	Recorded
Glen Allen Materials, Inc. Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
Hamilton Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer	Quartz
Hamilton Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
Unnamed Quarry	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer	Quartz

Every working recorded in Marion County

Storms near this place

60 of 98 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Hamilton in 98 storm reports between 1994 and 2026: 62 thunderstorm wind, 26 hail, 3 tornado, 2 lightning. The reports record 3 deaths and 5 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

When	Event	Place named	Harm	What the report says
June 2002	Lightning	Hamilton	3 killed, 4 hurt, $40,000	Lightning was believed to be responsible for a fire in a mobile home in the Shiloh community between Hamilton and Hackleburg of SR 187. Three children were killed and two adults and two other children were injured in the fire. The State Fire Marshall said that preliminary investigation indicated the fire started in the general area of the living room around the television. A burn at the base of the utility box outside the home indicated that lightning could have been involved in starting the fire. Time of the event was estimated.
March 2013	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	1 hurt	Numerous trees were reported down in Hamilton, with some trees falling on homes and causing damage. One tree landed on a car, trapping and injuring the person inside.
February 1995	Tornado (F1)	Hamilton	$500,000	A small tornado touched down about six miles east of Hamilton along U.S. Highway 278. The tornado travelled on a track just slightly north of east for about six miles running along and crossing U.S. Highway 278 twice. According to Emergency Management officials, five homes were damaged, three severely, and six chicken houses were destroyed.
November 2004	Tornado (F1)	Hamilton	$100,000	no account filed
January 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$60,000	An unsecured mobile home at a mobile home manufacturing plant was shifted into another, near Highway 43. An old garage in the same area was destroyed when wind got into the building, causing it to collapse. A couple of nearby homes sustained minor shingle damage.
April 2006	Tornado (F1)	Hamilton	$50,000	The tornado touched down just north of the intersection of US Highway 78 and State Highway 74. It then moved northeastward and dissipated just east of the intersection of County Road 41 and County Road 473. Numerous trees were either snapped off aloft or were blown down. Multiple telephone poles were blown down. The top of a barn was completely torn off. Several homes received roof damage, ranging from missing shingles to portions of roofs being lifted off. One automobile was totally destroyed due to fallen trees. One woman was killed (indirect) when she drove into an already downed tree along State Highway 187. One person suffered minor injuries (indirect) due to a fallen tree. New Hope Church had its porch destroyed and suffered minor damage to other portions of the building.
April 1996	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$40,000	no account filed
April 1996	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$40,000	no account filed
September 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$30,000	An old shop building and a wooden shed were totally destroyed in the Barnesville Community. Several homes sustained roof damage and many awnings were blown away. Several trees were also knocked down in the area.
April 1998	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$30,000	Wind damage was reported along SR 241, in the eastern part of the county.
April 1995	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$15,000	Numerous trees were downed and a mobile home was severely damaged by a downburst wind. The damage path began on the south side of U.S. 278 at the intersection with State Highway 129 near a community called Haleys and extended northward for about a mile.
May 1997	Flash Flood	Hamilton	$15,000	no account filed
January 1997	Hail	Hamilton	$12,000	no account filed
October 1997	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$12,000	no account filed
June 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$10,000	Trees were blown down onto a house, 1 mile north of Weston on CR-25.
August 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$9,000	One tree fell onto a vehicle and another fell across County Road 1.
August 2003	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$9,000	Several trees were blown down across the southern part of the county from Hamilton to Guin.
March 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$8,000	Several trees were blown down from Hamilton to Guin to Brilliant.
July 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$8,000	Several trees and power lines were blown down from Hamilton to Hackleburg.
December 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$8,000	Several trees were blown down near US 43 just northeast of Hamilton. A few out-buildings were also damaged.
July 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$8,000	A large tree was blown down onto an automobile. A few homes reported shingle damage on their roofs. This damage occurred along CR 29 north of Hamilton.
March 1996	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$8,000	no account filed
October 1996	Hail	Hamilton	$7,000	no account filed
April 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$5,000	Several trees were blown down in and around Hamilton.
August 2011	Lightning	Hamilton	$5,000	Lightning caused a structure fire in Hamilton.
August 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$5,000	Numerous trees were reported down around the county.
July 1998	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$5,000	Power lines were reported down just west of Hamilton.
July 1998	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$5,000	Numerous trees and power lines were down in Hamilton, including a tree on a home.
May 1997	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$5,000	Trees were reported down in Hamilton.
April 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$5,000	no account filed
January 1997	Hail	Hamilton	$5,000	no account filed
January 1997	Hail	Hamilton	$5,000	no account filed
March 1997	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$5,000	no account filed
August 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$4,000	Several trees were knocked down in and around Hamilton.
April 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$3,000	A tree was blown down onto a vehicle on Military Street.
April 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$3,000	A tree was blow down on to a house along Millican Street.
May 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$3,000	Several trees were blown down on US-278 in Hamilton.
June 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$3,000	4 to 5 trees down just west and northwest of Hamilton.
July 1995	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$3,000	About ten trees were reported down along Highway 10 in the southwest part of Marion County. Hail about the size of dimes was reported in Hamilton. Several trees were down on Highway 44 between Twin and Brilliant. A funnel cloud was reported near Whitehouse about 15 miles east of Hamilton.
April 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$2,000	Trees were blown down onto a power line on Indian Mound Road, southeast of Hamilton.
April 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$2,000	Several trees were blown down in and around the city of Hamilton.
December 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$2,000	Several trees were blown down in Hamilton, and other locations around Marion County.
May 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$2,000	Metal siding was pulled off a building in downtown Hamilton.
February 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$2,000	A dead tree was blown onto a passing car's window.
February 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$2,000	Powerlines were blown down onto an unmanned vehicle.
May 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$2,000	A few trees were blown down just north of Hamilton.
December 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$2,000	Several trees and power lines were blown down across western parts of Marion County.
October 1997	Hail	Hamilton	$2,000	no account filed
March 1996	Hail	Hamilton	$2,000	no account filed
August 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$1,000	A tree fell across the road near the intersection of Country Estates Drive and Rosedale Circle.
February 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$750	Straight line winds brought down powerlines along Military Street.
May 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$500	Two trees were blown down on the east side of Hamilton.
May 1995	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	$500	Trees were blown down in Hamilton with a thunderstorm.
March 2026	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	-	Trees were downed in numerous locations around Hamilton, with at least one tree on a house.
April 2026	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	-	Several reports of trees downed around Hamilton and just east of town.
March 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	-	Trees and power lines were downed on Lakeview Dr in Hamilton, and more trees were downed along County Highway 29 just north of town.
March 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	-	Numerous trees uprooted in the city of Hamilton and across the western half of Marion County.
March 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	-	Numerous reports of uprooted trees and downed power lines in the city of Hamilton.
July 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	-	Multiple trees uprooted across the city of Hamilton.
June 2022	Thunderstorm Wind	Hamilton	-	Several trees uprooted around the city of Hamilton.

Every storm recorded in Marion County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Place	Distance	Sheets
Pleasant Ridge	2.0 miles	10
Weston	2.6 miles	9
Fulton Bridge	3.9 miles	8
Barnesville	4.7 miles	9
Pikeville	7.5 miles	10
Pearces Mills	8.2 miles	11
Pea Ridge	8.4 miles	11
Byrd	8.7 miles	10

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on Hamilton	An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q79462	The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 119627. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.