Editing Hamilton, Washington

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Hamilton, Washington
| settlement_type    = [[Town]]
| image_skyline      = Brick Building in Hamilton WA.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_map          = Skagit_County_Washington_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Hamilton_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Hamilton, Washington
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Washington|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Skagit County, Washington|Skagit]]
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = 
<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_53.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 3.10
| area_land_km2      = 3.10
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| area_total_sq_mi   = 1.20
| area_land_sq_mi    = 1.20
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>
| population_total   = 299
| population_density_km2 = 100.01
| population_density_sq_mi = 258.98
<!-- General information -->
| timezone           = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)]]
| utc_offset         = -8
| timezone_DST       = PDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -7
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 95
| coordinates        = {{coord|48|31|34|N|121|59|58|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 98255
| area_code          = [[Area code 360|360]]
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 53-29255<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2412721<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2412721}}</ref>
| website            = 
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Hamilton''' is a town in [[Skagit County, Washington|Skagit County]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], United States. The population was 299 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]]. It is included in the [[Mount Vernon, Washington|Mount Vernon]]-[[Anacortes, Washington|Anacortes]], Washington [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
Hamilton was first settled in 1877 by William Hamilton, and was later named for him when Hamilton was officially incorporated on March 19, 1891.<ref name=majors>{{Cite book|last=Majors|first=Harry M.|title=Exploring Washington|publisher=Van Winkle Publishing Co|year=1975|page=28|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CoWrPQAACAAJ|isbn=978-0-918664-00-6}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Meany|first=Edmond S.|title=Origin of Washington geographic names|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015027074981;view=1up;seq=123|year=1923|publisher=University of Washington Press|location=Seattle|page=107}}</ref>

The town was flooded by the [[Skagit River]] in November 2021. The local [[post office]] was deemed uninhabitable due to damage from the floods and shut down despite repairs to the building. Mail and parcels bound for Hamilton are instead forwarded to the Concrete post office, located {{convert|13|mi|km}} away, despite protests from residents.<ref>{{cite news |last=Muncy |first=Racquel |date=December 13, 2022 |title=Hamilton's lack of mail service just got worse for some residents |url=https://www.goskagit.com/townnews/post/hamiltons-lack-of-mail-service-just-got-worse-for-some-residents/article_970606b4-75cf-11ed-abf3-23193dcc7b2b.html |work=Skagit Valley Herald |accessdate=December 19, 2022}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|1.13|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all of it land.<ref name ="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 19, 2012}}</ref>

===Flooding===

As part of the [[Skagit River]] [[Flood bypass|floodway]], the town of Hamilton faces significant flooding every few years, most notably in 2003, 2006, 2017, and 2021.<ref name="Times-2019">{{cite news |last=Bush |first=Evan |date=May 12, 2019 |title=Floods have ravaged Hamilton for over a century. Can outsiders persuade the town to move? |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/floods-have-ravaged-hamilton-for-over-a-century-can-outsiders-persuade-the-town-to-move/ |work=[[The Seattle Times]] |access-date=May 12, 2019}}</ref> The frequent flooding has forced residents to adopt a routine of moving their furniture from the ground floor and evacuating to a local church until the waters recede. The [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] (FEMA) estimates it has spent $4.6 million in the town over the last several years.<ref name="Times-2019"/>

Support has been building for a plan to move the entire town to a nearby hill. The Hamilton Public Development Authority was established in 2004 to purchase the land necessary for moving the town, which was achieved with assistance from conservation group [[Forterra]] in 2018. Forterra purchased a {{convert|45|acre|ha|adj=mid}} farm north of State Route 20, which it aims to develop into a [[green city]] with housing for the relocated townspeople.<ref name="Times-2019"/>

===Climate===
The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round.  According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Hamilton has a [[marine west coast climate]], abbreviated "Cfb" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=976154&cityname=Hamilton%2C+Washington%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Hamilton, Washington]</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1890 = 203
| 1900 = 392
| 1910 = 405
| 1920 = 462
| 1930 = 252
| 1940 = 229
| 1950 = 294
| 1960 = 271
| 1970 = 196
| 1980 = 268
| 1990 = 228
| 2000 = 309
| 2010 = 301
| 2020 = 299
| align-fn = center
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 31, 2014}}</ref><br>2015 Estimate<ref name="2015 Pop Estimate">{{cite web|title=Population Estimates|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2015/SUB-EST2015-3.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=July 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019182931/https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2015/SUB-EST2015-3.html|archive-date=October 19, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]],<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 19, 2012}}</ref> there were 301 people, 116 households, and 80 families living in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|266.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 141 housing units at an average density of {{convert|124.8|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 90.4% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.0% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 3.7% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 4.0% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.3% of the population.

There were 116 households, of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.0% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 1.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 2.99.

The median age in the town was 40.5 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.9% were from 25 to 44; 30.5% were from 45 to 64; and 10% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]],<ref name="GR2" /> there were 309 people, 117 households, and 80 families living in the town. The population density was 313.2 people per square mile (120.5/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 135 housing units at an average density of 136.8 per square mile (52.7/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the town was 91.91% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 3.56% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.65% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.62% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.27% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.91% of the population.

There were 117 households, out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 20.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the town, the age distribution of the population shows 27.8% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 34.3% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 127.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 123.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,500, and the median income for a family was $34,063. Males had a median income of $33,542 versus $22,969 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $13,531. About 21.2% of families and 22.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 28.0% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those 65 or over.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/12/us/12flood.html New York Times article about moving the town]

{{Skagit County, Washington}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Skagit County, Washington]]
[[Category:Towns in Washington (state)]]