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History · Hamilton Township

Hamilton Township dates to 1852, and 36% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1949 on and the census since 1880.

1852founded
0on the National Register
36%homes built before 1940
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Quick answers

How Hamilton Township began

When was Hamilton Township founded?

1852

Hamilton Township dates its founding to 1852 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1880.

First census: 1,025 in 18802020 census: 189174 years
Founding year: Wikipedia.The full story ↓

What stands out about Hamilton Township’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Hamilton Township are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.Old housesHalf of Hamilton Township’s homes were built before 1954.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Hamilton Township’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Hamilton Township’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
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The story

How Hamilton Township came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Hamilton Township.

Read it all →

Hamilton was laid out in 1852 by several men in the area, including Samuel Gordon and Bryant Bartlett. Hamilton was officially incorporated as a town in 1854, and then re-incorporated as a city in 1859. Artois Hamilton, for whom the town was named, was also active in the early history of the town.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

By decade

Hamilton Township, decade by decade

Today2 recent
Broadway Street in2017Broadway Street in2010 Census Urban Cluster Reference Map for Keokuk, Iowa--Illinois20102010 Census Urban Cluster Reference Map for Keokuk, I…Book
On the map

Hamilton Township on the map, 1949 to 1982

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Hamilton Township. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Hamilton Township on the 1949 USGS mapHamilton Township on the 1982 USGS map1949Walnut sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Hamilton Township.

People over time

Hamilton Township, census by census

05001,0001,5002,0002,5003,0003,50018801900192019401960198020002020Peak: 3,509

Between 1,025 and 3,509 people in every census since 1880.

15 censuses, 1880–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Hamilton Township’s Wikipedia page.

Places that used to be

Places now gone

Gone or out of use
Chapel SchoolschoolMeckell SchoolschoolMerchant SchoolschoolPope Schoolschool

Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Hahnaman TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townEast Grove TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townHarmon TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about Hamilton Township’s history

What year was Hamilton Township founded?

In 1852, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. the census of 1880 counted 1,025 people here.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
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Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (2), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.