Illinois

Hamilton

7,993
2020 population
1830
first census record
20
census records

About Hamilton

Hamilton, Illinois, first appears in the United States federal census in 1830, when it recorded a population of 2,616. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 7,993.

Its recorded population peaked at 20,197 in 1900, and has since declined by roughly 60 percent.

On the ground today, 4 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20207,993
20108,457
20008,621
19908,499
19809,172
19708,665
196010,010
195012,256
194013,454
193012,995
192015,920
191018,227
190020,197
189017,800
188016,712
187013,014
18609,915
18506,362
18403,945
18302,616
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Hamilton

National Register of Historic Places listings in Hamilton, Illinois.

Cloud, Chalon Guard and Emma Blades, House
McLeansboro
Cloud, Aaron G., House
McLeansboro
St. James Episcopal Church
McLeansboro
Browse all Illinoishistoric sites ›

Other counties in Illinois

Explore census history and historic records for more Illinois counties.

ScottShelbySt. ClairStarkStephensonTazewellUnionVermilionWabashWarrenWashingtonWayneWhiteWhitesideWillWilliamsonWinnebagoWoodfordAdamsAlexander
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Everything a full report reveals about Hamilton County, Illinois

This page charts the census history of Hamilton County, Illinois. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Explore Illinois records

Illinoishistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Illinois›

Frequently asked about Hamilton

When does Hamilton first appear in the US census?
Hamilton, Illinois first appears in the federal census in 1830, with a recorded population of 2,616.
What is the population of Hamilton?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Hamilton had a recorded population of 7,993.
When did Hamilton's population peak?
Hamilton's recorded population peaked at 20,197 in 1900.
How many historic places are in Hamilton?
4 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Hamilton, Illinois.
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