If Hamilton was in Great Britain it would have qualified as a city since the 19th century, because Hamilton has an Anglican (Episcopalian) cathedral dating back to that time. With the building - actually, re-building - of the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, the status of city was conferred on the Town of Hamilton in 1897 by her Majesty Queen Victoria. Actually, it has three cathedrals (the other two are AME and Roman Catholic).

It has a resident population of only 1,500 or so today, although this will increase when several new upmarket apartments, are completed by 2003. Hamilton is now 177 acres in size, much more than when first established. Many inhabitants by day prefer to live beyond the city. But they come to it daily for employment, as it has more than 90 percent of all the employers in Bermuda. About 13,500 persons - 40% of Bermuda's working population work in the city.

Bermuda's capital since 1815, when it replaced the much more historic Town of St. George in the east end of Bermuda - it hosts the Bermuda Government, with its many buildings, army of civil servants, large number of elected and appointed politicians, cruise and cargo ships. It is one of the two local container ports and the hub of Bermuda's international business administration.

The City has changed significantly in the last two decades. Total built floor space has increased by over 40%. Commercial and Bermuda Government floor space have doubled. The number of persons employed in the City has increased by 25% but the number of people living in the City has decreased by 32%. There are 14% more automobiles coming into the City in the morning rush hour.

Regarding access for the disabled, Hamilton sidewalks are ramped for wheelchair access. There are several public toilets that are wheelchair accessible: Front Street at No. 1 Shed, Queen Street next to the Library, and Point Pleasant Road, Albouy's Point. A number of the major stores have elevators, and most of the stores on Front Street can be accessed without steps (not so on Reid Street, unfortunately). Many of the city's restaurants can be accessed by wheelchairs; as well as, City Hall is totally wheelchair accessible, including the theatre and the two art galleries.