[2] Hamilton was founded in the early 19th century by settlers who moved to the Alabama Territory from Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, Georgia and the Carolinas.

The city was first called "Toll Gate", but its name later changed in honor of one of its distinguished citizens, Captain Albert James Hamilton (known as A.J.

Hamilton), who had represented Marion County in the state legislature in the sessions of 1869, 1874 and 1875.

The same forty acres were then divided into lots and sold to help defray the cost of building the courthouse.

During the Civil War, Union forces passed through the town in search of goods and horses.

A detachment of Wilson's Cavalry destroyed by fire the plantation belonging to the Helvingstons on the Military Ford, south of Toll Gate (Hamilton).

[7] Hamilton is located west of the center of Marion County, in the valley of the Buttahatchee River.

Interstate 22 passes around the southern and western sides of the city, with access from Exits 7, 11, 14, and 16.

The two highways join at the center of Hamilton and lead south together 13 miles (21 km) to Guin.

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,042 people, 2,684 households, and 1,695 families residing in the city.

Several cemeteries in Hamilton still celebrate annual Decoration Days in the spring and summer.

[citation needed] Hamilton is a part of the Marion County School District.

Hamilton's local newspaper, The Journal Record, has a second office in Winfield, Alabama.

Hamilton is home to two local television stations: WMTY TV 46 (cable channel 5 ), and TV8-WATVC.