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Hamilton | |
---|---|
City | |
Location of Hamilton in Bermuda | |
Coordinates: 32°17′39″N64°46′55″W / 32.29417°N 64.78194°W | |
Country | United Kingdom |
Territory | Bermuda |
Parish | Pembroke |
Founded | 1790 |
Government | |
• Mayor | Charles Gosling |
Area | |
• Total | 0.28 sq mi (0.7 km2) |
Population (2016) | |
• Total | 854 [1] |
• Density | 3,050/sq mi (1,180/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−04:00 (Atlantic Standard Time) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−03:00 (Atlantic Daylight Time) |
Climate | Af |
Website | cityofhamilton.bm |
The City of Hamilton, in Pembroke Parish, is the territorial capital of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda. It is the territory's financial centre and a port and tourist destination. Its population of 854 (2016) [2] is one of the smallest of any capital city.
The history of Hamilton as a British city began in 1790 when the government of Bermuda set aside 145 acres (59 ha) for its future seat, officially incorporated in 1793 by an Act of Parliament, and named for Governor Henry Hamilton. The colony's capital relocated to Hamilton from St George's in 1815. The city has been at the political and military heart of Bermuda ever since. Government buildings include the parliament building, the Government House to the north, the former Admiralty House of the Royal Navy to the west (both in Pembroke), and the British Army garrison headquarters at Prospect Camp to its east. The Town of Hamilton became a city in 1897, ahead of the consecration in 1911 of the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity (Church of England), which was under construction at the time. A Catholic cathedral, St. Theresa's, was later constructed.
In 1940, the Royal Navy commissioned a former US Navy destroyer as HMS Hamilton. The 2 November 1940, issue of The Royal Gazette , a newspaper published in the City of Hamilton, reported this in an article titled "NEW" DESTROYER HAS NAME OF HAMILTON: Mayor Here Receives Letter From Her Commander, [3] and began:
News has been received here of the destroyer Hamilton, one of the 50 destroyers recently acquired by Great Britain from the United States and named in honour of Bermuda's capital. Commander L. M. Shadwell, R.N., who commands the Hamilton, has written to the Mayor of Hamilton, Mr. S. P. Eve, a letter in which he says, "I thought it possible that you might be interested to have news from time to time of the ship which has the honour to bear the name of your city."
The article went on to mention that the Mayor was to open a fund to supply the crew of the ship with newspapers and included the text of Shadwell's letter.
In February 17th, 1975, Queen Elizabeth II made an visit on city hall along with Prince Philip, in the course of world tour on the construction of the structure. [4]
Today, the city overlooking Hamilton Harbour is primarily a business district, with few structures other than office buildings and shops. The City of Hamilton has long maintained a building height and view limit, which states that no buildings may obscure the cathedral. In the 21st century, buildings have been planned and some are under construction that are as high as ten storeys in the area. Bermuda's local newspaper, The Royal Gazette, reports, "If you don't recognise the city, from 15 years ago, we don't blame you as it has changed so much".[ citation needed ]
Hamilton is located on the north side of Hamilton Harbour, and is Bermuda's main port. Although there is a parish of the same name, the city of Hamilton is in the parish of Pembroke. The city is named after Sir Henry Hamilton, governor of the territory from 1786 to 1793. Hamilton Parish antedates the city.
The administrative capital of Bermuda, Hamilton, has a limited permanent population around 854 (2016); however in 2010, 13,340 (40% of Bermuda's working population) worked here on a daily basis. The only incorporated city in Bermuda, Hamilton is smaller than the historic town of St. George's. A more representative measure of Bermuda's local residential populations tends to be by parish.
As the offshore domicile of many foreign companies, Bermuda has a highly developed international business economy; it is an exporter of financial services, primarily insurance, reinsurance, investment funds, and special-purpose vehicles. Finance and international business constitute the largest sector of Bermuda's economy, and virtually all of this business takes place within the borders of Hamilton.
Numerous leading international insurance companies are based in Hamilton, as it is a global reinsurance centre[ clarification needed ]. Around 400 internationally owned and operated businesses are physically based in Bermuda, and many are represented by the Association of Bermuda International Companies. In total, over 1,500 exempted or international companies are registered with the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda.
The city is the registered headquarters of the spirits manufacturer Bacardi, outsourcing company Genpact, and reinsurance company Tokio Millennium Re Ltd. [5] Hamilton is known as the headquarters of international shipping companies, such as Frontline Ltd. Its low corporate tax rate makes it attractive to US companies. [6]
In addition, the corporate headquarters of the Bermuda grocery store chain The MarketPlace is located within the chain's Hamilton MarketPlace location, [7] [8] the largest grocery store in Bermuda. [9]
According to Numbeo, Hamilton, Bermuda holds the record for the highest cost of living index in the world with the cost of living rate in Hamilton being at 138.01 as of 2023. [10]
Index | Rating |
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Cost of Living | 138.01 |
Rent Index | 89.76 |
Cost of Living Plus Rent | 114.91 |
Groceries Index | 142.98 |
Restaurant Price Index | 134.85 |
Local Purchasing Power | 70.99 |
The coat of arms of the city of Hamilton incorporate a shield featuring a golden sailing ship, representing the Resolution, surrounded by three cinquefoils, two above the ship and one below, also in gold, all on a plain blue background. This shield is supported by a mermaid and heraldic sea horse (i.e., demi-horse, demi-fish), and is placed on a mount in front of which is a scroll containing the motto "Sparsa Collegit". The shield is topped by a crest featuring a closed helm topped with a torque above which an heraldic seahorse is emerging from the sea holding a flower. [11] The city's full motto is Hamilton sparsa collegit, ("Hamilton has assembled the scattered"). [12]
The city's flag is a banner of arms, featuring the same details as on the shield of the city's coat of arms, but with the flowers in white rather than gold. [11]
The city of Hamilton has many parks for its size. One of the best known parks in the city is Victoria Park. This park occupies a whole block and was named after Queen Victoria. Other parks in the city are Par La Ville Park, Barr's Park, All Buoy's Point Park, and the hidden Cedar Park.
Although located some distance north of the geographic tropics, Hamilton has a warm trade-wind tropical rainforest climate (Af) bordering on humid subtropical climate (Cfa). It is warm enough for coconut palms and other tropical palms to grow, although they may not fruit properly due to the lack of heat or sunshine during the winter months because of latitude. Hamilton has uncharacteristically warm temperatures for its latitude (32°N) because of the moderating influence of the North Atlantic and nearby Gulf Stream. Hamilton features warm and humid summers and semi-warm "winters". As temperatures are moderated by the Atlantic Ocean, it rarely gets very hot or cold in the city. Precipitation is plentiful throughout the year and Hamilton does not have a dry season month, a month where on average less than 60 mm (2.36 in) of precipitation falls. Summer precipitation is usually from showers, thunderstorms, and tropical disturbances or even tropical cyclones. Meanwhile, winter precipitation is typically derived from westerly moving extra-tropical cyclones and their associated fronts. Erratic, extended dry spells occasionally develop because of variations in the semi-permanent sub-tropical ridge locally known as the Bermuda-Azores High.
Climate data for Bermuda (L.F. Wade International Airport) (1991-2020 normals, extremes 1949-2023) [lower-alpha 1] | |||||||||||||
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Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 25.4 (77.7) | 26.1 (79.0) | 26.1 (79.0) | 27.2 (81.0) | 30.0 (86.0) | 32.2 (90.0) | 33.1 (91.6) | 33.9 (93.0) | 33.2 (91.8) | 31.7 (89.0) | 28.9 (84.0) | 26.7 (80.0) | 33.9 (93.0) |
Mean maximum °C (°F) | 23.4 (74.1) | 23.1 (73.6) | 23.5 (74.3) | 24.4 (75.9) | 26.5 (79.7) | 29.1 (84.4) | 30.7 (87.3) | 31.2 (88.2) | 30.6 (87.1) | 28.9 (84.0) | 26.3 (79.3) | 24.5 (76.1) | 31.3 (88.3) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 20.7 (69.3) | 20.4 (68.7) | 20.5 (68.9) | 22.1 (71.8) | 24.3 (75.7) | 27.2 (81.0) | 29.6 (85.3) | 30.1 (86.2) | 29.1 (84.4) | 26.7 (80.1) | 23.8 (74.8) | 21.8 (71.2) | 24.7 (76.5) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 18.3 (64.9) | 17.9 (64.2) | 18.1 (64.6) | 19.7 (67.5) | 22.0 (71.6) | 25.0 (77.0) | 27.2 (81.0) | 27.7 (81.9) | 26.7 (80.1) | 24.4 (75.9) | 21.6 (70.9) | 19.6 (67.3) | 22.4 (72.3) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 15.9 (60.6) | 15.4 (59.7) | 15.6 (60.1) | 17.3 (63.1) | 19.8 (67.6) | 22.7 (72.9) | 24.9 (76.8) | 25.2 (77.4) | 24.4 (75.9) | 22.2 (72.0) | 19.3 (66.7) | 17.3 (63.1) | 20.0 (68.0) |
Mean minimum °C (°F) | 11.5 (52.7) | 11.6 (52.9) | 11.4 (52.5) | 14.0 (57.2) | 16.3 (61.3) | 19.4 (66.9) | 21.7 (71.1) | 22.5 (72.5) | 21.4 (70.5) | 19.0 (66.2) | 15.9 (60.6) | 13.6 (56.5) | 10.2 (50.4) |
Record low °C (°F) | 7.2 (45.0) | 6.3 (43.3) | 7.2 (45.0) | 8.9 (48.0) | 12.1 (53.8) | 15.2 (59.4) | 16.1 (61.0) | 20.0 (68.0) | 18.9 (66.0) | 14.4 (58.0) | 12.4 (54.3) | 9.1 (48.4) | 6.3 (43.3) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 127.6 (5.02) | 123.6 (4.87) | 118.9 (4.68) | 86.8 (3.42) | 94.6 (3.72) | 110.2 (4.34) | 116.2 (4.57) | 165.2 (6.50) | 145.2 (5.72) | 149.1 (5.87) | 111.6 (4.39) | 104.8 (4.13) | 1,453.8 (57.23) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) | 13.8 | 12.6 | 12.2 | 8.9 | 7.8 | 9.9 | 10.7 | 13.2 | 11.6 | 12.1 | 11.8 | 11.7 | 136.3 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 73 | 73 | 73 | 74 | 79 | 81 | 80 | 79 | 77 | 74 | 72 | 72 | 76 |
Average dew point °C (°F) | 13.4 (56.1) | 13.3 (55.9) | 12.9 (55.2) | 15.2 (59.4) | 17.7 (63.9) | 21.1 (70.0) | 22.8 (73.0) | 23.1 (73.6) | 22.2 (72.0) | 19.8 (67.6) | 16.6 (61.9) | 14.6 (58.3) | 17.7 (63.9) |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 143.2 | 147.6 | 189.7 | 231.9 | 255.9 | 255.6 | 284.6 | 272.7 | 221.8 | 198.3 | 168.0 | 146.6 | 2,515.9 |
Source: Bermuda Weather Service (mean max and min 2006-2023, humidity 1995-2010, dew point 2002-2018, sun 1999-2019) [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] |
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2016) |
Schools in Hamilton:
Hamilton has a host of beaches, which provide many opportunities for water sports, including surfing, wind surfing, water skiing, jet skiing, sailing and diving.
The highlight of the sports calendar is the Bermuda Gold Cup (or Argo Group Gold Cup as it is known), [21] a sailing event which is a key stage of the World Match Racing Tour, one of only three sailing championships to be sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) [22] with 'Special Event' status. The Argo Cup brings the world's best match-racing sailors (including world champions and Olympic sailors) to Bermuda for five days of one-on-one 'match racing'. Points accrued during the event contribute to the World Match Racing Tour and ultimately a chance to race in the final event, the Monsoon Cup in Malaysia. The winner of that is crowned ISAF World Match Racing Champion. Unlike many water-based sports, which occur too far out to view from shore, 'match racing' is a great spectator sport. The race takes place only 15m from the shore, and spectators can see the heart of the action.
The history of the modern Bermuda Gold Cup event dates back to the very beginning of the match racing style of sailing. The first 'match race' in a one-design racing yacht, i.e. technically identical boats, was the King Edward VII Gold Cup [23] in Bermuda (now known as the Argo Gold Cup) that was first sailed in 1937. The Argo Gold Cup is still a key event in the World Match Racing Tour calendar.
The King Edward VII Cup itself was originally given at the Tri-Centenary Regatta at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1907, by King Edward VII in commemoration of the 300th Anniversary of the first permanent settlement in America. C. Sherman Hoyt won that regatta, and was the first sailor to accept the historic trophy.
Hoyt held the Gold Cup for three decades before donating it to the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and proposing an annual one-on-one match-race series in 6-Meter yachts. In his letter he expressed the propriety of "my returning a British Royal trophy to the custody of your club, with its long record of clean sportsmanship and keenly contested races between your Bermuda yachts and ours of Long Island Sound, and elsewhere..." [24] The first winner of the Cup in its new format was Briggs Cunningham in 1937. He was also the first skipper to win the America's Cup in a 12-Meter racing yacht.
All but one route (Route 6) in Bermuda start from the bus terminal in Hamilton. [25]
Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. The closest land outside the territory is in the American state of North Carolina, about 1,035 km (643 mi) to the west-northwest.
The Bermuda sloop is a historical type of fore-and-aft rigged single-masted sailing vessel developed on the islands of Bermuda in the 17th century. Such vessels originally had gaff rigs with quadrilateral sails, but evolved to use the Bermuda rig with triangular sails. Although the Bermuda sloop is often described as a development of the narrower-beamed Jamaica sloop, which dates from the 1670s, the high, raked masts and triangular sails of the Bermuda rig are rooted in a tradition of Bermudian boat design dating from the earliest decades of the 17th century. It is distinguished from other vessels with the triangular Bermuda rig, which may have multiple masts or may not have evolved in hull form from the traditional designs.
A match race is a race between two competitors, going head-to-head.
A Bermuda rig, Bermudian rig, or Marconi rig is a configuration of mast and rigging for a type of sailboat and is the typical configuration for most modern sailboats. This configuration was developed in Bermuda in the 17th century; the term Marconi, a reference to the inventor of the radio, Guglielmo Marconi, became associated with this configuration in the early 20th century, because the wires that stabilize the mast of a Bermuda rig reminded observers of the wires on early radio masts.
A variety of sports are played in British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, from those brought by British and International relations, and sail racing). Some sports and events have greater historical and cultural significance whilst others are played for entertainment or competition.
The Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, A Fairmont Managed Hotel is one of the grandest and most famous hotels in Bermuda, located in Pembroke Parish just outside the City of Hamilton. It also happens to be the oldest hotel in the Fairmont chains. One of the largest in Bermuda, it has over 400 rooms. It is one of two Fairmont Hotels on the island, the second being the Fairmont Southampton, which was originally opened as the Southampton Princess.
Hamilton Harbour is a natural harbour in Bermuda which serves as the port for the capital, the City of Hamilton. It is an arm of the Great Sound, and forms a tapering wedge shape of water between Paget Parish and the peninsula which forms Pembroke Parish, and upon which the capital sits.
The Bermuda Police Service is the law enforcement agency of the British Overseas Territory and former Imperial fortress of Bermuda. It is responsible for policing the entire archipelago, including incorporated municipalities, and the surrounding waters. It is part of, and entirely funded by, the Government of Bermuda. Like the Royal Bermuda Regiment, it is under the nominal control of the territory's Governor and Commander in Chief, although, for day-to-day purposes, control is delegated to a minister of the local government. It was created in 1879, as Bermuda's first professional police service. In organisation, operation, and dress, it was created and has developed in line with the patterns established by British Isles police services, such as the City of Glasgow Police, and the Metropolitan Police Service.
Henry Jennings was an English privateer-turned-pirate. Jennings' first recorded act of piracy took place in early 1716 when, with three vessels and 150–300 men, Jennings' fleet ambushed the Spanish salvage camp from the 1715 Treasure Fleet. After the Florida raid, Jennings and his crew also linked up with Benjamin Hornigold's "three sets of pirates" from New Providence Island.
Bermuda Hogges were a Bermudian football team based in Hamilton, Bermuda. Founded in 2006, the team played in the USL Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. On 28 May 2013, the club announced it pulled out of the USL's Premier Development League due to financial difficulties.
The Bermuda Fitted Dinghy is a type of racing-dedicated sail boat used for competitions between the yacht clubs of Bermuda. Although the class has only existed for about 130 years, the boats are a continuance of a tradition of boat and ship design in Bermuda that stretches back to the earliest decades of the 17th century.
The International One Design is a class of sail boat developed in 1936 for yacht racing. It is a 33-foot open-cockpit day sailer used for day racing, rather than for overnight or ocean races. Popularised prior to the Second World War, the International One Design class is considered a classic one today.
The Pembroke Hamilton Club Zebras is a Bermudian professional football club based in Hamilton, that participates in Bermudian Premier Division.
The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) is a private yacht club that was established as the Bermuda Yacht Club on 1 November, 1844, after the sport of racing yachts had become established in Bermuda primarily as a pastime of idle officers of the Bermuda Garrison and the Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda. In 1845, Prince Albert consented to become Patron of the Club and in 1846 the club was permitted to add the adjective "Royal" to its name. The RBYC flies the blue ensign with the RBYC badge.
Admiral Sir Irvine Gordon Glennie KCB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, America and West Indies Station.
Sir James Reginald Conyers CBE was a Bermudian lawyer, politician, and cricketer. Born in Pembroke Parish, Bermuda, Conyers was a keen member of the Hamilton Cricket Club, and toured the United States with the club in 1905. Having regularly played for Bermuda against touring American teams, he was invited to play for the Gentlemen of Philadelphia during the team's 1908–09 tour of Jamaica. In the final match of the tour, against Jamaica at Melbourne Park, Conyers scored 149 runs opening Philadelphia's batting, his highest first-class score and only first-class century. He would later make several appearances for Philadelphia's Merion Cricket Club in the Halifax Cup competition in 1909 and 1911. Conyers remained heavily involved in Bermudian cricket after the tour's end, often captaining the Bermudan national team against touring sides from North America. He was playing competitive cricket until as late as 1928, when he captained Bermuda on a tour of the United States aged 49.
Carlyle McNeil Eugene Crockwell MBE was a FIFA-certified Bermudian football referee.
HMS Castle Harbour was a civilian harbour vessel of 730 tons that was taken-up from trade (TUFT) during the Second World War by the Royal Naval Dockyard in Bermuda for use by the Royal Naval Examination Service and later armed and commissioned as a warship, providing harbour defence from submarines.
The Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club (RHADC) is a private yacht club in the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda that was established as the Hamilton Amateur Dingey Association on, or before, 28 July 1882. It is the World's only Royal dinghy club.
The Relief of Lucknow is a 1912 American silent film about the Relief of Lucknow during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Filmed in 1911 by the Edison Company at locations in the Imperial fortress colony of Bermuda, including the Prospect Camp Garrison Golf Links clubhouse, "Walsingham House", and the walled streets of St. George's town.