In the 1880's there were just a few dozen families and settlers in Hamilton. Its population has grown to over 6300 individuals. The city's origins may go back to when the historic passage known as "Military Road" was carved out of the wilderness by volunteer soldiers from Tennessee returning North to their homes from victory over the British at New Orleans. The city was originally known as Toll Gate after the toll gate on the old military road. The name of the community was officially changed to Hamilton in honor of the settler who donated the land for the city.