Hamilton, North Carolina

Hamilton is a town in Martin County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 306 at the 2020 census.

American Civil War

According to local historians, the most significant historical event of early Hamilton was the battle and fall of Fort Branch during the American Civil War, when Union vessels and troops came upriver from Plymouth in an attempt to reach Weldon to cut off supplies to General Robert E. Lee. The fort, located southeast of Hamilton along the Roanoke River, protected Weldon until the day after General Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House, whereupon the railroad line over the Weldon bridge had no more military significance. Afterwards, the fort was abandoned and the cannons were dumped into the Roanoke by departing Confederate troops.

Reconstruction

In 1887, the town saw construction of its first railroad, the Hamilton Railroad & Lumber Company, also known as Hitch's Railroad. This was a short line that served the lumber industry in the area, but later expanded operations.

Modern Era

In the 1910s, a Rosenwald school was constructed in Hamilton to serve the local black community. Alternating dates of construction are reported, with the earliest being 1914. The school was operated until 1960.

Hamilton, once a thriving, beautiful Victorian port town with many of its homes listed in the National Historic Registry, has been in decline in recent years, losing more than half its population since 1980.

Geography

Hamilton is in northwestern Martin County, bordered to the east by Bertie County. The Roanoke River forms the eastern border of the town and serves as the county line.

North Carolina Highway 125 passes through the town as West Liberty Street and South Front Street, while Highway 903 passes through entirely on Front Street. Highway 125 leads southeast to Williamston, the Martin county seat, and west to Oak City, while Highway 903 leads south to Robersonville and northwest to Scotland Neck.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all land.

2020 census

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+Hamilton town, North Carolina – Racial and ethnic composition

!Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)

!Pop 2000

!Pop 2010

!% 2000

!% 2010

|White alone (NH)

|229

|154

|style='background: #ffffe6; |105

|44.38%

|37.75%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |34.31%

|Black or African American alone (NH)

|268

|143

|style='background: #ffffe6; |175

|51.94%

|59.56%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |57.19%

|Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |1

|0.00%

|0.25%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.33%

|Asian alone (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0

|0.00%

|0.25%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00%

|Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0

|0.19%

|0.00%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00%

|Other Race alone (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |2

|0.00%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.65%

|Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |9

|0.00%

|1.23%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.94%

|Hispanic or Latino (any race)

|18

|style='background: #ffffe6; |14

|3.49%

|0.98%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.58%

|Total

|516

|408

|style='background: #ffffe6; |306

|100.00%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

2000 census

As of the census St. Martin's was admitted to the Episcopal convention in 1873. Building began in 1879. All of the construction materials were from local suppliers, except the bell and stained glass, which were imported from Wales. The church was consecrated on May 17, 1882. The Rev. Dr. Watson preached the sermon; Bishop Lyman celebrated Holy Communion. The church is now inactive, but is still owned by the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina. This means it is still a consecrated church.