Hamilton

http://www.hamilton-city.org/

Settled as a frontier fort in the late 1700s, Hamilton is the cultural, financial and governmental center of Butler County.  More than 1,700 businesses call Hamilton home.  It has an excellent park system, four historic districts, two public golf courses, and a satellite campus of Miami University.  A historic event happened here in 2002:  President George Bush came to town and signed the landmark education bill No Child Left Behind into law at Hamilton High School.  Arts are a big thing here.  Its Fitton center for the Creative Arts bring the best to the city- plays, musicals, performing arts classes.  its Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park, an outdoor museum on 265 scenic acres, offers 66 pieces of sculptures.  Located along the Great Miami River, Hamilton offers water skiing, boating and other recreational opportunities.  Housing is a unique mix of renovated historic homes, new condominium complexes and single-family houses.  The old Mercy Hospital building on Riverfront Plaza is a proposed site for RiversEdge, a $12-million development that will feature 120 condos and retail space.  Hamilton's annual ice extravaganza, featuring ice carving competition in January, draws many visitors to the city.