The Medical Officer of Health for the City of Hamilton has initiated a Heat Warning beginning today, Monday, July 13. Heat Warnings stay in effect until they are cancelled or escalated to an Extended Heat Warning. All HPL Library locations are Cool Places. Stay hydrated, Hamilton. www.hpl.ca/hours
Cool Places - Heat Alert in Place
Published:
Monday, July 13, 2026 - 9:30am
Ancaster Branch Elevator Out of Order
The elevator at Ancaster Branch is not working. We're working to get it fixed quickly.
Published:
Saturday, July 11, 2026 - 10:45am
Express Items via OverDrive - Partner Libraries Update
As of July 1st, partner library Members can no longer borrow HPL Express items via Overdrive. More to Borrow partner libraries will be offering Lucky Express (Skip the line) titles to their cardholders only. This will help manage wait times for popular titles. Lucky Express is a collection of in demand titles with a seven-day loan period, available with no wait.
Our partners will still be able to borrow titles from the rest of our collection.
www.hpl.ca/more-to-borrow
Published:
Monday, July 6, 2026 - 10:00am
What's Happening Guide Changes
The What's Happening Guide has been retired and replaced with different communications channels and tactics. You can find the new Summer Reading Flyer here. Watch for future communications updates.
Published:
Monday, June 29, 2026 - 3:00pm
Sunday Hours Return to Central Library
Sunday hours return to Central Library. Beginning July 5, Central is open Noon to 5pm. Dundas, Red Hill, Terryberry, Turner Park, Valley Park and Waterdown branches are also open Sundays, 1 to 5pm. hpl.ca/hours
Published:
Monday, June 29, 2026 - 1:00pm
Study Halls Pause for Summer Break
After Hours Study Hall is not available in July and August. Hours will resume Tuesday, September 8. www.hpl.ca/study-halls
Published:
Tuesday, June 23, 2026 - 3:00pm
Chronology of Cities, Towns and Townships in Hamilton
Townships in Wentworth County
This information contains a chronology of Cities, Towns and Townships in Hamilton, from their original survey and naming through to the present City of Hamilton.
Chronology
1788-1793
The townships at the Head-of-the-Lake were surveyed and named.
1802
The Home and Niagara Districts were created.
The Niagara District consisted of the Counties of Lincoln (four ridings) and Haldimand. This district included much of what became Wentworth County.
The Home District consisted of the County of York including the west riding which held the townships of Beverly and Flamborough.
1816
On March 22, 1816, a new district was created out of the old divisions of the Home and Niagara Districts. The new Gore District was named after Sir Francis Gore (1769-1852), Lieutenant-Governor of the colony. This district consisted of the two counties of Wentworth and Halton. At this time the boundaries of Wentworth County were not yet permanently fixed so it was determined that Wentworth would encompass the Townships of Saltfleet, Barton, Binbrook, Glanford, Ancaster and “so much of the County of Haldimand as lies between Dundas Street and the Village of Onondaga”.
1841
Act 4, Victoria established District Councils in Upper Canada.
1842
The first elections were held and 26 citizens were chosen to represent the townships of Gore.
1850
The Baldwin Municipal Act was passed.
This replaced the 1841 Act and replaced the District authorities with County Councils.
1851
The north-west portions of the old Gore District were combined to form the County of Brant but remained grouped with the United Counties of Wentworth and Halton.
1852
Brant County separated from the United Counties of Wentworth and Halton.
1853
The United Counties of Wentworth and Halton were separated by legislation into the two counties of Wentworth and Halton.
1960
The last of Barton Township was annexed by the City of Hamilton and the township ceased to exist.
1973
Bill 155 was passed to change Wentworth County into the Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth
January 1, 1974
The Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth came into being.
January 1, 2001
The new City of Hamilton came into being, incorporating the old city of Hamilton and the constituent municipalities of the old Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth.
