Hamilton College is located in the Clinton, NY where the population is about 2,000. This village, in Oneida County, is also known as the “village of schools” because of the number of private schools that operated there during the 19th Century. Residents of Clinton have a generally favorable relationship with Hamilton students. The center of town is conveniently located down the hill from Hamilton’s campus and contains a few coffee shops, a bookstore, a gift shop, a few drugstores, some restaurants, and a supermarket. Although Clinton is not filled with many attractions, Hamilton is about 15 minutes away from a shopping mall, a movie theater, and restaurants.

Hamilton’s original campus is known by students as the “light side” and the former Kirkland College campus is known as the “dark side.” The north and south sides of campus are connected by a long, red-bricked pathway known as Martin’s Way. Students go to class along Martin’s Way, and it’s not uncommon to see familiar faces on the way. The Margaret Bundy Scott Field house, a 55,000-square-foot multipurpose athletic structure where basketball games are held, is located on the eastern end of campus near the football team’s Steuben Field, while a cluster of residence halls and the List Art Center, used for the visual and performing arts, is located on the west side of campus. Hamilton is known as a “walking campus” as most students get around on foot.

Housing is guaranteed for all four years at Hamilton. When students apply for housing, they fill out a housing preference form that the school uses to match the student up with one of 23 different residence halls. First-year students are not allowed to bring cars to campus due to the limited amount of parking and must wait until their second year to be able to do so. Dorms at Hamilton are located on the “Light Side” and the “Dark Side” of campus. The Light Side consists of the original Hamilton College Campus and the Dark Side consists of what was once Kirkland College, before Hamilton became co-ed in 1978. There are a ton of dorms located on the Light Side of campus, many of which were frat houses turned into really nice student dorms - the Residential Life Decision of 1995 eliminated Greek houses at Hamilton. The Light Side is typically known as the “preppier” side of campus. Dunham, located here, is the largest dorm on campus. It is also the most centrally located underclassman dorm on campus and can accommodate 249 students. The Dark Side houses the art department, theater department, and the Root Glen. It is also known to have more ‘artsy students.’ The Dark Side dorm buildings include suites, as well as Babbitt and Milbank residence halls. Suites typically consist of five singles and one double, along with a kitchen and common room.

Hamilton competes in NCAA Division III sports and is a member of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC). There are 28 varsity sports including men’s baseball and football, men’s and women’s basketball, crew, ice hockey, lacrosse, track & field, and squash. In 2008, Hamilton won its first NCAA championship when the women’s lacrosse team defeated Franklin and Marshall in the finals of the NCAA tournament. About 30% of Hamilton students participate in the athletics program. “Sports are HUGE at Hamilton. I would suggest that you fear The Continentals because we are ‘buff’ and we are ‘blue.’ We may be DIII, but we have just as much school spirit as a DI school. As a NESCAC school, Hamilton is filled with many talented athletes. Many members of the Hamilton community follow football, basketball, and ice hockey.” — With special reporting by Amanda Nardi '11