Hamilton is a busy port at the western extremity of Lake Ontario. Hamilton's port is situated on Hamilton Harbour, one of the largest landlocked harbors of the Great Lakes. The city is an important commercial and manufacturing center; nearby is a noted fruit-growing region. Hamilton is Canada's leading producer of steel. Other major products include electrical equipment, metal items, processed food, machinery, chemicals, medical supplies, and clothing.

The city also serves as a financial and insurance center. Educational institutions include McMaster University (1887) and Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology (1967). The city is the site of the Art Gallery of Hamilton (1914); Dundurn Castle (built 1830s, restored 1967), now housing a museum in part commemorating the Canadian political leader Sir Allan Napier MacNab; the Canadian Football Hall of Fame; the Royal Botanical Gardens (1941); Hamilton Place, a center for the performing arts; the Copps Coliseum Trade Centre Arena; and DuMaurier Arts Centre (Theatre Aquarius). The Tiger-Cats, a team of the professional Canadian Football League, are based at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton. A 2006 real estate survey has estimated the population of Hamilton, Ontario at 692,911.