The Settlement of Union Park, Hamilton 1900 - 1940: A Study using Tax Assessment Records

Abstract

This research paper describes a working-class suburban neighborhood for the pre-WWII period 1900-1940. The data are accumulated from tax assessment records, as these are extremely accurate and contain a large variety of information suitable for this study. The main objective is to describe the characteristics of Union Park in Hamilton, Ontario, using the years 1911, 1921 and 1931 as representative of the time period. Three areas of concern were focused on: the occupational characteristics of the inhabitants, describing the inhabitants homes based on building values, and determining characteristics of construction in the area as either owner-built or speculatively built. In general the results show that the area was predominantly working-class, the homes were very cheap in relative value and that the area was primarily owner-built for the period of study. Interesting variations were observed and possible reasons for such variations are suggested.