Hamilton included on list of 'up-and-coming' cities

Livability.com this month listed Hamilton as one of eight "up-and-coming" small cities close to major metropolitan areas, which it called communities offering "the best of both worlds."

Over the past few years, Hamilton has pumped $65 million into downtown and its revitalization efforts are bringing about “a thriving arts and culture scene and market-rate apartments,” according to Livability.com writer Brittany Anas.

MORE: Spooky Nook goes vertical: Giant Hamilton project moves to building phase

The city boasts a variety of public art sculptures, the 300-acre Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, and jazz and comedy performances at the Fitton Center for Creative Arts, Anas writes.

"Seasonal festivals like IceFest, where ice sculptors chisel works of art out of blocks of ice, bring the community together even in the doldrums of winter," she said. "Located within the Cincinnati-Dayton metroplex, it's easy to zip between the two big cities, whether it's for a work commute or to enjoy a day exploring the bigger cities' attractions like the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden."

The eight listed communities, in order, are:

• Castle Rock, Colorado

• Ann Arbor, Michigan

• Santa Fe, New Mexico

• Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

• Asheville, North Carolina

• Hamilton, Ohio

• Franklin, Tennessee

• Hood River, Oregon

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