The Elves love finding challenge caches, so we've set up the Elves' Challenge Trail along our favorite section of the Montour Trail in order to share some favorite challenges we've encountered in our travels. Parking is available on McLaren Road or Cliff Mine Road at designated Montour Trail parking areas. See the parking waypoints below. All caches on the Challenge Trail are preform containers and are hidden within 30 feet of the Montour Trail. Normal challenge cache rules apply: you can find the cache and sign the paper log at any time, but you cannot claim an online smiley unless you also meet the challenge conditions described below, as verified by the Project-GC challenge checker linked below. I will validate your find using that checker - there is no need to provide proof unless you wish to do so. Non-qualified finds can and will be deleted.
The recent resurgence in the popularity of Alexander Hamilton as a historical figure is the inspiration for this challenge cache. Hamilton is popular in modern times because of Lin Manuel Miranda's incredible Broadway musical, but back in the days of westward expansion, he was a popular guy when politicians were deciding what to name newly-formed counties. Your challenge is to find at least 50 caches in any "Hamilton County" in the United States. You could have all 50 finds in one Hamilton County, or 10 finds in five Hamilton Counties - however you get to 50 total finds is up to you. Be young, scrappy and hungry, and don't throw away your shot!
Alexander lends his name to Hamilton Counties in ten different states:
Hamilton County, Florida is located in the north central portion of the state, bisected by I-75. As of the 2010 census, the population was 14,799. Its county seat is Jasper.
Hamilton County, Illinois is located in the southern portion of the state, just south of I-64, known locally as "Little Egypt," As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 8,457. Its county seat is McLeansboro.
Hamilton County, Indiana is part of the Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 274,569. The county seat is Noblesville.
Hamilton County, Iowa is where I-35 and US 20 intersect in the center of the state. As of the 2010 census, the population was 15,673. The county seat is Webster City.
Hamilton County, Kansas is in the southwestern part of the state, along US Route 400. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 2,690. Its county seat and most populous city is Syracuse.
Hamilton County, Nebraska is bisected by I-80 in the western part of the state. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 9,124. Its county seat is Aurora.
Hamilton County, New York is in the Adirondacks region. As of the 2010 census, the population was 4,836, making it the least populous county in New York. Nearly the size of Delaware, but with a population of only 4,416, it is the least densely populated county east of the Mississippi river.
Hamilton County, Ohio is where Cincinnati is located, in the southwest corner of the state. As of the 2010 census, the population was 802,374. making it the third-most populous county in Ohio.
Hamilton County, Tennessee is located in the southern part of East Tennessee. As of the 2010 census, the population was 336,463, making it the fourth-most populous county in Tennessee. Its county seat is Chattanooga.
Hamilton County, Texas is a county located on the Edwards Plateau, west of Waco. As of the 2010 census, its population was 8,517. The county seat is Hamilton.
