Until the 1880s, James Hamilton was among the very first homesteaders in the Cahuilla Plains, or Hamilton Plains, now Anza, and was a highly respected pioneer who overcame many obstacles in his life, including prejudice. The Hamilton School District was formed in 1913, and the schoolhouse was constructed in 1914. Used as a classroom for 50 years, serving grades 1-8, the school, named in honor of James Hamilton, also functioned as a polling and meeting place and continues to serve this community today.