During the early postnatal period in the hamster, the retinal ganglion cell layer grows, establishes its central connections, and undergoes substantial cell loss. In this study, we describe the development of the retinal ganglion cell layer with particular attention to the creation of local specializations in cell density. Changes in the number and spatial distribution of cells identified by a single 3H thymidine injection were examined through the period of maximal cell loss (postnatal days 4-10) and at adulthood. The cells of the retinal ganglion cell layer are generated from embryonic day 10 to postnatal day 3. Overall, cell number in the ganglion cell layer increases by approximately 108,000 cells (223%) from postnatal day 1 to 5, because of continued migration of cells generated prenatally. Cell number decreases from postnatal day 5 to 10 (25%), coincident with the presence of degenerating cells. Cell type is correlated with day of generation: the largest cells, all having retinal ganglion cell morphology, are generated on embryonic days 10 and 11; intermediate-sized cells predominantly of ganglion cell morphology on embryonic day 12; and smaller cells of displaced amacrine or glial cell morphology thereafter. At adulthood, the hamster retina shows a streaklike elevation of cell density through central retina. However, at the time of maximal cell number (postnatal day 5), cell density is uniform across the retina. During the period of cell degeneration, cells are lost in greater relative numbers from the retinal periphery. This cell loss occurs principally from the first-generated cells (embryonic days 10 and 11), as shown by both changes in the distribution of labeled cells and by the spatial pattern of labeled degenerating cells. From postnatal day 10 to adulthood, relative cell density continues to decline in the periphery of the retina, thus suggesting that differential growth completes the production of the adult cell density distribution.