Lessons learned from the galactic hosts of short gamma-ray bursts*

The multimessenger event GW170817 unequivically connected binary neutron star mergers and short gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Though it will take many years to significantly bolster the number of gravitational-wave events with identified electromagnetic counterparts, the growing number of host-identified short GRBs can fill this void in the interim, as well as probe compact binary merger hosts over a much larger redshift range. In this talk, I'll present new findings from a population of over 50 host-identified short GRBs. Information attained through spectroscopic and photometric observations of the hosts has led to novel constraints on delay-time distributions, binary progenitor properties, supernova kicks at compact binary formation, and host demographics. The demographics of this population will also help inform follow-up strategies for future gravitational-wave events that are potentially accompanied with an electromagnetic counterpart.