Hanover, Massachusetts facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hanover, Massachusetts
Town
Hanover Town Hall
Seal
Location in Plymouth County in Massachusetts
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Plymouth
Settled	1649
Incorporated	1727
Government
• Type	Open town meeting
Area
• Total	15.7 sq mi (40.7 km2)
• Land	15.6 sq mi (40.4 km2)
• Water	0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)
Elevation	60 ft (18 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	14,833
• Density	950.8/sq mi (367.2/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code	02339
Area code(s)	339 / 781
FIPS code	25-28285
GNIS feature ID	0618341
Website	www.hanover-ma.gov

Hanover is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. It's a place with a rich history and a population of about 14,833 people, according to the 2020 census.

History of Hanover

Long ago, the area where Hanover is now was home to the Wampanoag and Massachusett Native American tribes. They lived near places like Assinippi and Factory Pond. In the mid-1600s, settlers from England began to arrive. These new settlers eventually took over the land.

European settlement officially started in 1649. A farmer named William Barstow built a bridge over the North River. He also built a cabin, which was one of the first European homes in the area. Hanover was originally part of the town of Scituate.

Hanover became its own town on June 14, 1727. The name "Hanover" likely honors King George I, who was the first king from the House of Hanover. The name itself means "high bank" or "high shore" in an old German language.

Hanover has six smaller areas, or villages: North Hanover, Four Corners, West Hanover, Hanover Center, South Hanover, and Assinippi. In the past, each village had its own school, store, and post office.

Early Hanover was known for farming, small mills, and making anchors. It was also famous for shipbuilding along the North River. The oldest building in town that we know about is the Daniel Turner house, built in 1693.

Many ships were built in Hanover. One famous ship was the Grand Turk, built at Thomas Barstow's shipyard. It was the first U.S. ship to trade with China. Another ship, the Oeno, was built in 1821 but was wrecked near Fiji a few years later.

Later, Hanover became known for making tacks (small nails) and fireworks. The first machine to make tacks was invented here! The old Cornet Stetson Mill, which burned down during King Philip's War, might have been the oldest mill in America.

Many immigrants from Ireland, the British Isles, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, and Scandinavia came to Hanover. West Hanover was even called "Little Poland" for a while in the early 1900s. Today, Hanover is mostly a residential town. You can find many shops and stores at places like Hanover Crossing.

During the American Revolution, Hanover played a part. Colonel John Bailey and his men from Hanover helped defend Boston Harbor. An iron forge in West Hanover, which used to make anchors, started making cannons and cannonballs for the war.

The Stetson family, famous for their hats, first settled in this area. Slavery existed in Hanover before it was abolished in Massachusetts in 1783.

Hanover also had a railroad, the Hanover Branch Railroad, which operated until 1887. Anchors for the famous ship USS Constitution were made in Hanover at the Nathaniel Cushing Anchor forge. There was even an airport, Clark Airport, from 1927 to 1958. During World War I and II, the Pilgrim Ordnance Works in West Hanover made supplies for the war.

The Stetson House and the Cardinal Cushing Centers are important historical places in Hanover. The Four Corners area was a hub for shipbuilding. Today, the town's old shipyards are marked as points of interest.

Geography of Hanover

Map of Hanover, Massachusetts from 1849

Hanover covers about 15.7 square miles (40.7 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water. Hanover is located on the South Shore of Massachusetts.

The town shares borders with Norwell to the north and east. To the south, it borders Pembroke and Hanson. Rockland is to the west. Hanover is about 10 miles (16 km) east of Brockton and 20 miles (32 km) southeast of Boston.

Hanover's eastern and southern edges are defined by three waterways. These are the North River, the Indian Head River, and the Third Herring Brook. There are also many smaller ponds and streams throughout the town. Factory Pond is the largest pond. You can find several parks and conservation areas in Hanover. The highest point in town is Walnut Hill, located near Assinippi.

Climate in Hanover

Hanover has a climate with hot summers and humid conditions. It also has characteristics of an oceanic climate because it's close to the Atlantic Ocean.

Winters in Hanover are usually cold and wet. You might see rain and sunshine taking turns for weeks. Summers are warm to hot, but they don't get a lot of rain in July and August.

People of Hanover (Demographics)

The First Congregational Church of Hanover in 2003

The First Congregational Church of Hanover in 1930

As of 2017, Hanover had about 14,814 people living there. There were about 4,349 households. Many families lived in the town, with 70.8% being married couples.

About 43.8% of households had children under 18. The average household had about 3 people. The population was spread out in age groups. About 29.8% were under 18 years old.

Education in Hanover

Hanover has its own school system for about 2,700 students. There are three elementary schools: Cedar, Center, and Sylvester. The Center and Cedar Schools teach students from pre-kindergarten to second grade. Sylvester School is for third and fourth graders.

Hanover Middle School serves students from fifth to eighth grade. Hanover High School is for ninth to twelfth graders. The high school sports teams are called the Hawks, and their colors are blue and gold. Hanover High is known for preparing students well for college.

Hanover is also home to the South Shore Vocational Technical High School. This school helps students learn job skills for different careers. While there are no private schools in Hanover, there are some in nearby towns. The Cardinal Cushing Centers also offer educational programs for individuals with special needs.

Notable People from Hanover

Many interesting people have connections to Hanover:

• Lebbeus Bailey: An 18th-century clockmaker.
• Amanda Barker: A comedian and actress.
• Chris Burke: An actor and advocate for people with Down Syndrome. He started acting after moving to Hanover.
• George Washington Carver: A famous scientist who lived in a small cabin in Hanover for a few months.
• Richard Cushing: A very important leader in the Catholic Church, who was Archbishop of Boston. He is buried in Hanover.
• Dennis di Cicco: An amateur astronomer who discovered many small planets. He grew up in Hanover.
• Marvelous Marvin Hagler: A former world middleweight boxing champion who lived in Hanover.
• Jim Lonborg: A former Red Sox baseball pitcher who worked as a dentist in Hanover.
• Colin White: A professional ice hockey player for the Florida Panthers.

Transportation in Hanover

A small part of Massachusetts Route 3, a four-lane highway, goes through Hanover. This highway provides easy access to the town. Other important roads include Route 123 and Route 139.

Hanover does not have its own train or airport service today. However, it used to have a train line called the Hanover Branch. The closest train stations are in nearby towns like Abington and Scituate. For air travel, the closest regional airport is Marshfield Municipal Airport. For bigger flights, you can go to Logan International Airport in Boston.

Images for kids

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  The first Grand Turk ship

See also

In Spanish: Hanover (Massachusetts) para niños