Hanover County, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hanover County
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Current Hanover County Courthouse
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Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
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 Virginia's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Virginia |
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| Founded | 1720 | ||
| Named for | Electorate of Hanover | ||
| Seat | Hanover | ||
| Largest CDP | Mechanicsville | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 474 sq mi (1,230 km2) | ||
| • Land | 469 sq mi (1,210 km2) | ||
| • Water | 5 sq mi (10 km2) 1.1% | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 109,979 | ||
| • Density | 232.02/sq mi (89.58/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| Congressional districts | 1st, 5th | ||
Hanover County is a county in the state of Virginia. In 2020, about 109,979 people lived there. Its main town, or county seat, is Hanover.
Hanover County is part of the larger Greater Richmond Region.
Contents
History of Hanover County
Hanover County was created on November 26, 1719. It was formed from a part of New Kent County. The county was named after the Electorate of Hanover in Germany. This was because King George I of Great Britain was also the Elector of Hanover at that time. Early settlers, called planters, moved here from eastern Virginia. They were looking for new land because the soil there was worn out from growing too much tobacco.
Hanover County is famous for being the birthplace of Patrick Henry. He was an important American leader. He is known for his powerful speeches, especially "Give me liberty, or give me death!" He argued a famous case called the Parson's Cause at the Hanover Courthouse in 1763. He spoke out against the British king trying to control the pay of church leaders in the colony. The historic Hanover Courthouse is even shown on the county's official seal.
Another famous person born in Hanover County was Henry Clay. He became a well-known politician in Kentucky. He helped create the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which was an important agreement about slavery in the United States. He also served as the United States Secretary of State.
The Chickahominy River forms part of the county's border near Mechanicsville. This river played a big role during the American Civil War. In 1862, the Union Army tried to cross it to reach Richmond. But the river was a difficult obstacle. The Union general, George B. McClellan, couldn't get all his troops across. This failure meant the Union army couldn't capture Richmond then. Many historians believe this made the war last much longer. Hanover County was the site of several Civil War battles, including parts of the Seven Days Battles and the Battle of Cold Harbor in 1864.
The town of Ashland is located within Hanover County. It is home to Randolph-Macon College.
In 1953, the Barksdale Theatre opened at the historic Hanover Tavern. It was the first dinner theater in the United States. It was also the first professional theater in central Virginia. Today, the Barksdale company still performs live plays there and in Richmond. It is a leading professional theater group in the area.
Kings Dominion amusement park opened in 1975 in Doswell. It has become a big part of the county's economy. In 2007, Hanover County was named one of the top 100 communities for young people by America's Promise.
Geography of Hanover County
Hanover County covers about 474 square miles. Most of this area, 469 square miles, is land. The remaining 5 square miles, or 1.1%, is water.
The county is about 90 miles south of Washington, D.C.. It is also about 12 miles north of Richmond, Virginia.
Neighboring Counties
Hanover County shares borders with these other counties:
- Caroline County (north)
- Goochland County (southwest)
- Henrico County (south)
- King William County (northeast)
- Louisa County (west)
- New Kent County (east)
- Spotsylvania County (northwest)
Main Roads
Several major highways run through Hanover County, connecting it to other parts of Virginia and beyond:
I-95
I-295
US 1
US 33
US 301
US 360
SR 2
SR 30
SR 54
SR 156
SR 326
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 14,754 | — | |
| 1800 | 14,403 | −2.4% | |
| 1810 | 15,082 | 4.7% | |
| 1820 | 15,267 | 1.2% | |
| 1830 | 16,253 | 6.5% | |
| 1840 | 14,968 | −7.9% | |
| 1850 | 15,153 | 1.2% | |
| 1860 | 17,222 | 13.7% | |
| 1870 | 16,455 | −4.5% | |
| 1880 | 18,588 | 13.0% | |
| 1890 | 17,402 | −6.4% | |
| 1900 | 17,618 | 1.2% | |
| 1910 | 17,200 | −2.4% | |
| 1920 | 18,088 | 5.2% | |
| 1930 | 17,009 | −6.0% | |
| 1940 | 18,500 | 8.8% | |
| 1950 | 21,985 | 18.8% | |
| 1960 | 27,550 | 25.3% | |
| 1970 | 37,479 | 36.0% | |
| 1980 | 50,398 | 34.5% | |
| 1990 | 63,306 | 25.6% | |
| 2000 | 86,320 | 36.4% | |
| 2010 | 99,863 | 15.7% | |
| 2020 | 109,979 | 10.1% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 111,603 | 11.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010 2020 |
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2020 Census Information
The 2020 census showed that Hanover County had a population of 109,979 people. Most residents were White, but the county is becoming more diverse.
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 85,391 | 88,869 | 85.51% | 80.81% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 9,202 | 9,678 | 9.21% | 8.80% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 319 | 311 | 0.32% | 0.28% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 1,333 | 2,021 | 1.33% | 1.84% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 31 | 32 | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 136 | 510 | 0.22% | 0.46% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 1,335 | 4,620 | 1.34% | 4.20% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2,116 | 3,938 | 2.12% | 3.58% |
| Total | 99,863 | 109,979 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2010 Census Information
In 2010, there were 99,863 people living in Hanover County. About 86.7% of the people were White. About 9.3% were Black or African American. About 1.4% were Asian. About 2.1% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Education in Hanover County
Hanover County Public Schools has many schools for students. There are fifteen elementary schools, four middle schools, and four high schools. The high schools are Atlee High School, Hanover High School, Mechanicsville High School, and Patrick Henry High School.
Forbes magazine once recognized Hanover County. It was named one of the top fifty counties in the U.S. for how well students achieve compared to how much money is spent per student.
Economy and Jobs
Hanover County has a low property tax rate for businesses. This makes it an attractive place for companies to set up. Some large businesses that have chosen Hanover County include Bass Pro Shops, FedEx Ground, and The Vitamin Shoppe. These companies were helped by local and regional economic groups.
Top Employers in Hanover County
| Employer | What They Do | Number of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| Hanover County | Government/Education | 1000+ |
| Bon Secours | Health Care | 1000+ |
| Kings Dominion | Amusement Park | 1000+ |
| Tyson Farms | Food Processing | 500-999 |
| SuperValu | Food Distributor | 500-999 |
| Randolph-Macon College | Private Education | 500-999 |
| Walmart | Retail | 250-499 |
| Owens & Minor | Company Headquarters/Distribution | 250-499 |
| Media General | Newspaper Publishers | 250-499 |
| QubicaAMF | Company Headquarters/Sports Manufacturing | 250-499 |
| Kroger | Retail | 250-499 |
| Food Lion | Retail | 250-499 |
| Sheltering Arms | Rehabilitation Hospital | 250-499 |
| Publix | Retail | 250-499 |
Communities in Hanover County
Town
Census-Designated Places
These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated:
- Hanover (also known as Hanover Courthouse)
- Mechanicsville
Other Unincorporated Communities
Notable People from Hanover County
Many interesting people have connections to Hanover County:
- Henry Clay (1777-1852) - A very important American politician. He was a U.S. Secretary of State and a Speaker of the House.
- Samuel Davies (1723-1761) - A religious leader who came to Hanover County. He helped start new churches and even taught enslaved people, which was unusual for his time. He influenced young Patrick Henry.
- London Ferrill (1789–1854) - An African-American Baptist minister. He was born enslaved but became free. He led a large church in Kentucky.
- Patrick Henry (1736-1799) - A famous American statesman and lawyer. He is known for his powerful speeches during the American Revolution.
- Thomas Hinde (1737-1828) - A doctor who was Patrick Henry's personal physician. He also served as a doctor during the American Revolutionary War.
- Richard Clough Anderson Sr. (1750-1826) - A military officer in the American Revolutionary War and a land surveyor.
- Thomas S. Hinde (1785-1846) - A real estate developer and minister who founded the town of Mount Carmel, Illinois.
- Susan Archer Weiss (1822–1917) - A poet, author, and artist.
- Sheri Holman (1966-) - An award-winning novelist and screenwriter.
- Jock Jones (1968-) - A former professional football player in the NFL.
- Dolley Madison (1768–1849) - The First Lady of the United States. She spent much of her childhood in Hanover County.
- Jason Mraz (1977-) - A Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter.
- Damien Woody (1977-) - A former NFL player and two-time Super Bowl champion. He is now an ESPN analyst.
- Sam Rogers (fullback) (1995-) - A former professional football player in the NFL.
- Lucien D. Starke (1826–1902) - A politician and newspaper publisher.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Hanover para niños
