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Hanover County, Virginia

Coordinates:37°46′N77°29′W/ 37.76°N 77.49°W/37.76; -77.49
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Hanover County
County
Current Hanover County Courthouse
Current Hanover County Courthouse
Flag of Hanover County
Flag
Official seal of Hanover County
Seal
Map of Virginia highlighting Hanover County
Location within the U.S. state ofVirginia
Map of the United States highlighting Virginia
Virginia's location within theU.S.
Coordinates:37°46′N77°29′W/ 37.76°N 77.49°W/37.76; -77.49
CountryUnited States
StateVirginia
Founded1720
Named forElectorate of Hanover
SeatHanover
Largest CDPMechanicsville
Area
• Total474 sq mi (1,230 km2)
• Land469 sq mi (1,210 km2)
• Water5 sq mi (10 km2) 1.1%
Population
(2020)
• Total109,979
• Density230/sq mi (90/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5(Eastern)
• Summer (DST)UTC−4(EDT)
Congressional districts1st,5th
Websitewww.co.hanover.va.us

Hanover Countyis acountyin theCommonwealthofVirginia.As of the2020 census,the population was 109,979.[1]Itscounty seatisHanover.[2]

Hanover County is a part of theGreater Richmond Region.

History[edit]

TheRural Plains,located on the grounds of theRichmond National Battlefield Parkin Hanover County

Located in the western Tidewater region ofVirginia,Hanover County was created on November 26, 1719, from the area ofNew Kent Countycalled St. Peter's Parish. It was named for theElectorate of HanoverinGermany,because KingGeorge I of Great BritainwasElector of Hanoverat the time. The county was developed byplantersmoving west from the Virginiatidewater,where soils had been exhausted by tobaccomonoculture.

Hanover County was the birthplace and home of noted American statesmanPatrick Henry.He reportedly married Sarah Shelton in the parlor of her family's house,Rural Plains,also known as Shelton House. At the Hanover Courthouse, Henry argued the case of theParson's Causein 1763, attacking theBritish Crown's attempt to set the salaries of clergy in the colony regardless of conditions in the local economy. The historic Hanover Courthouse is pictured in the county seal. Hanover County was also the birthplace ofHenry Clay,who became known as a politician inKentucky,author of theMissouri Compromiseof 1820, andSecretary of State.

TheChickahominy Riverforms the border of the county in theMechanicsvillearea. During theAmerican Civil Warand the 1862Peninsula Campaign,theUnion Armyapproached the river and could hear the bells of Richmond's churches. But they learned that the river was a major obstacle. Union GeneralGeorge B. McClellanfailed in his attempt to get all his troops across it, intending to overwhelm the outnumberedConfederate forcesdefending Richmond. His failure to take Richmond has been said to have prolonged the war by almost 3 years. Hanover County was the site of Civil War battles due to its location between Richmond and northern Virginia, including theSeven Days Battlesof the Peninsula Campaign andBattle of Cold Harborin 1864.[3]

The incorporated town ofAshlandis located within Hanover County. Ashland is the second and current home ofRandolph-Macon College.

In 1953,Barksdale Theatrewas founded at the historicHanover Tavern.It was the nation's firstdinner theaterand central Virginia's first professionaltheatreorganization.[4]The Barksdale company continues to produce live theatre at the Tavern, as well as at several locations in Richmond. It is recognized today as Central Virginia's leading professional theatre.

Kings Dominionamusement park opened in 1975 inDoswelland added to the county's economy. In January 2007,America's Promisenamed Hanover County as one of the top 100 communities for youth.

Geography[edit]

According to theU.S. Census Bureau,the county has a total area of 474 square miles (1,230 km2), of which 469 square miles (1,210 km2) is land and 5 square miles (13 km2) (1.1%) is water.[5]

Hanover County is about 90 miles (145 km) south ofWashington, D.C.,and about 12 miles (19 km) north ofRichmond, Virginia.[6]

Adjacent counties[edit]

Major highways[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
179014,754—
180014,403−2.4%
181015,0824.7%
182015,2671.2%
183016,2536.5%
184014,968−7.9%
185015,1531.2%
186017,22213.7%
187016,455−4.5%
188018,58813.0%
189017,402−6.4%
190017,6181.2%
191017,200−2.4%
192018,0885.2%
193017,009−6.0%
194018,5008.8%
195021,98518.8%
196027,55025.3%
197037,47936.0%
198050,39834.5%
199063,30625.6%
200086,32036.4%
201099,86315.7%
2020109,97910.1%
2021 (est.)111,603[7]1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9]1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11]2010[12]2020[13]

2020 census[edit]

Hanover County, Virginia – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2010[12] Pop 2020[13] % 2010 % 2020
Whitealone (NH) 85,391 88,869 85.51% 80.81%
Black or African Americanalone (NH) 9,202 9,678 9.21% 8.80%
Native AmericanorAlaska Nativealone (NH) 319 311 0.32% 0.28%
Asianalone (NH) 1,333 2,021 1.33% 1.84%
Pacific Islanderalone (NH) 31 32 0.03% 0.03%
Some Other Racealone (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[edit]

As of the2010 United States Census,there were 99,863 people living in the county. 86.7% wereWhite,9.3%Black or African American,1.4%Asian,0.4%Native American,0.8% of some other race and 1.5%of two or more races;2.1% wereHispanic or Latino(of any race).

As of thecensus[14]of 2000, there were 86,320 people, 31,121 households, and 24,461 families living in the county. Thepopulation densitywas 183 people per square mile (71 people/km2). There were 32,196 housing units at an average density of 68 units per square mile (26 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.32%White,9.34%BlackorAfrican American,0.33%Native American,0.79%Asian,0.01%Pacific Islander,0.37% fromother races,and 0.83% from two or more races. 0.98% of the population wereHispanicorLatinoof any race.

There were 31,121 households, out of which 39.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.40% weremarried couplesliving together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.40% were non-families; 17.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71, and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.10% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 30.70% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 10.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.90 males; for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $77,550, and the median income for a family was $90,812. The median income was $46,864 for males and $32,662 for females. Theper capita incomefor the county was $34,241. About 3.54% of families and 5.50% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 3.90% of those under age 18 and 5.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government[edit]

Board of supervisors[edit]

  • Ashland District: Faye O. Prichard (D)
  • Beaverdam District: Aubrey M. "Bucky" Stanley (R)
  • Chickahominy District: Angela C. Kelly-Wiecek (R)
  • Cold Harbor District: F. Michael Herzberg (R)
  • Henry District: Sean M. Davis (R)
  • Mechanicsville District: W. Canova Peterson (R)
  • South Anna District: Susan P. Dibble (R)[15]

Constitutional officers[edit]

  • Clerk of the Circuit Court: Frank D. Hargrove, Jr. (R)
  • Commissioner of the Revenue: T. Scott Harris (R)
  • Commonwealth's Attorney: R. E. "Trip" Chalkley, III (R)
  • Sheriff: David R. Hines (R)
  • Treasurer: M. Scott Miller (R)

Law enforcement[edit]

Hanover County Sheriff's Office
AbbreviationHCSO
Agency overview
Formed1720
Employees236+
Jurisdictional structure
Constituting instrument
  • Yes
General nature
Operational structure
HeadquartersHanover Courthouse, Virginia
Deputys242
Civilians2
Agency executive
Website
Official website

TheHanover County Sheriff's Office(HCSO) is the primary law enforcement agency in Hanover County, Virginia. The HCSO was created shortly after the county was formed on November 26, 1720. The Sheriff is David R. Hines.[16]

State and federal[edit]

Hanover County is represented by RepublicansRyan McDougleandGlen Sturtevantand DemocratLamont Bagbyin the Virginia Senate, RepublicanBuddy FowlerandScott Wyattin the Virginia House of Delegates and RepublicansRob WittmanandBob Goodin the U.S. House of Representatives.

Hanover County is a strongly Republican county; no Democratic presidential candidate has won it sinceHarry Trumanin 1948, and it was one of 4 counties that did not vote forMark Warnerin his2008 landslide.

United States presidential election results for Hanover County, Virginia[17][18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 44,318 62.45% 25,307 35.66% 1,342 1.89%
2016 39,630 63.18% 19,382 30.90% 3,711 5.92%
2012 39,940 67.63% 18,294 30.98% 824 1.40%
2008 37,344 66.39% 18,447 32.80% 457 0.81%
2004 35,404 71.36% 13,941 28.10% 266 0.54%
2000 28,614 68.81% 12,044 28.96% 927 2.23%
1996 22,086 63.60% 9,880 28.45% 2,758 7.94%
1992 20,336 59.36% 8,021 23.41% 5,904 17.23%
1988 20,570 76.99% 5,985 22.40% 163 0.61%
1984 18,800 79.26% 4,831 20.37% 87 0.37%
1980 14,262 70.02% 5,383 26.43% 723 3.55%
1976 11,559 64.72% 6,069 33.98% 231 1.29%
1972 11,095 81.20% 2,200 16.10% 368 2.69%
1968 5,425 50.01% 2,079 19.17% 3,343 30.82%
1964 4,879 62.95% 2,864 36.95% 8 0.10%
1960 3,020 59.39% 2,023 39.78% 42 0.83%
1956 2,272 54.07% 1,109 26.39% 821 19.54%
1952 2,257 59.76% 1,518 40.19% 2 0.05%
1948 838 38.06% 1,048 47.59% 316 14.35%
1944 575 28.04% 1,471 71.72% 5 0.24%
1940 364 21.18% 1,347 78.36% 8 0.47%
1936 327 18.84% 1,397 80.47% 12 0.69%
1932 238 17.87% 1,073 80.56% 21 1.58%
1928 592 41.60% 831 58.40% 0 0.00%
1924 135 14.92% 732 80.88% 38 4.20%
1920 224 19.77% 903 79.70% 6 0.53%
1916 102 11.67% 760 86.96% 12 1.37%
1912 87 12.39% 609 86.75% 6 0.85%
1908 204 27.72% 522 70.92% 10 1.36%
1904 261 32.71% 527 66.04% 10 1.25%
1900 1,201 49.67% 1,203 49.75% 14 0.58%
1896 1,337 46.12% 1,499 51.71% 63 2.17%
1892 1,064 37.05% 1,536 53.48% 272 9.47%
1888 1,511 46.72% 1,721 53.22% 2 0.06%
1884 1,488 45.04% 1,816 54.96% 0 0.00%
1880 884 37.91% 1,447 62.05% 1 0.04%

Education[edit]

Hanover County has fifteen elementary schools, four middle schools, four high schools, one alternative school, and one technology school. The four high schools areAtlee High School,Hanover High School,Mechanicsville High School,andPatrick Henry High School.Forbesmagazine named Hanover County as one of the top fifty counties in the United States for student achievement vs. cost per student.

Economy[edit]

Hanover County has the lowest real estate property tax rate in the Richmond Region, which makes for a competitive business location.[19]Some of the major businesses that have taken advantage of the tax rate include:Bass Pro Shops,FedEx Ground,andThe Vitamin Shoppe.These businesses located in the county with help from the Hanover County Economic Development and the Greater Richmond Partnership, regional economic development organizations.[20]

Top employers[21]

Employer Sector 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 Corp HQ/Distribution 250-499
Media General Newspaper Publishers 250-499
QubicaAMF Corp HQ/Athletics Manufacturing 250-499
Kroger Retail 250-499
Food Lion Retail 250-499
Sheltering Arms Rehabilitation Hospital 250-499
Publix Retail 250-499

Communities[edit]

Town[edit]

Census-designated places[edit]

Other unincorporated communities[edit]

Notable people[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"Hanover County, Virginia".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 30,2022.
  2. ^"Find a County".National Association of Counties.RetrievedJune 7,2011.
  3. ^"History of Hanover County".Co.hanover.va.us. Archived fromthe originalon March 3, 2010.RetrievedJuly 22,2010.
  4. ^Auburn, David. "Barksdale Theatre: History." Barksdale Theatre in Richmond and Hanover Virginia at Willow Lawn, the Tavern and the Empire Theater – Central VA's Leading Professional Theater – Souvenir, Boleros for the Disenchanted. Web. July 23, 2010. <http:// barksdalerichmond.org/history.html>.
  5. ^"US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990".United States Census Bureau.February 12, 2011.RetrievedApril 23,2011.
  6. ^"About The County".Co.hanover.va.us. Archived fromthe originalon May 14, 2011.RetrievedJuly 22,2010.
  7. ^"Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021".RetrievedApril 6,2022.
  8. ^"Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000".US Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 24,2022.
  9. ^"Historical Census Browser".University of Virginia Library.RetrievedJanuary 3,2014.
  10. ^"Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 3,2014.
  11. ^"Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000"(PDF).United States Census Bureau.Archived(PDF)from the original on October 9, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 3,2014.
  12. ^ab"P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Hanover County, Virginia".United States Census Bureau.
  13. ^ab"P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Hanover County, Virginia".United States Census Bureau.
  14. ^"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedMay 14,2011.
  15. ^"Board of Supervisors - Hanover County, VA".hanovercounty.gov.RetrievedApril 5,2018.
  16. ^"Hanover Facts".Hanover County Sheriff, VA.RetrievedOctober 31,2022.
  17. ^Leip, David."Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".uselectionatlas.org.RetrievedDecember 9,2020.
  18. ^"Our Campaigns - U.S. President".RetrievedJanuary 22,2021.
  19. ^"Strategic Location".Hanover Virginia.RetrievedAugust 19,2013.
  20. ^Caldwell, Jeff."Governor McDonnell Announces 174 New Jobs in Hanover County".Governor Bob McDonnell.Archived fromthe originalon July 8, 2013.RetrievedAugust 19,2013.
  21. ^"Hanover County's Major Employers".Hanover Virginia.Archived fromthe originalon August 10, 2014.RetrievedAugust 19,2013.
  22. ^"Hanover church anchors historic Black community of Brown Grove".VPM Media Corporation.February 24, 2022.RetrievedJune 21,2022.
  23. ^"The Community of Brown Grove vs. Wegmans".The Washington Post.RetrievedJune 21,2022.
  24. ^"Complicated History".Virginia Business.February 28, 2022.RetrievedJune 21,2022.
  25. ^Great Awakening in Virginia, The,Encyclopedia Virginia,Retrieved on August 17, 2013

External links[edit]

37°46′N77°29′W/ 37.76°N 77.49°W/37.76; -77.49

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hanover_County,_Virginia&oldid=1231551595"