Hanover County, Virginia

Hanover County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 106,374.[2] Its county seat is Hanover Courthouse.[3]

Hanover County
U.S. county
Current Hanover County Courthouse
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°46′N 77°29′W
Country United States
State Virginia
Founded1720
Named forElectorate of Hanover
SeatHanover Courthouse
Largest townAshland
Area
 • Total474 sq mi (1,230 km2)
 • Land469 sq mi (1,210 km2)
 • Water5 sq mi (10 km2)  1.1%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total106,374
 • Estimate 
(2018)[1]
107,239
 • Density220/sq mi (87/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.co.hanover.va.us

Hanover County is included in the Greater Richmond Region.

History
Rural Plains, located on the grounds of the Richmond National Battlefield Park, Hanover County

Located in the western Tidewater region of Virginia, Hanover County was created on November 26, 1719, from the area of New Kent County called St. Paul's Parish. It was named for the Electorate of Hanover in Germany, because King George I of Great Britain was Elector of Hanover at the time. The county was developed by planters moving west from the Virginia tidewater, where soils had been exhausted by tobacco monoculture.

Hanover County was the birthplace and home of noted American statesman Patrick 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 the Parson's Cause in 1763, attacking the British 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 of Henry Clay, who became known as a politician in Kentucky, author of the Missouri Compromise of 1820, and Secretary of State.

The Chickahominy River forms the border of the county in the Mechanicsville area. During the American Civil War and the 1862 Peninsula Campaign, the Union Army approached the river and could hear the bells of Richmond's churches. But they learned that the river was a major obstacle. Union General George B. McClellan failed in his attempt to get all his troops across it, intending to overwhelm the outnumbered Confederate forces defending 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 the Seven Days Battles of the Peninsula Campaign and Battle of Cold Harbor in 1864.[4]

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

In 1953, Barksdale Theatre was founded at the historic Hanover Tavern. It was the nation's first dinner theater and central Virginia's first professional theatre organization.[5] 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 Dominion amusement park opened in 1975 in Doswell and added to the county's economy. In January 2007, America's Promise named Hanover County as one of the top 100 communities for youth.

Geography

According to the U.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.[6]

Hanover County is about 90 miles (145 km) south of Washington, D.C., and about 12 miles (19 km) north of Richmond, Virginia.[7]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
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%
Est. 2018107,239[1]7.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2012[2]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 99,863 people living in the county. 86.7% were White, 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% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 86,320 people, 31,121 households, and 24,461 families living in the county. The population density was 183 people per square mile (71/km²). There were 32,196 housing units at an average density of 68 per square mile (26/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.32% White, 9.34% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.79% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. 0.98% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 31,121 households out of which 39.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.40% were married couples living 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. The per capita income for the county was $34,241. About 3.54% of families and 5.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.90% of those under age 18 and 5.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Board of supervisors[13]
  • 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: Wayne T. Hazzard (R)

Constitutional officers
  • 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)

Hanover is represented by Republicans Ryan McDougle and Siobhan Dunnavant and Democrat Jennifer McClellan in the Virginia Senate, Republican Buddy Fowler and Scott Wyatt in the Virginia House of Delegates and Republican Rob Wittman in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 63.2% 39,630 30.9% 19,382 5.9% 3,711
2012 67.6% 39,940 31.0% 18,294 1.4% 824
2008 66.4% 37,344 32.8% 18,447 0.8% 457
2004 71.4% 35,404 28.1% 13,941 0.5% 266
2000 68.8% 28,614 29.0% 12,044 2.2% 927
1996 63.6% 22,086 28.5% 9,880 8.0% 2,758
1992 59.4% 20,336 23.4% 8,021 17.2% 5,904
1988 77.0% 20,570 22.4% 5,985 0.6% 163
1984 79.3% 18,800 20.4% 4,831 0.4% 87
1980 70.0% 14,262 26.4% 5,383 3.6% 723
1976 64.7% 11,559 34.0% 6,069 1.3% 231
1972 81.2% 11,095 16.1% 2,200 2.7% 368
1968 50.0% 5,425 19.2% 2,079 30.8% 3,343
1964 63.0% 4,879 37.0% 2,864 0.1% 8
1960 59.4% 3,020 39.8% 2,023 0.8% 42
1956 54.1% 2,272 26.4% 1,109 19.5% 821
1952 59.8% 2,257 40.2% 1,518 0.1% 2
1948 38.1% 838 47.6% 1,048 14.4% 316
1944 28.0% 575 71.7% 1,471 0.2% 5
1940 21.2% 364 78.4% 1,347 0.5% 8
1936 18.8% 327 80.5% 1,397 0.7% 12
1932 17.9% 238 80.6% 1,073 1.6% 21
1928 41.6% 592 58.4% 831
1924 14.9% 135 80.9% 732 4.2% 38
1920 19.8% 224 79.7% 903 0.5% 6
1916 11.7% 102 87.0% 760 1.4% 12
1912 12.4% 87 86.8% 609 0.9% 6

Education

Hanover County has fifteen elementary schools, four middle schools, four high schools, one alternative school, and one technology school. The four high schools are Atlee High School, Hanover High School, Lee-Davis High School, and Patrick Henry High School. Forbes magazine named Hanover County as one of the top fifty counties in the United States for student achievement vs. cost per student.

Economy

Hanover County has the lowest real estate property tax rate in the Richmond Region, which makes for a competitive business location.[15] Some of the major businesses that have taken advantage of the tax rate include: Bass Pro Shops, FedEx Ground, and The 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.[16]

Top employers[17]

EmployerSectorNumber of Employees
Hanover CountyGovernment/Education1000+
Bon SecoursHealth Care1000+
Kings DominionAmusement Park1000+
Tyson FarmsFood Processing500-999
SuperValuFood Distributor500-999
Randolph-Macon CollegePrivate Education500-999
WalmartRetail250-499
Owens & MinorCorp HQ/Distribution250-499
Media GeneralNewspaper Publishers250-499
QubicaAMFCorp HQ/Athletics Manufacturing250-499
KrogerRetail250-499
Food LionRetail250-499
Sheltering ArmsRehabilitation Hospital250-499
Martin’s Food StoreRetail250-499

Communities

Town

Census-designated places
  • Hanover (Hanover Courthouse)
  • Mechanicsville

Other unincorporated communities

Notable natives and residents
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See also

References
  1. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. "History of Hanover County". Co.hanover.va.us. Archived from the original on 2010-03-03. Retrieved 2010-07-22.
  5. 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. 23 July 2010. <http://www.barksdalerichmond.org/history.html>.
  6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  7. "About The County". Co.hanover.va.us. Archived from the original on 2011-05-14. Retrieved 2010-07-22.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  13. "Board of Supervisors - Hanover County, VA". www.hanovercounty.gov. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  14. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  15. "Strategic Location". Hanover Virginia. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
  16. Caldwell, Jeff. "Governor McDonnell Announces 174 New Jobs in Hanover County". Governor Bob McDonnell. Archived from the original on 8 July 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
  17. "Hanover County's Major Employers". Hanover Virginia. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
  18. Great Awakening in Virginia, The, Encyclopedia Virginia, Retrieved on 2013-08-17

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