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Hanover County, Virginia facts for kids

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Hanover County
Current Hanover County Courthouse
Current Hanover County Courthouse
Official seal of Hanover County
Seal
Map of Virginia highlighting Hanover County
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Virginia
Founded 1720
Named for Electorate of Hanover
Seat Hanover Courthouse
Largest town Ashland
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)
 • Total 109,979
 • Density 232.02/sq mi (89.58/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 1st

Hanover County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 109,979. Its county seat is Hanover Courthouse.

Hanover County is a part of the Greater Richmond Region.

History

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

Located in the Piedmont 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.

At one point, Hanover County is only 5 miles (8.0 km) from the current city limits of Richmond. 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, the Confederate capital, has been said to have prolonged the war by almost 3 years. Hanover County was the site of a number of Civil War battles, including the Seven Days Battles of the Peninsula Campaign and Battle of Cold Harbor in 1864.

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. 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.

Hanover County is about 90 miles (140 km) south of Washington, D.C., and about 12 miles (19 km) north of Richmond, Virginia.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

  • I-95
  • I-295
  • US 1
  • US 33
  • US 301
  • US 360
  • SR 2
  • SR 30
  • SR 54
  • SR 326

Demographics

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%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010 2020

2020 census

Hanover County, Virginia - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity 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/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%

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 can be of any race.

2010 Census

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 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.

Communities

Town

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Economy

Hanover County has the lowest real estate property tax rate in the Richmond Region, which makes for a competitive business location. 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.

Top employers

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

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, Mechanicsville 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.

Notable natives and residents

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Hanover para niños

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