Virginia

Hanover

109,979

2020 population

1790

first census record

census records

About Hanover

Hanover, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 14,754. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 109,979.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 40 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Bacon's Raids on Pamunkey 1676, Engagement at Mechanicsville (Ellerson's Mill), Battle of Gaines' Mill — Third Phase, and 46 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census Year	Population	Chart
2020	109,979
2010	99,863
2000	86,320
1990	63,306
1980	50,398
1970	37,479
1960	27,550
1950	21,985
1940	18,500
1930	17,009
1920	18,088
1910	17,200
1900	17,618
1890	17,402
1880	18,588
1870	16,455
1860	17,222
1850	15,153
1840	14,968
1830	16,253
1820	15,267
1810	15,082
1800	14,403
1790	14,754

Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Hanover

Military engagements that took place in Hanover, Virginia.

Bacon's Raids on Pamunkey 1676

1676

Engagement at Mechanicsville (Ellerson's Mill)

1862

Battle of Gaines' Mill — Third Phase

1862

Battle of Beaver Dam Creek

1862

Engagement at Allen's Farm (Peach Orchard)

1862

Battle of Hanover Court House

1862

Gaines' Mill – Hood's Breakthrough

1862

Skirmish at New Bridge

1862

Engagement at Beaver Dam Creek

1862

Battle of Gaines' Mill Jun 27 1862

1862

Battle of Mechanicsville Jun 26 1862

1862

Battle of Mechanicsville (Seven Days)

1862

Engagement at Golding's Farm

1862

Battle of Beaver Dam Creek (Mechanicsville)

1862

Engagement at Gaines' Mill Approaches

1862

Stuart's First Ride Around McClellan

1862

Skirmish at Old Church (Hanover County)

1862

Engagement at Old Cold Harbor (Seven Days)

1862

Battle of Mechanicsville (Beaver Dam Creek)

1862

Engagement at Mechanicsville (June 26, 1862)

1862

Battle of Old Church

1862

Engagement at Garnett's Farm

1862

Battle of Gaines' Mill

1862

Gaines' Mill – Boatswain's Creek Approach

1862

Battle of Gaines' Mill (Cold Harbor 1862)

1862

Battle of Beaver Dam Creek / Mechanicsville

1862

Cold Harbor – Barker's Mill skirmish

1864

Battle of Jericho Mills (North Anna)

1864

Cavalry Fight at Spotsylvania — Alsop's Farm

1864

Cold Harbor – Shady Grove Road cavalry fight

1864

Yellow Tavern (May 11)

1864

Cavalry action at Cold Harbor crossroads

1864

Battle of Totopotomoy Creek

1864

Beaver Dam Station cavalry raid

1864

Battle of Cold Harbor (June 1)

1864

Sheridan's Richmond Raid – Ground Squirrel Bridge

1864

Cold Harbor – First engagement

1864

Cavalry action at Gaines Mill

1864

Engagement at Beaver Dam Station (Sheridan 1864)

1864

Cold Harbor – Main assault

1864

Historic places in Hanover

National Register of Historic Places listings in Hanover, Virginia.

Hanover County Courthouse

Randolph-Macon College Buildings

Ashland

Ruffin, Edmund, Plantation

Patrick Henry's Birthplace Archeological Site

Hanover Meeting House

Mechanicsville

Ashland UDC Jefferson Davis Highway Marker

Immanuel Episcopal Church

Mechanicsville

Cold Harbor National Cemetery

Browse all Virginiahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Virginia

Explore census history and historic records for more Virginia counties.

Culpeper Cumberland Danville Danville city Dickenson Dinwiddie Elizabeth City Emporia Emporia city Essex Fairfax Fairfax city Falls Church Falls Church city Fauquier Floyd Fluvanna Franklin Franklin city Frederick

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Hanover County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of Hanover County, Virginia. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Hanover County, Virginia report

Or see a real report first

Explore Virginia records

Virginiahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Virginia›

Frequently asked about Hanover

When does Hanover first appear in the US census?

Hanover, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 14,754.

What is the population of Hanover?

At the most recent federal census (2020), Hanover had a recorded population of 109,979.

Were any battles fought in Hanover?

40 documented military engagements took place in Hanover, including Bacon's Raids on Pamunkey 1676, Engagement at Mechanicsville (Ellerson's Mill), Battle of Gaines' Mill — Third Phase.

How many historic places are in Hanover?

46 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Hanover, Virginia.

Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your location View a free sample report