Hanover County was formed on November 26, 1720 by "An Act for Dividing New Kent County." Hanover County was named in honor of King George I, the first British monarch from the House of Hanover, who ruled over Great Britain and its colonies from 1714 to 1727.

Hanover County was the birthplace and a residence of Patrick Henry, whose concluding argument in the Parsons' Cause case of 1763 (held in the Historic Hanover Court House) may be said to have been the beginning of the American Revolution in Virginia, and made Hanover County a focal point in the Revolutionary movement.

The Hanover Tavern, Polegreen Church and Rural Plains are a few of the many Hanover landmarks that predate the Revolution, and the battles of Gaines' Mill, Totopotomoy Creek and Cold Harbor (among others) were fought in Hanover County during the Civil War.

•NEW MEMBERS• Join the Hanover County Historical Society at the Individual level for two years and receive a free copy of Nature's Bounty, Nation's Glory! Visit our Membership page for details.

Historic Courthouse Tours

Hanover County's Historic Courthouse is open for free tours once a month, from 10am 'til 2pm. Society Docents will be available to tell the story of this icon of American history, and under most circumstances will be happy to also give tours of the Old Stone Jail, which is next to the courthouse.

If you're interested in a tour for your group or family on a different day, please reach out to us on our Contact page and we'll work with you!
2024 Courthouse Tour Dates

Thursday, October 10
Thursday, November 14


Won't you join us?


The HCHS Online Store Is OPEN!
Visit our ONLINE STORE to pay for Membership, purchase tickets to Society events, and purchase many of the Society's publications!

Please visit our Publications page for a list of all available Society publications, and information about how they can be purchased.




Thursday, December 5, 6pm
Hanover Arts & Activities Center
500 South Center Street, Ashland
Archeology at Mahixon
Presented by Tom Hobbs

Please visit our Events page for more information.
Winners of the 2024 Patrick Henry Leadership Award
Bob Krick and Art Taylor, with HCHS President Bob Szabo

Vestry Book, St. Paul's Parish, Hanover County: 1787-1802 Entries

Pine Slash Article, 2022


Click here to download a PDF version of the Hanover County Historical Society's September, 2024 issue of Highlights!
Check out the Hanover County Historical Society's Facebook page, always up to date with the latest info!

The Historic Polegreen Church Foundation has acquired Pine Slash, Patrick Henry's "Honeymoon Cottage," circa 1750. Click here for more information.