About Hanover County

Hanover County is located in the east-central Piedmont and Coastal Plain areas of Virginia, between the Chickahominy and Pamunkey Rivers. It is approximately 90 miles south of Washington, D.C. and 12 miles north of Richmond. It is a part of the Greater Richmond metropolitan area. The County land area is 471 square miles and is bordered by the Counties of Caroline, King William, New Kent, Henrico, Goochland, Spotsylvania and Louisa. There is one incorporated town in the County, which is the Town of Ashland. 

Hanover County has more than 100,000 citizens, many of whom have deep roots in the community and value the County's unique history. Hanover County was first created on November 26, 1720, from the area of New Kent County called St. Paul's Parish. It was named for the Electorate of Hanover in Germany, as King George I of Great Britain was Elector of Hanover at the time. 

Hanover County is also proud of their more than 3,500 businesses, many of which began as a result of the thriving entrepreneurial spirit that exists in the County. The County benefits from a business climate that fosters the retention and expansion of existing businesses and the attraction of new businesses. Their values - outstanding education, safe community, low tax rates, quality of place and work ethic – all make Hanover County second to none as a place to live, work, and do business.

In addition, Hanover County is proud to have earned AAA bond ratings from all three ratings agencies: Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch Ratings. They are one of only 36 counties nationwide to have earned this prestigious designation and are the smallest by population to have done so. The rating agencies cited Hanover County's growing and diverse tax base and sound fiscal management as among the factors for earning their competitive bond ratings.

Hanover County offers an unsurpassed quality of life for its citizen and business community and has received numerous distunguished awards including:

• America’s Promise Alliance named Hanover County as one of the 100 Best Places to Live.  
• America's Promise Alliance for Youth named Hanover County as one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People for the fourth straight year.
• The Town of Ashland and Mechanicsville were both recognized by BusinessWeek as the best and second best places in Virginia to raise a family.
• Hanover County was recognized for their quality of life as the Mechanicsville area was named amongst the "Top 100 Best Places to Live" by Money Magazine.
• American City Business Journal ranked Hanover County among the top 50 localities in the United States for its quality of life.
• Hanover County was also named by Forbes.com as the nation’s tenth best place in the country to get ahead based on job growth between 2007 and 2009.

Hanover County Links:

• Local, State, and Federal Elected Officials
• Virginia Government
• Virginia General Assembly
• Hanover County
• Hanover County Board of Supervisors
• Hanover County Administration
• Hanover Economic Development
• Hanover County Public Schools
• Hanover County School Board