About

Hanover County was formed on November 26, 1720 from New Kent County along the boundaries of St. Paul’s Parish. Hanover County’s historic courthouse, believed to have been constructed between 1737 and 1743, is the second-oldest in the Commonwealth still in public use and is the official seal of the county, along with being the birthplace of Patrick Henry and Henry Clay. Other historical sites in Hanover County include Hanover Tavern across U.S. Route 301 from the historic Courthouse; Scotchtown, the home of Patrick Henry at the time of his famous “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech and his election as Virginia’s first governor; Rural Plains, which was owned by the parents of his first wife and is now part of a Civil War battlefield preserved by the Richmond National Battlefield Park; the memorial at the site of the Historic Polegreen Church where Virginians seeking freedom of religious expression gathered to worship freely; and several Civil War battlefields. Hanover County’s participation in the 250th commemoration is supported by the Board of Supervisors and the local committee appointed by the County Administrator is planning events, programs and activities.

Local Events

Scotchtown Fall Festival
October 07, 2023 - October 07, 2023
Hanover County

Scotchtown was the home of Patrick Henry, “The Voice of the Revolution”, at the time he made his famous “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!” sp... Read More

Celebration of the 300th birthday of the Rev. Samuel Davies
November 03, 2023 - November 03, 2023
Hanover County

The speaker for this celebratory event will be the Rev. Dr. Dewey Roberts, author of the definitive biography on Samuel Davies, Samuel Davies, Apostle... Read More