Historical Markers in
Hanover County, Virginia

11th Mississippi Monument 2nd Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery 36th Wisconsin A Bloody Baptism of Fire A Captured Trench A Deadly Delay A Dreadful Harvest A Lethal Occupation A Night of Agony A Well Preserved Union Artillery Position ACE Roller Coaster Landmark Artillery Duel Ashland Ashland Attack at Ox Ford Attacking the High Ground Balloons Over the Battlefield Battle Of Bethesda Church Battle of Cold Harbor Battle of Cold Harbor Battle of Cold Harbor Battle of Cold Harbor Battle of Cold Harbor Battle of Cold Harbor Battle of Cold Harbor Battle of Gaines' Mill Battle of Totopotomoy Creek Battle on the Skirmish Line Bayonets Are For Digging Beaver Dam Creek Beaver Dam Creek Beaver Dam Creek Beaver Dam School Between the Lines Blackwell House Boo Boo's Tree Swings Boulder Bumpers Cavalry Action at Cold Harbor Cavalry Action At Linney's Cedar Creek Quaker Meeting House Church Quarter Clay's Birthplace Cold Harbor Cold Harbor Battlefield Walking Trail Cold Harbor Campaign Cold Harbor Campaign Cold Harbor: June 2, 1864 Cold Harbor: The Early Actions Colonel Weisiger's Virginians Confederate Breastworks Confederate Fortifications Confederate Grand Assault Confederate March From the North Anna River Confederate Position Confederate Pursuit Cornwallis's Route Cornwallis’s Route Dead of the North Anna Battlefield Deadly Skirmishing Death Under The Trees Dig and Dig Some More Digging In Downtown Business Growth Fuels Ashland Expansion Early Airmail Service Early Stages of Stuart's Ride Around McClellan Edmund Ruffin's Grave Eighth N. Y. Heavy Artillery Ellerson's Mill Enon Church Enon Church Federal Artillery Battery Fighting at the Totopotomoy Final Stand Firing Blind Fork Church From Farmland to Forest From Stalemate to Breakthrough Gaines' Mill Gaines' Mill Garthright House Grant Reacts Grant's Grand Assault Griffin's Artillery Hanover Confederate Soldiers Monument Hanover County / Henrico County Hanover Court House Hanover Courthouse Hanover Junction Hanover Junction Hanover Tavern Hanover Tavern Hanover Veterans Memorial Hanovertown Henry at Hanover Courthouse Henry's Call to Arms Historic Cold Harbor Road Historic Polegreen Church Holding the High Ground Hood's Attack In Reserve Intensity of Battle Jackson's March to Mechanicsville Janie Porter Barrett John Henry Smyth John Preston Clarke June 3, 1864 — 18th Corps: A Disastrous Attack Keep Digging Keep Your Head Down Keitt’s Attack — Morning, June 1, 1864 Killing Fields Lafayette and Cornwallis Ledlie's Legacy Lee’s First Strike Lee’s First Victory: At a Huge Cost Lee’s Headquarters Lee’s Movements Like the Coming of a Cyclone M60 Main Battle Tank Mechanicsville Men From Massachusetts Misery In The Trenches Mistaken Identity Morell’s Division, USA New Cold Harbor Newmarket North Anna River North Anna River Campaign Nowhere To Go One Brigade Alone One More River to Cross Patrick Henry Patrick Henry's Birthplace Patrick Henry's Birthplace Pennsylvania Monument Pickett’s Brigade, CSA Pine Slash Polegreen Church Polegreen Church Polegreen Church Powerful Position Preparation For Battle Railroad Company Sees Potential For A Town Among The Slash Pines Randolph-Macon College Randolph-Macon College Randolph-Macon College Ranger Smith's Jeep Tour Read's Battalion Reinforcements Arrive Reuben Ford and Hopeful Baptist Church Rev. Alexander G. Brown D.D. River War Run for Safety Rural Plains Rutland Salem Church/Haw’s Shop Scars of Conflict School Transportation Scotchtown Scotchtown Seven Days Battles Seven Days Battles Seven Days Battles Seven Days Battles Seven Days Battles Seven Days Battles Seven Days Battles Seven Days Battles Seven Days Battles Seven Days' Battles Seven Days' Battles Seven Days' Campaign Seven Days’ Battles Seven Days’ Battles Shelton House Under Fire Sheridan's Raid Site of Ellerson’s Mill Site of Polegreen Slash Church Springfield Plantation Stalemate Stand Guard And Stay Awake Stuart Turns North Stuart's Ride Stuart's Ride Stuart's Ride Around McClellan Stuart's Ride Around McClellan Begins Stuart's Riders Skirt Ashland Stuart’s Ride Studley Studley Sycamore Tavern Texas The Armies Gather at Cold Harbor The Battle Begins The Battle of Gaines’ Mill The Battle of Gaines’ Mill - 1862 The Battle Opens The Blanton House The Bloody Eighth The Blue Ridge Tollway The Carrousel The Cavalry Charge The Chickahominy River & Seven Days' Battles The Cold Harbor Killing Fields The Colonial River Road The Confederates Attack The Creek Runs Red The Deadly Work of Sharpshooters The Decisive Moment The Depot at Beaver Dam The Eiffel Tower The Family Cemetery The Federal Collapse The Fields Family The Fight for North Anna / The North Anna Battlefield The Heart of Dixie The Inverted V The Ox Ford Road The Polegreen Story The Reading Room The Scooby-Doo Ghoster Coaster The Shenandoah Lumber Company The Shockwave The Tramp of Marching Feet The Ultimate Sacrifice The Union Left Flank The Waters Ran Red The Watt House The Wave Swinger Those People Stand No Chance Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Totopotomoi Totopotomoy Creek Totopotomoy Line Totopotomoy Line Town Of Ashland Historic District Turning Lee’s Flank Union Army's Crossing of the Pamunkey River Union Artillery Union Earthworks Union Reserve Line Union Rifle Pits Unknown Confederate Soldiers Volcano Walk in the Footsteps of History Walnut Grove Church Washington-Rochambeau Route Water Works Watt Farm Road We Have Broken Through We Must Hold This Line Welcome to Historic Polegreen Church Whiting's Advance Whiting's Division Wilcox’s Alabama Brigade, Wilcox’s Brigade, CSA William Latané WWII Memorial Wall "Come on to Richmond" "Hanover Town" "Liberty Hall" "Save yourselves if you can" “The Old Church”
Virginia was one of the original 13 colonies that declared independence from Great Britain in 1776.
Hanover County, Virginia has a rich history that stretches back to its establishment in 1720. The area was initially inhabited by Native American tribes, particularly the Pamunkey and Chickahominy tribes. Hanover County was named after the British Royal House of Hanover, signifying its colonial roots.

In the early years of Hanover County, agriculture, particularly tobacco cultivation, drove the local economy. The county benefited from its proximity to the state capital of Williamsburg and became an important center for trade and commerce. The Revolutionary War had a significant impact on Hanover County, as it was the site of several important battles and played a crucial role in the struggle for American independence.

In the 19th century, Hanover County saw the rise of the railroad industry, which brought new opportunities for economic growth and development. The county became connected to major metropolitan areas, enhancing its accessibility and encouraging commerce. It was during this time that notable figures like Patrick Henry, a key figure in the American Revolution, called Hanover County their home.

Hanover County's history continued to evolve throughout the 20th century, as it became more suburbanized due to its proximity to the expanding city of Richmond. Today, the county is a mix of urban and rural areas, preserving its historical roots while also adapting to a changing world. Hanover County is known for its historic sites, such as Scotchtown, the former residence of Patrick Henry, and its commitment to preserving its heritage.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Hanover County, Virginia.

  • 1720: Hanover County is established by the Virginia Assembly.
  • 1727: Hanover Courthouse is established as the county seat.
  • 1733: St. Martin's Episcopal Church is founded, becoming the oldest church building in the county.
  • 1762: The Virginia House of Burgesses meets at the Hanover County Courthouse. Patrick Henry delivers his famous "Liberty or Death" speech.
  • 1777: Hanover County becomes part of the newly formed Commonwealth of Virginia.
  • 1830s: Hanover Junction becomes an important transportation hub with the construction of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad.
  • 1861-1865: Hanover County experiences significant involvement in the American Civil War, with several battles and skirmishes taking place in the area.
  • 1901: Electric trolley service is introduced, connecting Hanover County to Richmond.
  • 1920s: Hanover County's economy begins to shift from agriculture to manufacturing, with the establishment of various industrial plants.
  • 1950s: Hanover County undergoes suburban growth, fueled by its proximity to Richmond.
  • 2000s: Hanover County experiences continued residential and commercial development, while also preserving its historic character.