Hanover is a charming town nestled in the Canadian province of Ontario. With a population of approximately 7,967 residents, it is situated in southwestern Grey County, bordering Bruce County. Hanover is conveniently located west of Durham and east of Walkerton on Grey/Bruce Road 4. The town boasts a city hall, a police department, and the Hanover and District Hospital, providing all the essential services to its residents.
The history of Hanover dates back to 1850 when pioneer Abraham Buck and his family established a farm and tavern on the Saugeen River in the region of modern-day Hanover. The townsite was laid out by 1855, attracting many settlers, predominantly of German origin. Initially known as Buck's Crossing and then Adamstown, the town was eventually renamed Hanover.
By 1867, Hanover was home to a gristmill, sawmill, carding mill, a foundry, and a cabinet factory. The Knechtel Furniture Company, started by Daniel Knechtel in a barn, opened around this time. The company expanded over the years, becoming a significant employer with locations in Southampton and Walkerton. It remained in operation until 1983.
Hanover became an incorporated village in 1899 and a town in 1904. The arrival of the railway around 1880 was a boon for local factories, providing a means to ship their goods across Canada. By the 1920s, Hanover was known as the Furniture Capital of the country. The town survived the depression and flourished after the Second World War, manufacturing furniture, textiles, flour, processed food, and kitchen cabinets. However, manufacturing declined seriously between 1970 and 2000.
According to the 2021 Canadian census conducted by Statistics Canada, Hanover had a population of 7,967 living in 3,445 of its 3,788 total private dwellings. This was a change of 3.6% from its 2016 population of 7,688. With a land area of 9.78 km2 (3.78 sq mi), it had a population density of 814.6/km2 (2,109.9/sq mi) in 2021. The mother tongue of the majority of the residents is English (94.8%), followed by French (0.6%), and other languages (4.1%).
Hanover is home to the Paramount Theatre, located downtown, which provides year-round entertainment with the latest movie releases. The Hanover Drive-In Theatre, one of only 23 remaining drive-in theatres in Ontario, offers summer entertainment for the entire family. The Hanover Civic Theatre, attached to the Civic Centre and Library, provides live amateur and professional entertainment. It hosts recitals from three Hanover dance studios and various other events in its century-old building that has been upgraded.
The Hanover Public Library, located in the renovated Civic Centre complex in the centre of town, offers a wide range of resources for all ages. The library's collection includes a large number of books, videos on DVD and Blu-ray, magazines, newspapers, and online resources. The library also offers quick and in-depth reference services, a local history collection, an online obituary lookup service, pre-school programmes, and a shut-in material delivery service.
Hanover Town Park and Campground, located on the banks of the Saugeen River, offers 40 fully serviced campsites. The park is popular with town residents and offers large picnic areas, fishing, a wide variety of playground equipment for children of all ages, and a covered picnic pavilion with kitchen facilities. Several smaller parks, playgrounds, and baseball diamonds are located throughout the town.
Hanover is home to a Junior C hockey team, the Hanover Barons, adding to the town's vibrant sports culture.
