Hanover, Pennsylvania

Hanover is a borough in York County, Pennsylvania, 19 mi southwest of York and 54 mi north-northwest of Baltimore, Maryland. The town is situated in a productive agricultural region. The population was 15,289 at the 2010 census. The borough is served by a 717 area code and the Zip Codes of 17331-34. Hanover is named after the German city of Hannover.

Geography
Hanover is located at °N, °W (39.807297, -76.984747). Hanover is 5 mi north of the Mason-Dixon line.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 3.7 square miles (9.5 km²), all land.

History
Hanover was settled in about 1730 and incorporated in 1815.

In 1727, John Digges, an Irish nobleman of Prince George's County, Maryland, obtained a grant of 10000 acre of land where Hanover is now located from Charles Calvert, the fourth Lord Baltimore. The area was called Digges Choice, and in 1730, a group of Catholics started the settlement that became known as the Conewego Settlement. Settlers from both Maryland and Pennsylvania began moving into the area in the 1730s. At this time, the northern border of Maryland and the southern border of Pennsylvania did not agree with each other, and the area that is now Hanover was in the disputed area claimed by both states. This led to numerous disputes about property ownership from the 1730s until 1760. The dispute was settled when Maryland and Pennsylvania hired British experts Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon to survey what became known as the Mason–Dixon Line. This line was surveyed between 1763 and 1767, and put an end to decades of disputes over rights and ownership.

In 1745, a Scotch-Irishman named Richard McAllister purchased the tract of land upon which the original town of Hanover was built. McAllister was a Presbyterian who had recently migrated from the Cumberland Valley. Hanover at that time was covered with a dense forest of hickory, walnut, and oak trees. McAllister erected a log house at what is now the corner of Baltimore and Middle streets, and opened a store and tavern. In 1763, McAllister divided his farm into lots and founded the town of Hanover. German settlers nicknamed the settlement "Hickory Town" after the thick groves of hickory trees that grew in the area. The name Hanover was suggested by Michael Tanner, who was one of the commissioners who laid out York County in 1749 and owned large tracts of land southeast of the town. Tanner's choice of the name came from the fact that he was a native of Hanover, Germany. The town's founders, who wanted to please the German settlers, agreed to the name. Hanover was also sometimes referred to as McAllister's Town in its early years.

Thomas Jefferson spent the night of April 12, 1776 at the Sign of the Horse, an inn owned by Caspar Reinecker on Frederick Street. Records indicate that Jefferson paid "Rhenegher" 11 shillings, 6 pence for dinner and lodging. He was on his way from Monticello to Philadelphia to attend the first meeting of the Continental Congress, where on June 10 he would begin the draft the Declaration of Independence. At the time, Hanover was located at the crossing of two well-traveled roads, one from the port of Baltimore to points north and west and the other between Philadelphia and the Valley of Virginia. When Jefferson returned from Philadelphia to Monticello, he again dined and spent the night of September 5 at Reinecker's inn.

Hanover's first newspaper "Die Pennsylvania Wochenschrift" was published in German in 1797. In 1805, the "Hanover Gazette" followed suit, also published in German.

At the start of the Revolutionary War, Hanover consisted of about 500 homes, most of which were built out of logs. After the war, the population increased steadily until the War of 1812. After the War of 1812 the town experienced only minor growth until 1852, when construction of the Hanover Branch Railroad to Hanover Junction was completed. In 1858 the Gettysburg Railroad opened a railroad link westward to Gettysburg. The Hanover and York Railroad completed a rail line to York in 1876.

During the American Civil War, the Battle of Hanover was fought on June 30, 1863. Union cavalry under Judson Kilpatrick encountered Confederate cavalry under J.E.B. Stuart and a sharp fight ensued in the town and in farm fields to the south, particularly along Frederick Street. The inconclusive battle delayed the Confederate cavalry on their way to the Battle of Gettysburg. Three days before the battle, another detachment of Virginia cavalry had briefly occupied Hanover, collecting supplies and horses from local citizens.

Over the years, its industries have included the making of cigars, gloves, silks, flavine, water wheels, flour, shirts, shoes, machine-shop products, furniture, wire cloth, and ironstone grinders.

The town has lent its name to a brand of canned vegetables, and a mail-order gift company based there.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,535 people, 6,605 households, and 3,817 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,981.7 inhabitants per square mile (1,537.5/km²). There were 6,982 housing units at an average density of 1,912.6 per square mile (738.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.95% White, 0.52% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.74% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.05% of the population. The ancestries for Hanover include: German (42%), Irish (11%), United States (10%), English (8%), Italian (3%), and Dutch (2%).

There were 6,605 households out of which 23.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the borough the population was spread out with 20.1% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $35,536, and the median income for a family was $45,156. Males had a median income of $31,206 versus $21,512 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $20,516. About 4.5% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

The Greater Hanover area has a population of about 55,000 residents. The community is made up of several areas such as Hanover Borough, Penn Township, Heidlberg Township, Manheim Township, West Manheim Township, Conewago Township, Berwick Township, and Union Township. All of these areas have Hanover, PA listed as their address.

Hanover, Pennsylvania is known by many as the snack food capital of the United States. Hanover has been featured multiple times on the Food Network. It is home to Utz's Quality Foods and Snyder's of Hanover and in nearby areas there are others including Wolfgang Candy, Martin's Potato Chips, Hershey Foods, and Gibbles Potato Chips, among others. Most of these factories give free tours.

Retail areas
Hanover is the seventh largest retail area in the state of Pennsylvania.

Pretzel company Snyder's of Hanover is located in its namesake town.

A major retail area in the greater Hanover region is along Eisenhower Drive, known as "The Golden Mile." This four lane road stretches east to the intersection at Eisenhower Drive and Broadway (Route 194) and west to the intersection at Eisenhower Drive and Carlisle Street (Route 94). Some of the major retail businesses on "The Golden Mile" includes Wal-Mart Supercenter, Arbys, AC Moore, Game Crazy, TJ Maxx, La Cucina, M&T Bank (2 locations), Best Wok, The Home Depot, Kohls, Staples, Texas Roadhouse, Ruby Tuesdays, Perkins, The Bon Ton, Dunkin Donuts, Red Lobster, Lowe's, Giant Foods, R.C. Hanover Movies 16, McDonalds, Chilis, Wendy's, and Sonic America's Drive In.

Education
The Hanover area is served fully by two school districts, partially by third, and has one private high school. The Hanover Public School District serves Hanover Borough and has five schools: The South Western School District serves the area around Hanover Borough, which includes Penn Township, Manheim Township, and West Manheim Township. This district has six schools: Conewago Township is served by Conewago Township Elementary School, which is part of the Conewago Valley School District in adjacent Adams County.
 * Clearview Elementary School
 * Hanover Street Elementary School
 * Washington Elementary School
 * Hanover Middle School
 * Hanover High School
 * Baresville Elementary School
 * Manheim Elementary School
 * Park Hills Elementary School
 * West Manheim Elementary School
 * Emory H. Markle Intermediate School (middle school)
 * South Western High School

The private high school is Delone Catholic High School is in adjacent McSherrystown, PA.

Despite the Hanover area's size, there are no colleges. However, the Empire Beauty School has a campus in Hanover, and the Practical Nursing Program has classrooms at Hanover High School. HACC and York College also offer classes at Hanover and South Western high schools. Penn State's York Campus also offers select classes in the Hanover area.

Places of interest
Some local places of interest in the Hanover area include:
 * Hanover Shoe Company - A large shoe factory from 1910, now converted into apartments.
 * Hanover Farmer's Market - since 1815
 * Lincoln Speedway
 * Hanover Theater - built 1928
 * Eichelberger Performing Arts Center
 * Guthrie Memorial Library, Hanover's Public Library
 * Trail-Ways Speedway——a local auto race track for sprint car, stock car, and other types of car races
 * Utz potato chip factory
 * Codorus State Park——has a large artificial lake, pontoon boat rentals, motor boat rentals, canoe rentals, row boat rentals, paddle boats, disc golf courses, and one of the largest pools in the state of Pennsylvania
 * North Hanover Mall
 * Snyder's of Hanover
 * Link's Music, established in 1981, has the largest showroom of PA, lighting, drums, guitars, guitar and bass amplifiers, and DJ equipment in York, Adams, and Carroll Counties.
 * Sheppard Mansion
 * EMECO Chair Factory - Manufactures the famous Emeco 1006

Transportation
The Hanover area is served by Pennsylvania Routes 94, 194, 116, and 216. Route 94 (Carlisle Street/Pike and Baltimore Street/Pike) intersects with Route 194 at the square and extends north to Carlisle, PA and south to Baltimore, MD. Route 194 (Broadway/Abbottstown Pike and Frederick Street/Hanover Pike) intersects with Route 94 and Route 116 at the square and extends north to Dillsburg, PA and south to Frederick, MD. Route 116 (York Street/Road and High Street/Hanover Road) overlaps Route 194 and runs through the square for three blocks. It extends west to McSherrystown, PA and east to Spring Grove, PA. Route 216 (Blooming Grove Road) branches southwest off of Route 116 and runs through Codorus State Park.

Hanover is served by 4 routes of the Rabbit Transit bus system. Route #16 connects Downtown Hanover to Downtown York. An unnumbered route transports employees from York to Hanover. Route #21 connects Downtown Hanover with North Hanover and the Homewood Retirement Village. Route #22 connects Downtown Hanover with North Hanover and South Hanover.

Special Interest Groups

 * Azul Nox Encampment, Ordo Templi Orientis
 * Boy Scout Troop 103
 * Boy Scout Troop 110
 * Buon Amici Lodge #2772, Order Sons of Italy in America Lodge

Music groups

 * Lyric Band of Hanover-120 member concert band-founded in 1932
 * Hanover Symphony Orchestra-started in 1995
 * Lancers Drum and Bugle Corps-100+ member alumni drum & bugle corps founded in 1920
 * The Pixies Three -- Teenage girl-group trio from 1963-1965 ("Birthday Party", "442 Glenwood Avenue")

Movies
The bowling scene in the movie Girl, Interrupted was filmed in the basement of the Sheppard Mansion. The mansion and its twin, Myers Mansion, across town both still have bowling alleys in their basements.