Hanover is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Hanover County, Virginia, United States. It is the county seat and is located at the junction of U.S. Route 301 and State Route 54 south of the Pamunkey River. While historically known as Hanover Courthouse, the U.S. Geological Survey, Census Bureau, Postal Service and residents take in hand to it as “Hanover”. The population as of the 2010 census was 252.

Its most notable structure is the Hanover County Courthouse, designated a National Historic Landmark. The attorney Patrick Henry practiced enactment here and argued the Parson’s Cause. It is within the Hanover County Courthouse Historic District, which includes the Hanover Tavern. Rebuilt in 1791 upon the site of a Revolutionary-era tavern, the tavern was adapted in 1953 as the Barksdale Theatre, the nation’s first dinner theatre. Barksdale was Virginia’s first performing organization to seat integrated audiences. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church was listed upon the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.

The Hanover County Courthouse is an effective courthouse. Located along U.S. Route 301, it is across the green from the Hanover Tavern. The courthouse is the third oldest courthouse nevertheless in use in the United States. Some local historians cited the courthouse as built in 1735, but the come clean historical outfit notes it was built together with 1737 and 1742.

Hanover is located in northeastern Hanover County, south of the Pamunkey River, which forms the attach with Caroline County. U.S. Route 301 passes through the middle of the CDP, leading south 18 miles (29 km) to the middle of Richmond and north 20 miles (32 km) to Bowling Green. Virginia State Route 54 leads west 6 miles (10 km) to Ashland.