Hanover is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario with a population of about 7,967 residents. It is located in southwestern Grey County, bordering on Bruce County, west of Durham and east of Walkerton on Grey/Bruce Road 4. Hanover has a city hall, police department and the Hanover and District Hospital.
History
In 1850, pioneer Abraham Buck and his family established a farm and tavern on the Saugeen River in the region of modern-day Hanover. Many settlers, most originally German, arrived in the area; a townsite was laid out by 1855. It was earlier called Buck's Crossing and then Adamstown, but was renamed Hanover. Records from 1867, indicate a gristmill, sawmill and carding mill, a foundry and a cabinet factory. Knechtel Furniture Company had opened around that time; the enterprise had been started in a barn by Daniel Knechtel, who came from Waterloo County. The company expanded over the years, becoming a large employer; it had locations in Southampton and in Walkerton and remained in operation until 1983. Other furniture companies also opened in the 1800s, including Sklar-Peppler. Hanover became an incorporated village in 1899 and a town in 1904.
The railway arrived in about 1880, a benefit to factories who now had a way 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. Manufacturing declined seriously between 1970 and 2000.
Important settlers included: Christian Hassenjager, the first of many German settlers, who was to suggest the name of Hanover; Abraham Z. Gottwals, a missionary with the Evangelical Church; Duncan Campbell, who became postmaster; Edward Goodeve, who had one of the first stores; Henry Proctor Adams, who built the dam and the first mill and drew up plans for the new village; Dr. Landerkin, the first doctor; Daniel Knechtel, who started a furniture manufacturing company that became one of the largest in Ontario.
Demographics
In 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, a change of from its 2016 population of 7,688. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021.
Mother tongue: English as first language: 94.8% French as first language: 0.6% English and French as first language: 0.1% Other as first language: 4.1%
Local schools
The first school was privately operated in the home of the teacher, Mrs. Campbell, on the eastern outskirts of the town (Campbell's Corner). When it became overcrowded, classes were held in the Orange Hall.
A new school was opened in 1875, just north of the main street. This structure accommodated both elementary students and those studying the first and second years of secondary. Additions were added to the structure in 1884, 1891,1895, and 1905.
Finally, in 1912, a new six-room school was built on what is the current site of Hanover Heights Community School. James A. Magee, who had become principal of the previous school in 1905, remained principal for 46 years.
The high school was built in 1924, in the southwest corner of the town, on a site known as Bartrap's Field.
Schools in the town are operated by the Bluewater District School Board, with its head office located in Chesley, and the Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board, headquartered in Hanover.
The Bluewater District School Board operates: John Diefenbaker Senior School (G7-12) Dawnview Public School (JK-6, French immersion) Hanover Heights Community school (JK-6)
The Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board operates: Holy Family Catholic School(JK-)8 Sacred Heart Catholic High School (G9-12), located in Walkerton
There is also the Montessori Children's House of Hanover, a Montessori preschool, and Saugeen Academy (G7-12), a Waldorf high school.
Economy
There are many factories and farms, which are the two major employers of the residents. The annual Hanover Homecoming also provides a yearly boost to the local economy.
West Bros. Furniture Manufacturing
West Bros. Furniture is now Hanover's only furniture manufacturer, supplying bedroom, dining room, occasional and accent furniture throughout North America, and to Global Affairs Canada to furnish Canadian Embassy residences worldwide. Beginning in 1992 the West Brothers, a family of Ontario furniture manufacturers created a new company located in Hanover.
Dickies Canada Co.