HANOVER, YESTERDAY    In the early 1700s, a small valley in the Pigeon Hills began to attract the attention of German settlers. They were looking to build new lives away from religious prosecution, and yet they still wanted to settle in an area that reminded them of home – the Rhineland River Valley. They found that here, in a fertile farming area that would grow to become Hanover, Pennsylvania. At the time, it had no real name. It was simply referred to as “Digg’s Choice” or “Rogue’s Roost.” In 1763, a Scotch-Irish innkeeper named Richard McAllister drew up a formal town plan for the group of scattered settlers. It was centered over an old hickory swamp at the junction of trade roads to York – 20 miles north – and Baltimore, a bustling city with a port, just a day’s ride to the south. In order to gain favor with the predominately German population, he named it “Hanover,” a German word that means “on the high banks.” Hanover was incorporated as a borough in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1815. By that time, it was already home to thriving industries. It had a strong agricultural base and several inns and taverns, including the one owned by McAllister. And each week, more families settled in Hanover, including a growing number of Scotch, English and Irish immigrants.

HANOVER, PA  Despite the English spelling of our name, Hanover, Pennsylvania, is  named for Hannover, Germany.  

THE BATTLE OF HANOVER  One hot summer’s day in 1863, the quiet streets of downtown Hanover literally exploded. Union artillery, perched in the Pigeon Hills, fired down on the town as they attempted to hold back advancing Confederate troops. It was the first battle fought on Pennsylvania soil – some historians say it was even the first fought on northern soil. The battle lasted only one day and was small by Civil War standards, yet it played an important part in the Gettysburg campaign. As a result of the fighting here, Confederate Gen. J.E.B. Stuart had almost 9,000 Union troops between him and Gettysburg. Retreating after the battle in Hanover, Stuart and his men were forced to march around town, through Jefferson, York Springs and then Carlisle, before finally arriving in Gettysburg late on July 2 — missing almost two days of fighting. Experts will never know if Stuart’s presence during those two days would’ve changed the outcome of the war, but they admit it’s possible. A cavalry was an army’s “eyes and ears” back then and Gen. Lee may have made some very different decisions had he had the information Stuart’s men would have provided. What is certain are the events leading up to the Battle of Hanover and the campaign in Gettysburg. On the morning of June 30, 1863, Union Gen. Judson Kilpatrick moved his division from its camp in Littlestown, marching through Hanover toward Abbottstown — a line of men nearly five miles long, with nearly 9,000 men in all. And although Kilpatrick’s artillery had already moved through Hanover, his men had not. The rear of the column was marching through the town when the confederate cavalry led by Stuart arrived — and attacked. Kilpatrick returned to the end of the line and established a temporary headquarters in Room 24 of the Central Hotel. (The building still stands in the northwest quadrant of the square, painted a light yellow and now occupied by shops and apartments.) Union troops rallied together, and led by Gen. Elon Farnsworth, pushed the Confederates back toward Littlestown. According to reports, heavy fighting was concentrated in the downtown area, from Westminster Avenue, through the “square” and out Broadway to near present-day Stock Street. There were also several skirmishes between small groups of soldiers in Hanover’s side streets as well. As they retreated, confederate forces set up a line of artillery along a ridge just south of Hanover known as Rice’s Hill. From there, they traded fire with Union cannons to the north. This artillery duel continued for nearly two hours, during which time some shells fell into Hanover. As night fell, confederate troops conceded defeat and left Hanover. It would be nearly two days before they would arrive in Gettysburg, less than 20 miles to the west of Hanover.

On November 18, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln stopped in Hanover on his way to Gettysburg to deliver his most famous speech ... the Gettysburg Address. 

HANOVER, TODAY    Hanover is diverse, a very healthy mix of manufacturing, processing, trade and agriculture – a fitting tribute to the strong work ethic and dedication of its earliest settlers, the Germans. Hanover is also growing rapidly. Studies predict that the area is growing at a rate of 32 percent, and will continue to do so until 2020. Hanover is one of the largest retail areas in Pennsylvania and one of the largest manufacturing regions. Hanover also bears another distinction – it is the “snack food capital,” home to nearly one dozen brands, including Utz Potato Chips and Snyder’s of Hanover.