Hanover County is named for the electorate of Hanover in Germany, from which the current line of British monarchs hailed, and King George I of Great Britain held the title Elector of Hanover.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Spotsylvania County, Caroline County and King William County
E – New Kent County
S – Henrico County and Goochland County
W – Louisa County
Created: November 2, 1720 
County Seat:
Hanover 1720 – present
Old County Courthouse – Hanover
Location: 13182 Hanover Courthouse Road / Library Drive
Built: 1735 – 1736
Style: Colonial
Architect: John E Malory
Contractor: William Meriwether and John E Malory
Description: The building faces southwest and is a one story red colored brick structure. The building is “T” shaped with a wing which extends northeast. The southwest front has five arched openings onto an arcade with arched opening at either end. The walls are brick laid in Flemish bond with glazed headers. There are three interior end chimneys. The roof is hipped and has a modillioned cornice surrounding the entire building.
Note: During the period of construction slave labor would have been used under the direction of a white supervisor. The design resembles the 18th century style widely used in Virginia.
Note: The courthouse is the third oldest courthouse still in use in the United States. The oldest courthouse is located in King William County, Virginia (1725). The second oldest courthouses is in Salem County, New Jersey (1735). The fourth oldest is in Charles City County, Virginia (1740). The fifth oldest is in Richmond County, Virginia (1748).
See: National Register of Historic Places – Hanover County Courthouse
County Courthouse – Hanover
Location: 7505 Library Drive / Hanover Courthouse Road
Built: 1974 – 1976
Style: Modern
Architect: LBC & W Associates
Contractor: Leadbetter Buildings, Inc.
Description: The building faces northwest and is a one story red-orange colored brick and concrete structure. The northwest front has a recessed central entrance with white colored doors. The roof has five dormers and a pitched roof. The building houses the Circuit Court and is similar to the District Court which is on the northeast side.
County District Court – Hanover
Location: 7515 Library Drive / Hanover Courthouse Road
Built: 1974 – 1976
Style: Modern
Architect: LBC & W Associates
Contractor: Leadbetter Buildings, Inc.
Description: The building faces northwest and is a one story red-orange colored brick and concrete structure. The northwest front has a recessed central entrance with white colored doors. The roof has five dormers and a pitched roof. The building houses the District Court and is similar to the Circuit Court which is on the southwest side.
See: The 15th Judicial Circuit includes Caroline County, Essex County, Fredericksburg, King George County, Lancaster County, Northumberland County, Richmond County, Spotsylvania County, Stafford County and Westmoreland County.
County Government Complex – Hanover
Location: 13182 Hanover Courthouse Road / Library Drive
Built: 1998 – 2000
Style: Modern
Architect: Moseley Architects, Inc.
Contractor: Gulf Seaboard General Contractors Inc. of Ashland
Description: The building faces southwest and is a two story red colored brick, wood and concrete structure. The southwest front has seven arches on the first story and glass windows on the second story. The north and south wings project from the main building. The roof is hipped with three dormers on each wing.
County Justice Center – Hanover
Location: Country Club Road / Hanover Courthouse Road
Built: 2015 – 2017
Style: Modern
Architect: Moseley Architects, Inc.
Contractor: Gulf Seaboard General Contractors Inc. of Ashland
Description: The building is presently under construction at a cost of $44,000,000.
Photos taken 2013