Hanover (Ont)

Hanover, Ont, incorporated as a town in 1904, population 7490 (2011c), 7147 (2006c). The Town of Hanover is located 70 km southwest of OWEN SOUND on the Saugeen River.

History
Settlement began in the area in 1849 when Abraham Buck and his partner cut a trail west of Durham and took up a farm by the Saugeen River. They were soon joined by a number of German settlers. The community was first known as Buck's Crossing or Buck's Bridge and later by the name of Adamstown. With the opening of the post office in 1856 the name was changed again to Hanover, presumably after the province in Germany.

By 1860 Hanover had assumed its industrial character and boasted a furniture factory, tannery and foundry. The furniture factory was soon joined by another, and before long the town gained the nickname "Slabtown"because of the prevalence of furniture makers and other enterprises that supported furniture manufacturing such as the lumber, woollen and sawmilling industries.

Present Day
Today the town's economy is driven by a mixture of light manufacturing and food processing. It also serves as a commercial centre for the surrounding area. The Hanover Raceway hosts harness racing. Hanover is the hometown of Carl SCHAEFER, a Canadian artist known for his portrayals of rural southern Ontario scenery. It is also the hometown of Noah Brusso, who fought under the name of Tommy BURNS and was the first Canadian to win the boxing heavyweight championship of the world.