Originally named Canal Dover due to its location and origins along the Ohio and Erie Canal, the land was platted in 1807, with Christian Deardorff and Jesse Slingluff recognized as the founders.

[6] Canal Dover incorporated as a village in 1842 and became a city under the Ohio municipal code of 1903.

[7] On February 12, 1916, the city officially changed its name to Dover.

[8] Dover is located along the Tuscarawas River, near the mouth of Sugar Creek.

There were 5,578 housing units at an average density of 980.3 per square mile (378.5/km2).

31.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

28.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

Each year, the "Crimson Tornadoes" of Dover High School play the rival "Quakers" of New Philadelphia in a football game that has been played annually for more than a century, and is the fourth longest-running football rivalry in the state of Ohio.