In the middle of the 17th century, the indigenous people were removed by force as waves of settlers from the British Isles started to migrate towards North America.

European settlement began when the land was settled by English settlers from Scituate in 1649 when William Barstow, a farmer, built a bridge along the North River at what is now Washington Street.

When Barstow settled the town, he constructed a cabin that was located off what is known today as Oakland Avenue (formerly Back Street).

According to Dwelley's History of Hanover (1849), Phineas Pratt of the Wessagusset Colony apparently spent a night crossing the Indian Head or North River in the Hanover/Pembroke area during his difficult journey from what is today Weymouth to Plymouth in 1623.

Hanover's early industry revolved around farming, small mills, anchor forging, and several shipbuilding yards along the North River.

The oldest building in Hanover with the best documentation to support it is the Daniel Turner house, built in the year 1693.

The ship named Grand Turk was built at Thomas Barstow's Two Oaks shipyard in Hanover along the North River.

The town was the site of the invention of the first tack-making machine, and making tacks and fireworks were among the industries of the later 19th century for Hanover.

[3] On the Indian Head River, the E.H. Clapp Rubber Works was an industrial stronghold for the town during the nineteenth century, the original building is preserved at Luddam's Ford Park now.

Hanover Center has many war memorials dedicated to veterans who fought and died in wars throughout United States history.During the American Revolution, Hanover sent Colonel John Bailey and his men to help defend Boston Harbor and Castle Island for the patriots.

The Four Corners area of the town was the site of Wales Tavern, which also hosted Paul Revere and Daniel Webster.

The westernmost shipping point on the North River was located at Chapman's Landing near Luddam's Ford.

The Stetson family, in which created the famous hat company, originated in the North River area of Massachusetts.

During WWI and WWII the Pilgrim Ordnance Works in West Hanover made munitions for the war effort.

The Cardinal Cushing Centers is also in the National Register of Historic Places, which is located at Hanover Four Corners.

The ships would sail down the North River and would bring pork, fish, beef, and oil, and would return with spices, rum, and sugar.

Today, Hanover's shipyards are marked in the Four Corners area of the town, making it a point of interest.

It is bordered by Norwell to the north and east, Pembroke and Hanson to the south, and Rockland to the west and northwest.

Much of Hanover's eastern and southern borders consist of three waterways, the North and Indian Head rivers along the south and southeast, and the Third Herring Brook along the east.

The second-largest freshwater tidal marsh in Massachusetts is located on the North River banks of Hanover, towards the Third Herring Brook.

The town has warm to hot summers, with average rainfall in July and August of less than 3 inches (76 mm) per month.

On the national level, Hanover is a part of Massachusetts's 9th congressional district, and is currently represented by William R. Keating.

The town is represented in the Massachusetts Senate as a part of the Second Plymouth and Bristol district, which includes Brockton, Halifax, Hanson, Whitman and portions of East Bridgewater and Easton.

[19] The town is patrolled on a secondary basis by the First Barracks of Troop D of the Massachusetts State Police, located in Norwell.

Hanover High's teams are nicknamed the Hawks (previously the Indians) and their colors are blue and gold.

Hanover High School has also been known to have an outstanding graduation rate and expertise in preparing students for further academic fields.