The community is located on the Black Jurassic a fossil-rich layer of Posidonia shale, and is part of the in 1979 established excavation reserve fossils of Holzmaden.

[3] The first mention of the place was in 1275 in Liber decimationis, the tenth book of the Bishopric of Constance.

The local elections on 25 May 2014 resulted in the following distribution of seats: The blazon of the municipal coat of arms of Hattenhofen is: In red on green hill between two golden deciduous trees a silver house with pointed silver tile roof, closed door and two windows.

The community led since 1916 an official seal with a coat of arms on which a silver Obereck, and a tree was displayed next to a house.

The coat of arms in its current form was officially awarded on 15 August 1959 by the Ministry of Interior.