League of
Women Voters of the Upper Valley
Hanover,
NH, Norwich, VT and neighboring towns
updated January 22, 2006
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>> Hanover Town
Government
Know
Your Government: A
Hanover
Citizens Guide
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Chapter
1: The Voters
Chapter 2:Town Government, Town
Meeting,
&
Elected Officials
Chapter 3: Town Government
Appointed
Boards and
Town Services
Chapter 4:
Planning and Zoning
Chapter 5: School
Government
Chapter 6:
Municipal and School
Finances
Chapter 7:
Federal, State &
County
Government
& Elected Officials
Chapter 8:
County Government in
New
Hampshire
A Brief History of Hanover
Introduction
Why was this booklet written?
We hope this booklet will
help you, and all Hanover citizens, to be better informed and to
participate more actively in government-specifically that you will
- register and vote;
- increase your understanding of and your
participation in town, school, state, and federal government;
- keep this booklet handy (perhaps with your
telephone book, or with your school and church rosters) so you can
refer to it throughout the year.
- Use this booklet in conjunction with the Know
Your Officials pamphlet, an annual directory of local officials
available at Town Hall and libraries.
What makes Hanover special?
Hanover--which includes not
only the downtown area but also the villages of Etna and Hanover
Center--has a population of over 10,000 which includes about 5,000
Dartmouth College students. Hanover's special charm lies in its unique
combination of setting, culture, recreation, and small-town government
with opportunities for meaningful and effective participation.
- The
setting:
Hanover
is located between the Connecticut River across its western border to
beyond 2300-foot Moose Mountain ridge across its eastern border.
Hanover covers about 38 square miles of forest, meadows, and hillsides.
The town maintains a commitment to its rural character: in addition to
the Appalachian Trail corridor, which goes through the town, a ring of
preserved land encircles the urban area and trails and open spaces
weave throughout. At the same time, the town maintains a commitment to
preserving its character as a quintessential New England college
community.
This
profile shows Hanover elevations along a line from downtown Hanover to
the northeast corner of the town, beyond Moose Mountain. Each colored
band represents 500 feet. (Printed from TOPO! (c)
1998 Wildflower Productions. )
- Cultural
opportunities:
Hanover is home to Dartmouth College, the ninth oldest
college in the country, and one of the country's most prestigious
liberal arts colleges, with about 4000 undergraduates and 1000 graduate
students. Cultural opportunities abound: they include programs at the
Hopkins Center for the Performing Arts, several film festivals, and the
Hood Museum of Art-as well as many other music, art, and theater
experiences available in the larger Upper Valley area. (The term "Upper
Valley" refers to about 1200 square miles extending roughly from
Claremont to Haverhill on the New Hampshire side of the Connecticut
River and from Windsor to Bradford on the Vermont side.) Hanover
residents use and cherish their two public libraries, the Howe and Etna
Libraries. Hanover also maintains and supports three excellent public
schools.
- Recreational
opportunities:
The Hanover
area provides an exceptional array of recreational options. The
Connecticut River-plus a variety of rivers, streams, ponds, and
lakes-offers boating, swimming, fishing, and skating. The mountains and
hillsides offer hiking, mountain biking, camping, snowboarding, and
both Nordic and Alpine skiing. Designated recreational areas include
Pine Park, a new nature preserve, Storr's Pond, Ray School Playspace,
recreational fields, cross-country skiing trails, two skating rinks, a
public golf course, and many mapped hiking areas (maps available at
Town Hall, the Hanover Inn, and the Nugget Theater).
How
can we keep Hanover special?
Our town has had a history of thoughtful, dedicated people through whom
Hanover has become the community it is today. This booklet provides you
with the information so that you, too, can be a part of the process of
continually working to keep Hanover special.
Voting:
- For information on how
to register and
vote, see chapter 1.
- Local town and school
government: As
explained in chapters 2-6, the town and the schools of Hanover are
governed by means of a true democracy by the citizens, who form the
Town's legislative body at the yearly open Town Meeting and School
District Meetings. These chapters explain how to participate in these
meetings as well as how to participate in many other ways.
- Federal, state, and
county
government: Chapter 7 describes how to vote and participate in
federal, state, and county government.
How is this booklet organized?
This booklet is organized into eight chapters and a brief history of
Hanover. See the list below.
Know
Your Government: A
Hanover
Citizens Guide
Online
Edition.
Printed copies are available at Town Hall, the Etna Library and the
Howe Library.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Chapter
1: The Voters
Chapter 2:Town Government, Town
Meeting,
&
Elected Officials
Chapter 3: Town
Government
Appointed
Boards and
Town Services
Chapter 4:
Planning and Zoning
Chapter 5: School
Government
Chapter 6:
Municipal and School
Finances
Chapter 7:
Federal, State &
County
Government
& Elected Officials
Chapter 8:
County Government in
New
Hampshire
A
Brief History of
Hanover
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