Hanover College is a private liberal arts college, located in Hanover, Indiana, near the banks of the Ohio River. The college is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). The college was founded in 1827 by the Rev. John Finley Crowe, making it the oldest private college in Indiana. The Hanover athletic teams participate in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Graduates of Hanover are known as Hanoverians. Originally founded in 1827 by Rev. John Finley Crowe, Hanover College experienced a turbulent early period, but has become an institution of liberal arts education. In 2002, the College celebrated its 175 anniversary. In the early 19th century missionaries went to Hanover. Rev. John Finley Crowe served as pastor of the Hanover Presbyterian Church. He opened the Hanover Academy January 1, 1827, in a small log cabin near his home. Two years later, the State of Indiana granted a charter to the Academy. On November 9, 1829, the Academy’s Board of Trustees accepted a proposal by the Presbyterian Synod of Indiana to adopt the school provided a theological department was established.