Dover, long the county seat of Pope County, was incorporated December 3, 1852, and its incorporation lapsed some years ago. It was once the seat of Dover College, an educational institution of more than local celebrity.

In the period 'before the war' it grew to be a town of considerable importance. The principal business men since the war until a few years ago were W. C. McKune, Petty & Hollinger, Scott & Howell, West & Brown, Young & Hale and Bayliss & Young. The leading business men of the present time (1890) are T. M. Neal & Co., Dan C. Brown, I. L. Hicks, general merchants; John R. Homer Scott, steam saw-mill, grist-mill, planing-mill and cotton-gin; W. A. Baird, druggist; H. Kirchhof, hotel keeper.

The town has three church organizations: Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist.

Brown's and Davis' additions and West Dover were platted some years ago.