Davidson County, North Carolina | |
|---|---|
 Davidson County Courthouse in Lexington | |
 Flag  Seal  Logo | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofNorth Carolina | |
 Interactive map of Davidson County, North Carolina | |
| Coordinates:35°48′N80°13′W / 35.80°N 80.21°W /35.80; -80.21 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  North Carolina |
| Founded | 1822 |
| Named after | William Lee Davidson |
| Seat | Lexington |
| Largest community | Thomasville |
| Area | |
• Total | 567.70 sq mi (1,470.3 km2) |
| • Land | 553.18 sq mi (1,432.7 km2) |
| • Water | 14.52 sq mi (37.6 km2) 2.56% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 168,930 |
• Estimate (2024) | 177,809 |
| • Density | 305.38/sq mi (117.91/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
| Website | www |
Davidson County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofNorth Carolina. As of the2020 census, its population was 168,930.[1] Itscounty seat isLexington,[2] and its largest community isThomasville. Davidson County is included in theWinston-Salem, NCmetropolitan statistical area, which is also included in theGreensboro–Winston-Salem–High Point, NC combined statistical area. Parts of Davidson County are in theYadkin Valley AVA.
The original North Carolina county of this name was created in 1786 in what was then the far western portion of North Carolina, with its county seat atNashville and a territory covering most of what is nowMiddle Tennessee. When Tennessee was established as a separate state in 1796, this county becameDavidson County, Tennessee.
The current North Carolina county was formed in 1822 fromRowan County. It was named after Brigadier GeneralWilliam Lee Davidson, anAmerican Revolutionary War general killed at theBattle of Cowan's Ford on theCatawba River in 1781.[3][4]
TheSilver Hill Mine, the first silver mine in the United States, opened in Davidson County in 1839.[5]
In 1911, a new county called Piedmont County was proposed, withHigh Point as its county seat, to be created fromGuilford, Davidson, andRandolph Counties. Many people appeared at the Guilford County courthouse to oppose the plan, vowing to go to the state legislature to protest. The state legislature voted down the plan in February 1911.[6][7]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 567.70 square miles (1,470.3 km2), of which 14.52 square miles (37.6 km2) (2.56%) are covered by water.[8]
Davidson County is located entirely within thePiedmont region of central North Carolina. The Piedmont consists of gently rolling terrain frequently broken by hills or shallow valleys formed by rivers and streams. Exceptions to this terrain are theUwharrie Mountains in the county's western and southwestern sections. The Uwharries are the oldest mountain range in North America,[9] and at one time they rose to nearly 20,000 feet (6,100 m) above sea level, but time has worn them down to little more than high hills; yet due to the relative flatness of the surrounding countryside, they still rise 250–500 feet (76–152 m) above their base. The highest point in the Uwharries - and the highest point in Davidson County - is High Rock Mountain in the county's southwestern corner. It has an elevation of 1,119 feet (341 m) above mean sea level.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1830 | 13,389 | — | |
| 1840 | 14,606 | 9.1% | |
| 1850 | 15,320 | 4.9% | |
| 1860 | 16,601 | 8.4% | |
| 1870 | 17,414 | 4.9% | |
| 1880 | 20,333 | 16.8% | |
| 1890 | 21,702 | 6.7% | |
| 1900 | 23,403 | 7.8% | |
| 1910 | 29,404 | 25.6% | |
| 1920 | 35,201 | 19.7% | |
| 1930 | 47,865 | 36.0% | |
| 1940 | 53,377 | 11.5% | |
| 1950 | 62,244 | 16.6% | |
| 1960 | 79,493 | 27.7% | |
| 1970 | 95,627 | 20.3% | |
| 1980 | 113,162 | 18.3% | |
| 1990 | 126,677 | 11.9% | |
| 2000 | 147,246 | 16.2% | |
| 2010 | 162,878 | 10.6% | |
| 2020 | 168,930 | 3.7% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 177,809 | [13] | 5.3% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[14] 1790–1960[15] 1900–1990[16] 1990–2000[17] 2010[18] 2020[1] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[19] | Pop 2010[20] | Pop 2020[21] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 126,158 | 133,486 | 129,487 | 85.68% | 81.95% | 76.65% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 13,389 | 14,269 | 15,839 | 9.09% | 8.76% | 9.38% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 466 | 634 | 665 | 0.32% | 0.39% | 0.39% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 1,188 | 1,957 | 2,440 | 0.81% | 1.20% | 1.44% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 5 | 26 | 43 | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 137 | 220 | 491 | 0.09% | 0.14% | 0.29% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 1,138 | 1,878 | 6,063 | 0.77% | 1.15% | 3.59% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4,765 | 10,408 | 13,902 | 3.24% | 6.39% | 8.23% |
| Total | 147,246 | 162,878 | 168,930 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2020 census, 168,930 people, 68,126 households, and 49,037 families were residing in the county.[1] The median age was 43.1 years; 21.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.7 males.[22]
There were 68,126 households in the county, of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.8% were married-couple households, 17.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[22]
There were 74,536 housing units, of which 8.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.9% were owner-occupied and 28.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.1%.[22]
The racial makeup of the county was 78.1%White, 9.5%Black or African American, 0.6%American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%Asian, <0.1%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 4.6% from some other race, and 5.7% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 8.2% of the population.[23]
52.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 47.7% lived in rural areas.[24]
At the2010 census,[25] 149,331 people, 58,156 households, and 42,512 families were living in the county. Thepopulation density was 267 people per square mile (103 people/km2). The 62,432 housing units had an average density of 113 units per square mile (44 units/km2). Theracial makeup of the county was 84.05% White, 11.14% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 1.67% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. About 3.24% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.
Of the 58,156 households, 32.7% had children under 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were not families. About 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the county, the age distribution was 24.3% under 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 93.7 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $38,640, and for a family was $46,241. Males had a median income of $31,287 versus $23,622 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $18,703. About 7.00% of families and 10.10% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 13.3% of people under 18 and 12.1% of those 65 or over.
Davidson County was one of the first areas of North Carolina to turn Republican, doing so long before other areas of conservative White voters shifted away from the Democrats. No Democratic presidential nominee has carried the county sinceFranklin D. Roosevelt defeatedThomas E. Dewey by a mere 10 votes out of almost 19,000 in1944. It was one of only 13 counties of 100 in the state to vote forBarry Goldwater overLyndon Johnson in1964, and the last Democrat to garner even one-third of the county's vote wasJimmy Carter in1980.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1880 | 1,864 | 51.00% | 1,781 | 48.73% | 10 | 0.27% |
| 1884 | 2,097 | 52.46% | 1,900 | 47.54% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1888 | 2,346 | 52.53% | 2,023 | 45.30% | 97 | 2.17% |
| 1892 | 1,837 | 42.97% | 1,928 | 45.10% | 510 | 11.93% |
| 1896 | 2,375 | 53.00% | 2,072 | 46.24% | 34 | 0.76% |
| 1900 | 2,329 | 55.49% | 1,823 | 43.44% | 45 | 1.07% |
| 1904 | 2,054 | 50.11% | 2,017 | 49.21% | 28 | 0.68% |
| 1908 | 2,340 | 52.12% | 2,126 | 47.35% | 24 | 0.53% |
| 1912 | 1,509 | 29.26% | 2,484 | 48.16% | 1,165 | 22.59% |
| 1916 | 2,801 | 51.04% | 2,675 | 48.74% | 12 | 0.22% |
| 1920 | 5,960 | 55.41% | 4,797 | 44.59% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 6,227 | 48.69% | 6,507 | 50.88% | 56 | 0.44% |
| 1928 | 8,960 | 63.19% | 5,220 | 36.81% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 6,051 | 39.04% | 9,292 | 59.95% | 157 | 1.01% |
| 1936 | 7,656 | 41.38% | 10,844 | 58.62% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 6,978 | 38.63% | 11,084 | 61.37% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 9,445 | 49.97% | 9,455 | 50.03% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 8,539 | 49.32% | 7,991 | 46.15% | 784 | 4.53% |
| 1952 | 14,299 | 56.67% | 10,931 | 43.33% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 16,178 | 61.83% | 9,987 | 38.17% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 18,797 | 58.90% | 13,118 | 41.10% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 17,292 | 55.73% | 13,735 | 44.27% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 16,678 | 46.57% | 7,594 | 21.20% | 11,544 | 32.23% |
| 1972 | 24,875 | 74.79% | 7,691 | 23.12% | 696 | 2.09% |
| 1976 | 18,813 | 51.05% | 17,859 | 48.46% | 183 | 0.50% |
| 1980 | 22,794 | 59.56% | 14,579 | 38.10% | 896 | 2.34% |
| 1984 | 30,471 | 72.55% | 11,469 | 27.31% | 61 | 0.15% |
| 1988 | 28,374 | 68.11% | 13,215 | 31.72% | 73 | 0.18% |
| 1992 | 24,869 | 50.01% | 16,462 | 33.11% | 8,394 | 16.88% |
| 1996 | 24,797 | 58.75% | 13,593 | 32.21% | 3,817 | 9.04% |
| 2000 | 35,387 | 67.99% | 16,199 | 31.12% | 461 | 0.89% |
| 2004 | 42,075 | 70.72% | 17,191 | 28.89% | 230 | 0.39% |
| 2008 | 45,419 | 66.23% | 22,433 | 32.71% | 729 | 1.06% |
| 2012 | 49,383 | 69.62% | 20,624 | 29.07% | 928 | 1.31% |
| 2016 | 54,317 | 72.56% | 18,109 | 24.19% | 2,430 | 3.25% |
| 2020 | 64,658 | 73.05% | 22,636 | 25.57% | 1,220 | 1.38% |
| 2024 | 67,959 | 72.72% | 24,150 | 25.84% | 1,343 | 1.44% |
Davidson County is a member of the regionalPiedmont Triad Council of Governments.
Davidson County gained national attention whenGerald Hege, sheriff from 1994 to 2003, became a minor celebrity for his unconventional prisoner treatment methods.
| Office[28] | Holder | Party | Term expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| County commissioner (chair) | Todd Yates | Republican | 2028 |
| County commissioner (vice chair) | Karen Watford | Republican | 2026 |
| County commissioner | Chris Elliott | Republican | 2026 |
| County commissioner | Fred McClure | Republican | 2028 |
| County commissioner | Matt Mizell | Republican | 2026 |
| County commissioner | Steve Shell | Republican | 2026 |
| County commissioner | Tripp Kester | Republican | 2028 |
Davidson County is served byDavidson County Schools, but the cities of Thomasville and Lexington have their ownschool districts. The Davidson County Schools district is one of the county's largest employers.
Davidson County is also served byDavidson-Davie Community College, a comprehensive community college that is a member school of the North Carolina Community College System. Davidson-Davie Community College was chartered in 1958 as an Industrial Education Center designed to provide adults with the education and skills needed to move from an agricultural to a manufacturing-based economy.
In 1965, the institution was chartered as Davidson County Community College. The associate in arts and associate in science degrees were added to the existing associate in applied science degree, diploma, and certificate programs. University transfer courses were added in 1966. In 1997, the college participated in the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement that allows college transfer students to move easily to the 16 UNC schools, as well as many independent college and universities. Presently, the Davidson Campus has grown to 11 buildings and two emergency-services training facilities on about 97 acres (390,000 m2).
One of the county's most famous attractions is the yearlyLexington Barbecue Festival, held in the city ofLexington during October, bringing in over 100,000 visitors from all over the Southeastern U.S. Also, an annual Davidson County Agriculture Fair is held in September.Thomasville hosts an annual Everybody's Day Festival,[29] the longest-running festival in the state. The Southeastern Old Threshers Reunion[30] is held every year at the Denton Farmpark.
Many year-long attractions are available in Davidson County, some of which include Historic Uptown Lexington, which consists of the Davidson County Historical Museum located in the oldcourthouse. Alongside the Yadkin River sitsBoone's Cave Park, where according to legend, a youngDaniel Boone and his family once lived. Other attractions includeDenton Farm Park, Walter Johnson Camp and Conference Center, and the North Carolina Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The historicWil-Cox Bridge spanning the Yadkin River has been preserved for pedestrian traffic and is now part of the Yadkin River Park. The Big Chair in Thomasville is also a major landmark.
Pigs in the City, an art initiative held each summer in Lexington, attracts tens of thousands of visitors.
In 2005, Davidson County Community College and the City of Thomasville formed a partnership for the creation of the Thomasville Artisan Center. This art studio allowed the college to reinvigorate its associate in fine arts degree, and offered both university transfer classes and adult community-interest classes in painting, drawing, and sculpting. The Artisan Center is part of the college's Thomasville Education Center complex, which is part of the college's outreach to the community. The college has a second campus in Davie County in the city of Mocksville, as well as the Uptown Lexington Education Center, located within a few blocks of the Arts Center of Davidson County and the historic Courthouse.
One of the two major styles of North Carolina barbecue originated in Lexington, the county seat and home to the annualLexington Barbecue Festival. Therefore, many Lexington-style barbecue restaurants are found throughout the county.
Davidson County is home to many supporting race fans andRichard Childress. It includes his personalChildress Vineyards andRichard Childress Racing Museum.
Davidson County is also known for its oversized chair, the "Big Chair", located in central Thomasville; it is a symbol of Davidson County'sfurniture industry.
High Rock Lake is the northernmost of theUwharrie Lakes and the second-largest lake in North Carolina behindLake Norman. Its water surface covers 15,180 acres (61.4 km2), with 365 miles (587 km) of shoreline. It begins at the confluence of theYadkin River and theSouth Yadkin River. It has been the host of theBassmaster Classic in 1994, 1995 and 1998.[31] and is the site of frequent other local angling competitions. Lexington is just north of theAbbotts Creek section of the lake.
Geographic data related toDavidson County, North Carolina atOpenStreetMapPlaces adjacent to Davidson County, North Carolina | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofDavidson County, North Carolina,United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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