Davidson, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Davidson, North Carolina
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Main Street
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| Motto(s):
"College Town. Lake Town. Your Town."
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Location of Davidson, North Carolina
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| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| Counties | Iredell, Mecklenburg |
| Founded | 1837 |
| Incorporated | 1879 |
| Named for | Davidson College |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.59 sq mi (17.07 km2) |
| • Land | 6.34 sq mi (16.41 km2) |
| • Water | 0.25 sq mi (0.65 km2) |
| Elevation | 833 ft (254 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 15,106 |
| • Density | 2,383.78/sq mi (920.36/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
28035-28036
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| Area code(s) | 704 980 |
| FIPS code | 37-16400 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2406358 |
Davidson is a town in North Carolina, United States. It is located in Iredell and Mecklenburg counties. The town sits on the banks of Lake Norman. Davidson is part of the larger Charlotte metropolitan area.
In 2020, about 15,106 people lived in Davidson. The town started in 1837. It grew around Davidson College, a famous school. The college was named after Brigadier General William Lee Davidson. He was a local hero from the American Revolutionary War.
Contents
History of Davidson
The town of Davidson has a strong connection to Davidson College. The college was built before the town grew around it. It greatly shaped how the town developed.
The land for Davidson College came from General William Lee Davidson's family. His son sold 469 acres to start the college. This happened in 1837.
In the late 1800s, Davidson became a shipping center. Farmers sent their crops, especially cotton, from here. Textile factories also opened along the railroad tracks. The Linden Cotton Factory was built in 1890. The Delburg Cotton Mills followed in 1908.
In 1891, the town's name changed from "Davidson College" to "Davidson." This showed that the town was growing beyond just the college. By 1910, about 1,056 people lived in Davidson. This number grew to 1,500 by the 1920s.
Downtown Davidson had many shops and services. There were general stores, a drug store, and barber shops. Doctors and banks also had offices there. Along the railroad, you could find a train station, flour mills, and cotton gins.
Over time, farming became less important. New highways like I-77 made it easier for people to shop in bigger cities like Charlotte. Today, Davidson has grown a lot because of Charlotte's development. The town's businesses now focus on restaurants and special shops.
Davidson is known for its smart growth plans. These plans encourage walking and biking. They also support mixed-use buildings and affordable homes. In 2009, the town's historic center became a National Register Historic District.
Geography and Location
Davidson is in the Piedmont area of North Carolina. It is located north of Charlotte. Part of the town stretches into Iredell County.
The town's western side is along Lake Norman. This is a large lake on the Catawba River. Lake Davidson, a smaller lake, is also on the town's northwestern edge. The town of Cornelius borders Davidson to the south.
Interstate 77 runs through Davidson. You can get on or off at Exit 30. I-77 goes south to Charlotte and north to Statesville. North Carolina Highway 115 is Davidson's Main Street. It goes north to Mooresville and south to Huntersville.
The town covers about 6.59 square miles (17.07 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. A small part is water, including parts of Lake Norman and Lake Davidson.
People in Davidson
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 391 | — | |
| 1890 | 481 | 23.0% | |
| 1900 | 904 | 87.9% | |
| 1910 | 1,056 | 16.8% | |
| 1920 | 1,156 | 9.5% | |
| 1930 | 1,445 | 25.0% | |
| 1940 | 1,550 | 7.3% | |
| 1950 | 2,423 | 56.3% | |
| 1960 | 2,573 | 6.2% | |
| 1970 | 2,931 | 13.9% | |
| 1980 | 3,241 | 10.6% | |
| 1990 | 4,046 | 24.8% | |
| 2000 | 7,139 | 76.4% | |
| 2010 | 10,944 | 53.3% | |
| 2020 | 15,106 | 38.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population Facts
In 2020, Davidson had 15,106 people. There were 4,336 households. Most people were White (82.32%). Other groups included Black or African American (4.94%) and Asian (3.33%). About 5.45% of the people were Hispanic or Latino.
In 2010, the town had 10,944 people. About 22.8% of the population was under 18 years old. The median age was 35.7 years. The average household income was $83,730.
Education in Davidson
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Davidson has good schools for kids of all ages.
Schools for Kids (K-12)
Students in Davidson go to schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools system. Davidson School teaches students from kindergarten to 8th grade. High school students attend William A. Hough High School in Cornelius.
There are also private and charter schools in Davidson:
- Davidson Day School
- Davidson Green School
- Community School of Davidson (a charter school)
Colleges and Universities
Davidson is home to Davidson College. This is a very selective liberal arts college. It is located right in the middle of town. Davidson College is known as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country.
Many famous people have attended Davidson College. These include Woodrow Wilson, who became the 28th President of the United States. Also, NBA player Stephen Curry went to Davidson College.
Libraries
Davidson has a public library. It is a branch of the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. The library is located on the Green in Davidson.
Major Employers
Davidson has many businesses, both small and large. Because it was built along a railroad line, it attracted industrial companies. Two well-known companies have big offices here. Davidson College and the nearby Charlotte Douglas International Airport also help attract businesses.
- Trane/Ingersoll Rand: Ingersoll Rand has its US corporate headquarters in Davidson. In 2020, Trane also moved its headquarters here. The company has a large office complex near Lake Davidson. Ingersoll Rand employs 1,600 people in Davidson. They own other brands like Club Car and CompAir.
- MSC Industrial Direct: MSC Industrial Direct has its customer support center and corporate headquarters in Davidson. You can see their building from I-77. MSC is a large industrial supplier. They employ 700 people in the Davidson area.
- Davidson College: Davidson College is a big employer in the community. It employs over 500 residents. The college also created the Hurt HUB. This is a place where business people and college students can meet and share ideas.
- Curtiss-Wright Corporation: The main office of Curtiss-Wright is in Davidson. This company makes aerospace parts.
Fun Places to Visit
- Davidson College
- Davidson College Arboretum (a beautiful garden area)
- Lake Norman (great for water activities)
Awards and Recognitions
Davidson has received many awards for its planning and community efforts:
- National Environmental Protection Agency Smart Growth Award (2004)
- Recognition as a National Historic District (2009)
- Tree City USA (2010)
- Bike Friendly Community - Bronze (2010)
- Walk Friendly Community - Bronze (2011)
- Great Main Street Award (2013)
Famous People from Davidson
- Steph Curry, a famous NBA player
- William Lee Davidson, a hero from the American Revolutionary War and the town's namesake
- Hayes Grier, Internet personality
- Nash Grier, Internet personality
- Will Grier, NFL quarterback
- Josef Newgarden, IndyCar driver
- Woodrow Wilson, 28th President of the United States (attended Davidson College)
See also
In Spanish: Davidson (Carolina del Norte) para niños
