Davidson County, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Davidson County
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Consolidated city-county
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| Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County | |||
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Davidson County Courthouse
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Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
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 Tennessee's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Tennessee |
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| Founded | October 6, 1783 | ||
| Named for | William Lee Davidson | ||
| Seat | Nashville | ||
| Largest city | Nashville | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 526 sq mi (1,360 km2) | ||
| • Land | 504 sq mi (1,310 km2) | ||
| • Water | 22 sq mi (60 km2) 4.2% | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 715,884 | ||
| • Estimate
(2025)
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745,904  |
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| • Density | 1,361.0/sq mi (525.5/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) | ||
| Area code | 615, 629 | ||
| Congressional districts | 5th, 6th, 7th | ||
Davidson County is a county in the state of Tennessee, USA. It is in the central part of a region called Middle Tennessee. In 2020, about 715,884 people lived here, making it the second most populated county in Tennessee. The main city and county seat is Nashville, which is also the capital of Tennessee and its largest city.
Since 1963, Nashville and Davidson County have worked together under one government. This is called the "Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County," or "Metro Nashville." This helps the city and county manage things together.
Davidson County has the most people in the 13-county Nashville metropolitan area. This is the biggest metropolitan area in Tennessee. Nashville has always been important for business, jobs, travel, and culture. It became the permanent capital of Tennessee in 1843.
Contents
Exploring Davidson County's Past
Davidson County is the oldest county in the Middle Tennessee region. It was created in 1783, right after the American Revolution. The county was named after William Lee Davidson, a general from North Carolina. He was a hero who died fighting British forces in 1781.
Early Settlements and Native American History
Nashville, the county seat, is the oldest permanent European settlement in Middle Tennessee. It was founded by James Robertson and John Donelson in the winter of 1779–80. The first settlers created the Cumberland Compact to set up basic laws and protect their land.
For thousands of years, Native American tribes lived in Davidson County. Tribes like the Cherokee, Muscogee (Creek), and Shawnee used the area for hunting. They were not happy when new settlers moved onto their traditional lands. The first Europeans to arrive were fur traders and "long hunters." They came because of a large salt lick, called French Lick, where they hunted and traded with Native Americans.
In 1765, Timothy Demonbreun, a hunter, lived with his wife in a cave near what is now downtown Nashville. They had the first European child born in Middle Tennessee. Early settlers grew crops like hemp and tobacco. They also raised high-quality animals. Many wealthy landowners in Middle Tennessee used the labor of enslaved people on their farms.
How Davidson County Changed Over Time
When Davidson County was first created in 1783, it was much larger. Its borders stretched across a big part of Tennessee. Over the years, parts of Davidson County were used to create other counties.
- Sumner County was created in 1786.
- Williamson County was created in 1799.
- Rutherford County was created in 1803.
- Cheatham County was created in 1856.
During the American Civil War in 1861, people in Davidson County voted to leave the United States. However, the Union Army took control of the county in February 1862.
Famous People from Davidson County
Many interesting people have connections to Davidson County. You can find more names on the List of people from Nashville, Tennessee.
- Kizziah J. Bills: An important Black American leader who fought for women's right to vote. She also wrote for Black newspapers and worked for civil rights. She grew up in Davidson County.
- Newman Haynes Clanton: A well-known figure from the Old West, involved in cattle rustling.
- Jermain Wesley Loguen: A leader who worked to end slavery.
- Benjamin "Pap" Singleton: Another important leader in the movement to end slavery.
Davidson County's Geography and Natural Beauty
Davidson County covers about 526 square miles. Most of this area is land, with about 22 square miles of water.
Rivers, Dams, and Waterways
The Cumberland River flows right through the middle of the county. There are two important dams here: Old Hickory Lock and Dam and J. Percy Priest Dam. These dams are managed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Other important rivers and creeks in Davidson County include Whites Creek, Manskers Creek, Stones River, Mill Creek, and the Harpeth River.
Neighboring Counties
Davidson County shares borders with several other counties:
- Robertson County, Tennessee – to the north
- Sumner County, Tennessee – to the northeast
- Wilson County, Tennessee – to the east
- Rutherford County, Tennessee – to the southeast
- Williamson County, Tennessee – to the south
- Cheatham County, Tennessee – to the west
Parks and Protected Areas
The county is home to parts of national and state protected areas, offering beautiful natural spaces.
- Natchez Trace Parkway (part)
State protected areas include:
- Bicentennial Mall State Park
- Couchville Cedar Glade State Natural Area (part)
- Harpeth River State Park (part)
- Hill Forest State Natural Area
- Long Hunter State Park (part)
- Mount View Glade State Natural Area
- Percy Priest Wildlife Management Area (part)
- Radnor Lake State Natural Area
Major Roads and Highways
Many important roads and highways run through Davidson County, connecting it to other parts of Tennessee and beyond.
Davidson County's Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 3,459 | — | |
| 1800 | 9,965 | 188.1% | |
| 1810 | 15,608 | 56.6% | |
| 1820 | 20,154 | 29.1% | |
| 1830 | 28,122 | 39.5% | |
| 1840 | 30,509 | 8.5% | |
| 1850 | 38,882 | 27.4% | |
| 1860 | 47,055 | 21.0% | |
| 1870 | 62,897 | 33.7% | |
| 1880 | 79,026 | 25.6% | |
| 1890 | 108,174 | 36.9% | |
| 1900 | 122,815 | 13.5% | |
| 1910 | 149,478 | 21.7% | |
| 1920 | 167,815 | 12.3% | |
| 1930 | 222,854 | 32.8% | |
| 1940 | 257,267 | 15.4% | |
| 1950 | 321,758 | 25.1% | |
| 1960 | 399,743 | 24.2% | |
| 1970 | 448,003 | 12.1% | |
| 1980 | 477,811 | 6.7% | |
| 1990 | 510,784 | 6.9% | |
| 2000 | 569,891 | 11.6% | |
| 2010 | 626,681 | 10.0% | |
| 2020 | 715,884 | 14.2% | |
| 2025 (est.) | 745,904 | |
19.0% |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 |
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Population in 2020
In 2020, Davidson County had 715,884 residents. The average age was about 34 years old. About 20% of the residents were under 18, and 12.4% were 65 or older.
The county is home to a diverse population. About 56% of residents were White, 24.2% were Black or African American, and 3.9% were Asian. About 13.7% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino. Most people (96.9%) in Davidson County live in urban areas.
Understanding Davidson County's Politics
Davidson County is known for generally supporting the Democratic Party. This is largely because Nashville, a major city, tends to vote Democratic. The county has voted for Democratic presidential candidates by large margins since 1988. In the 2020 election, Joe Biden won Davidson County with 64.5% of the votes.
Local and Federal Representation
In local elections, the county also tends to vote Democratic. No Republican has ever served as the mayor of unified Davidson County.
In 2022, Tennessee's state government changed the maps for Tennessee's congressional districts. This process, called gerrymandering, divided Davidson County into three different voting areas for Congress. This change helped the Republican Party win all three of these districts in the 2022 elections.
Elected Officials
Here are some of the people who represent Davidson County:
Federal Officers
- U.S. Senators: Marsha Blackburn (R) and Bill Hagerty (R)
- U.S. Representatives: Andy Ogles (R – District 5), John Rose (R – District 6) and Mark Green (R – District 7)
State Officers
- State Senators: Charlane Oliver (D), Heidi Campbell (D), Jeff Yarbro (D), and Mark Pody (R)
- State Representatives: Bo Mitchell (D), Aftyn Behn (D), Justin Jones (D), Jason Powell (D), Vincent Dixie (D), John Ray Clemmons (D), Bob Freeman (D), Harold Love (D), Caleb Hemmer (D), Shaundelle Brooks (D)
Local Officers
- Mayor: Freddie O'Connell
- Vice Mayor and Metropolitan Council President: Angie Henderson
- City Council: see Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County
- Assessor of Property: Vivian M. Wilhoite
- Circuit Court Clerk: Joseph P. Day
- District Attorney General: Glenn R. Funk
- Sheriff: Daron Hall
Communities in Davidson County
All of Davidson County is part of the "Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County." However, some towns that were already established before this combined government still have some independence. These include:
- Belle Meade
- Berry Hill
- Forest Hills
- Goodlettsville (partly in Sumner County)
- Oak Hill
- Ridgetop (primarily in Robertson County)
The parts of Davidson County outside these independent towns are known as the Nashville-Davidson balance for census purposes.
Nashville Neighborhoods
Before the city and county governments combined, many communities were separate. Now, they are neighborhoods within Nashville, each with its own history and identity.
- Antioch
- Bellevue
- Cane Ridge
- Crieve Hall
- Donelson
- Green Hills
- Hermitage
- Inglewood
- Joelton
- Lakewood
- Madison (includes historical Haysboro)
- Old Hickory
- Pasquo
- Una
- West Meade
- Whites Creek
Education in Davidson County
The Metropolitan Nashville Public School District manages all the public schools in Davidson County. The Tennessee School for the Blind is a state-run school located in Nashville.
Ecology and Wildlife
When the first settlers arrived in the 1770s, Davidson County was full of wildlife. Animals like bears, deer, and buffalo were common and provided food. There were also many wild cats, wolves, and snakes living where grand homes stand today.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Davidson (Tennessee) para niños
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Davidson County, Tennessee
- Piomingo
- Buchanan's Station
- Chickasaw
