Davidson County, North Carolina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Davidson County
U.S. county
Davidson County Courthouse in Lexington
Flag Seal Logo
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
North Carolina's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
Founded	1822
Named for	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  (2023)	174,804
• Density	305.38/sq mi (117.91/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	8th

Davidson County is a county in North Carolina, a state in the United States. In 2020, about 168,930 people lived there.

The main town, called the county seat, is Lexington. The biggest town in the county is Thomasville. Davidson County is part of the larger Winston-Salem area. It is also part of the Piedmont Triad, a big region in North Carolina.

History

The Old Davidson County Courthouse in Lexington

The name "Davidson County" was first used in North Carolina in 1786. This first county was in the western part of the state. It later became Davidson County, Tennessee when Tennessee became its own state in 1796.

The Davidson County we know today in North Carolina was created in 1822. It was formed from parts of Rowan County. The county was named after Brigadier General William Lee Davidson. He was a hero in the American Revolutionary War. He died in a battle in 1781.

The Silver Hill Mine opened in Davidson County in 1839. It was the very first silver mine in the United States.

In 1911, there was an idea to create a new county called Piedmont County. This new county would have taken land from Davidson, Guilford, and Randolph Counties. However, many people did not like this plan. The state government decided not to create the new county.

Geography

Davidson County covers about 567.70 square miles. Most of this area, about 553.18 square miles, is land. The rest, about 14.52 square miles, is water.

The county is in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. The Piedmont has gently rolling hills and shallow valleys. Rivers and streams flow through this area.

A special part of the county is the Uwharrie Mountains. These mountains are in the western and southwestern parts of Davidson County. They are the oldest mountain range in North America. Long ago, they were very tall, but time has worn them down. Now, they are more like high hills. The highest point in the county is High Rock Mountain. It is about 1,119 feet above sea level.

Protected Natural Areas

• Uwharrie National Forest (part)
• Boone's Cave Park
• Lake Thom-A-Lex Park
• Uwharrie Game Land (part)
• Yadkin River Game Land (part)

Major Water Bodies

• Abbotts Creek
• Badin Lake
• High Rock Lake
• Lake Thom-A-Lex
• South Potts Creek
• Tuckertown Reservoir
• Yadkin River

Neighboring Counties

• Forsyth County – to the north
• Guilford County – to the northeast
• Randolph County – to the east
• Montgomery County – to the south
• Stanly County – to the southwest
• Rowan County – to the southwest
• Davie County – to the west

Main Roads and Transportation

• I-85
• I-285
• US 29
• US 52
• US 64
• US 70
• NC 8
• NC 47
• NC 49
• NC 62
• NC 68
• NC 109
• NC 150

Major Transportation Hubs

• Davidson County Airport
• Lexington Station (train station)

Population Information

2020 Census Details

In 2020, there were 168,930 people living in Davidson County. There were about 69,938 households and 49,037 families.

2010 Census Details

In 2010, the county had 149,331 people. The population density was about 267 people per square mile. The county's population was mostly White (84.05%). Other groups included Black or African American (11.14%) and Hispanic or Latino (3.24%).

About 24.30% of the people were under 18 years old. The median age was 37 years. This means half the people were younger than 37, and half were older.

Education

Students in Davidson County go to schools run by Davidson County Schools. However, the cities of Thomasville and Lexington have their own separate school districts. Davidson County Schools is one of the biggest employers in the county.

Davidson County also has Davidson-Davie Community College. This college helps adults get the education and skills they need for jobs. It started in 1958 to help people learn skills for manufacturing jobs.

The college offers different types of degrees and classes. Students can even take classes that help them transfer to a four-year university. The main campus in Davidson has grown to 11 buildings.

Fun Things to Do

Arts United of Davidson County

Festivals

One of the most famous events is the yearly Lexington Barbecue Festival. It happens in Lexington every October. Over 100,000 visitors come to enjoy the barbecue!

There is also a yearly Davidson County Agriculture Fair in September. Thomasville hosts the "Everybody's Day Festival," which is the longest-running festival in the state. The "Southeastern Old Threshers Reunion" is held every year at the Denton Farmpark.

Landmarks to Visit

Davidson County has many interesting places to visit all year. Historic Uptown Lexington has the Davidson County Historical Museum. It is located in the old courthouse.

Near the Yadkin River, you can find Boone's Cave Park. Legend says that a young Daniel Boone and his family once lived there. Other fun places include Denton Farm Park and the North Carolina Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The old Wil-Cox Bridge is now a walking path and part of the Yadkin River Park. The Big Chair in Thomasville is also a famous landmark.

Art in the County

Pigs on Parade during the Lexington Barbecue Festival

"Pigs in the City" is an art event held every summer in Lexington. It brings in many thousands of visitors.

Davidson County Community College and the City of Thomasville created the Thomasville Artisan Center. This art studio offers classes in painting, drawing, and sculpting. It helps students learn art skills and also offers fun classes for the community.

Famous Barbecue

Davidson County is known for its delicious barbecue! One of the two main styles of North Carolina barbecue started in Lexington. Because of this, you can find many Lexington-style barbecue restaurants throughout the county.

Richard Childress's Home

Davidson County is home to the famous Richard Childress. He is well-known in race car driving. You can visit his Childress Vineyards and the Richard Childress Racing Museum here.

The Big Chair

Davidson County is also famous for its huge chair, called "The Big Chair." This giant chair is in downtown Thomasville. It is a symbol of the county's history in the furniture industry.

High Rock Lake

High Rock Lake

High Rock Lake is a very large lake in North Carolina. It is the second largest lake in the state, after Lake Norman. The lake covers about 15,180 acres and has 365 miles of shoreline. It is a popular spot for fishing. It has even hosted the Bassmaster Classic fishing competition several times.

Communities

Map of Davidson County with municipal and township labels

Cities

• High Point (part of the city is in Davidson County)
• Lexington (the county seat)
• Thomasville (the largest community)

Towns

• Denton
• Midway
• Wallburg

Townships

Census-designated places

• Southmont
• Tyro
• Welcome
• Yadkin College

Unincorporated communities

• Arcadia
• Churchland
• Gordontown
• Holly Grove
• Reeds
• Silver Hill
• Silver Valley

Notable People

• Nia Franklin, who was crowned Miss America 2019
• Wilmer "Vinegar Bend" Mizell, a professional baseball player and a Congressman
• Max Lanier and his son Hal Lanier, both Major League Baseball players from Denton
• Eddie Mathews, a Hall of Fame baseball player
• Perry Tuttle, a former NFL and CFL wide receiver
• Shy Tuttle, a defensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers

Images for kids

• 

  Davidson County Courthouse in Lexington

• 

  Davidson County Logo

• 

  Davidson County Flag

• 

  Davidson County Seal

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Davidson (Carolina del Norte) para niños