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Davidson County, Tennessee facts for kids

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Davidson County
Consolidated city-county
Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County
Davidson County Courthouse
Davidson County Courthouse
Official seal of Davidson County
Seal
Map of Tennessee highlighting Davidson County
Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
Map of the United States highlighting Tennessee
Tennessee's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Tennessee
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)
 • Total 715,884
 • Estimate 
(2023)
 712,334 Decrease
 • Density 1,361.0/sq mi (525.5/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts 5th, 6th, 7th

Davidson County is a county in the state of Tennessee, USA. It is located in the central part of Tennessee, known as Middle Tennessee. In 2020, about 715,884 people lived here. This makes it the second most populated county in Tennessee.

The main city and county seat of Davidson County is Nashville. Nashville is also the capital city of Tennessee and its biggest 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 special setup helps the city and county work as one.

Davidson County is the most populated part of the larger Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin Metropolitan Statistical Area. Nashville has always been an important center for business, factories, transportation, and culture in the region. It became the permanent capital of Tennessee in 1843.

Exploring Davidson County's Past

Davidson County is the oldest county in the Middle Tennessee area. It was created in 1783, right after the American Revolution. The county was named after William Lee Davidson. He was a general from North Carolina who died fighting British forces in 1781.

The county seat, Nashville, is the oldest lasting European settlement in Middle Tennessee. It was started by James Robertson and John Donelson in the winter of 1779–80. This was during the final days of the Revolutionary War.

Early Settlers and Native Americans

The first European settlers created the Cumberland Compact. This was a set of rules to help them live together and protect their land. In the early 1780s, these settlers faced challenges from Native American tribes. Tribes like the Cherokee, Muscogee (Creek), and Shawnee used the area for hunting. They were not happy about newcomers moving onto their land.

Native American cultures had lived in Davidson County for thousands of years. Many old archaeological sites show this history. The first white Americans to come to the area were fur traders. Then came "long hunters." They had heard about a large salt lick, called French Lick. Here, they hunted animals and traded with the Native Americans.

In 1765, Timothy Demonbreun, a hunter and trapper, lived in a small cave near what is now downtown Nashville. He and his wife had the first white child born in Middle Tennessee. Many settlers came from Kentucky and other southern states. They grew crops like hemp and tobacco. They also raised high-quality animals, like horses.

Davidson District
Map of Tennessee Districts in 1817: Tennessee, Davidson, and Sumner

How Davidson County Changed Over Time

When Davidson County was first created in 1783, it was much larger. Its original borders covered a huge area. However, over the years, parts of Davidson County were used to create four new counties:

During the American Civil War in 1861, people in Davidson County voted to leave the United States. The vote was very close. However, the Union Army took control of the county in February 1862. This caused many changes and problems for the area.

Famous People from Davidson County

Many notable people have lived in Davidson County. Here are a few:

Geography and Nature

Davidson County covers about 526 square miles. Most of this is land, with about 22 square miles of water.

The Cumberland River flows through the middle of the county from east to west. There are two dams on the river in the county: 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:

Protected Natural Areas

Davidson County has several protected natural areas. These places help keep nature safe.

Main Roads and Highways

Many important roads and highways pass through Davidson County. These roads connect the county to other parts of Tennessee and the country.

  • I-24
  • I-40
  • I-65
  • I-440
  • US 31
  • US 31A
  • US 31E
  • US 31W
  • US 41
  • US 41A
  • US 70
  • US 70S
  • US 431
  • SR 12
  • SR 45
  • SR 96
  • SR 100
  • SR 155
  • SR 171
  • SR 174
  • SR 251
  • SR 253
  • SR 254
  • SR 255
  • SR 265
  • SR 386

Who Lives in Davidson County?

Historical population
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%
2023 (est.) 712,334 13.7%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010–2020
USA Davidson County, Tennessee.csv age pyramid
Age pyramid Davidson County

The U.S. Census helps us understand the people living in an area. In 2020, there were 715,884 people living in Davidson County. These people lived in about 289,427 households.

Davidson County's Population Mix (2020)

Davidson County racial composition
Group Number of People Percentage
White (not Hispanic) 386,835 54.04%
Black or African American (not Hispanic) 171,489 23.95%
Native American 1,309 0.18%
Asian 27,660 3.86%
Pacific Islander 303 0.04%
Other/Mixed 30,169 4.21%
Hispanic or Latino 98,119 13.71%

Towns and Neighborhoods

All of Davidson County is part of the "Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County." However, some towns that existed before this combined government still have some independence.

Independent Towns

These towns have their own local governments:

The parts of Davidson County that are not in these independent towns are called the "Nashville-Davidson balance" for census purposes.

Nashville Neighborhoods

Many other communities used to be separate towns or unincorporated areas. Now, they are neighborhoods within Nashville. They still keep their unique historical identities.

Learning in Davidson County

The main school system for the entire county is the Metropolitan Nashville Public School District. This district manages all the public schools.

The Tennessee School for the Blind is also located in Nashville. This is a special school run by the state.

Nature and Wildlife

When the first settlers arrived in the 1770s, Davidson County was full of wildlife. There were many bears, deer, and even buffaloes. These animals provided food for the settlers. Wild cats, wolves, and snakes were also common. Today, many of these wild animals are no longer found in this area.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Davidson (Tennessee) para niños

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