Editing Davidson, North Carolina

{{for|the county of the same name|Davidson County, North Carolina}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Davidson, North Carolina
|named_for                = [[Davidson College]]<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.ncpedia.org/gazetteer/search/davidson/0 |title= North Carolina Gazetteer |accessdate= November 24, 2023 }}</ref>
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = 

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Toast on Main Street.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Main Street
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Mecklenburg County North Carolina Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Davidson highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location in North Carolina
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[North Carolina]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in North Carolina|Counties]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Mecklenburg County, North Carolina|Mecklenburg]], [[Iredell County, North Carolina|Iredell]], [[Cabarrus County, North Carolina|Cabarrus]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
| established_title        = Founded
| established_date         = 1837
| established_title1       = Incorporated
| established_date1        = 1879

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2024">{{cite web |title=2024 U.S. Gazetteer Files: North Carolina|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_gaz_place_37.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=March 19, 2025}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 
|area_land_km2            = 
|area_water_km2           = 
|area_total_sq_mi         = 6.75
|area_land_sq_mi          = 6.50
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.25

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P1?q=&g=160XX00US3716400| title=P1. Race – Davidson town, North Carolina: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=March 19, 2025}}</ref>
|population_total         = 15106
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|population_density_km2   = 
|population_density_sq_mi = 2324.4

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 833
|coordinates              = {{coord|35|30|02|N|80|50|49|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s
|postal_code              = 28035-28036
|area_code                = [[Area code 704|704]] [[Area code 980|980]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 37-16400<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2406358<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2406358}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|www.townofdavidson.org}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Davidson''' is a [[suburb]]an town in [[Mecklenburg County, North Carolina|Mecklenburg]], [[Iredell County, North Carolina|Iredell]], and [[Cabarrus County, North Carolina|Cabarrus]] counties, [[North Carolina]], United States. It is a suburb in the [[Charlotte metropolitan area]]. The population was 15,106 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="Census 2020"/> up from 10,944 in [[2010 United States census|2010]].<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US3716400| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Davidson town, North Carolina| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| work=American Factfinder| access-date=April 10, 2018| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213091959/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US3716400| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref> The town was founded in 1837 with the establishment of the Presbyterian [[Davidson College]], named for Brigadier General [[William Lee Davidson]], a local Revolutionary War hero. The land for Davidson College came from Davidson's estate, a large portion of which was donated by his son.

==History==
John Davidson, described as "a prosperous [[Ulster]] merchant", was a member of the Davidson family who migrated south from [[Pennsylvania]]. Davidson's Creek was the westernmost settlement in North Carolina at the time, and according to Robert Ramsey's ''Carolina Cradle'', it "became the nucleus of the Centre Presbyterian Congregation."<ref name=Neufeld/> John Davidson's son William went on to serve in the [[American Revolution]], eventually becoming a [[major (rank)|major]].<ref name=Neufeld>{{cite news |url=https://www.citizen-times.com/story/life/2018/11/04/visiting-our-past-attacks-cherokee-part-corn-and-mill-history/1830504002/ |title=Visiting Our Past: Attacks on Cherokee part of corn and grist mill history |last=Neufeld |first=Rob |work=[[Asheville Citizen-Times]] |date=November 4, 2018 |access-date=November 4, 2018}}</ref> Maj. William Davidson was a cousin of Col. William Davidson, the first [[North Carolina Senate|state senator]] from [[Buncombe County, North Carolina]], who in turn was a cousin of Gen. William Lee Davidson, for whom Davidson College was named.<ref name="Allen Turner Davidson">{{cite web |url=http://ashevilleandbuncombecounty.blogspot.com/2014/11/william-davidson-confusion-continues.html |title=William Davidson Confusion Continues |date=November 17, 2014 |access-date=November 8, 2018}}</ref> Gen. Davidson's son William Lee Davidson II sold {{convert|469|acre|km2}} to the Concord Presbytery to start Davidson College.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.davidsonhistoricalsociety.org/ |title=Welcome to the Davidson Historical Society |publisher=Davidson Historical Society |access-date=November 8, 2018}}</ref>

The history of the town of Davidson is inextricably linked to Davidson College, which predated the surrounding community and influenced its development. Although Davidson's growth in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries typified small railroad towns throughout the [[Piedmont (United States)|Piedmont]], the presence of the college created a unique village. The tree-shaded campus filled with classically inspired architecture distinguished Davidson from other communities. The sway of the school also extended beyond the campus to the entire town, influencing commerce, culture, and the character of its architecture. The 1869 Branson's business directory recorded four dry goods merchants in the town as well as a cabinetmaker, a miller, and three physicians.

Soon after the arrival of the railroad, Davidson became a shipping point for [[cash crop]]s, especially cotton, and a service center for farmers. In common with other railroad towns in the region, [[textile]] investors constructed cotton mills and mill villages along the rail corridor. The Linden Cotton Factory, erected in 1890 on Depot Street, was the first textile plant in Davidson, and in 1908, the Delburg Cotton Mills was constructed nearby. Two thousand bales of cotton were sold at Davidson annually in the early 1900s.

In 1891, the name of the town was changed from "Davidson College" to "Davidson", emblematic of the community's expanding roles for town and gown alike. Davidson's cotton mills spurred the growth of the town, and by 1910 the population of Davidson had reached 500 residents, climbing to 1,500 by the 1920s. Between 1900 and the [[Great Depression in the United States|Great Depression]], the business district evolved from a commingling of stores and residences into contiguous rows of one- and two-story, brick commercial buildings. The heart of downtown – opposite the college – contained a full complement of small-town stores and services, including four general merchandise stores, a drug store, a laundry, tailor shop, two barber shops, a hardware store, a post office, a bank, and several restaurants. Physicians, building contractors, and [[milliner]]s also had Main Street addresses. Behind Main Street along the railroad tracks stood the small 1897 Southern Railway Depot, a livery, flour mill, sawmill, cotton gins, a cottonseed oil company, a blacksmith shop, and a buggy manufacturer. 
 
The demise of cotton farming and decline of other agricultural pursuits in the region effectively ended the town's role as a farming service center. Meanwhile, improved highways and the advent of [[I-77]] encouraged residents to frequent larger department stores in the cities, especially [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]], {{convert|22|mi}} to the south. In more recent years, the emergence of suburban shopping centers around Davidson accelerated the town's status to an all-purpose retail market.

Today, the tremendous development around Charlotte has stimulated Davidson's growth to its current population of more than 15,000 people. Local downtown businesses, now characterized by restaurants and specialty shops, cater to this new market. Prestigious, nationally known Davidson College has made the town an intellectual and cultural center, drawing into its orbit a sizable professional class.

Beginning with the General Plan in 1993, continuing through the Land Plan of 1995 and the Planning Ordinance of 2001, the town has advocated for and implemented [[smart growth]] principles, including pedestrian orientation (resulting in a ban on drive-thru's), [[mixed-use development]], affordable housing, open space preservation, and connectivity. An emphasis on design has been a consistent theme in each resulting regulatory document. Additionally, the town of Davidson received National Register Historic District status in 2009 for the historic core of the town, which includes downtown.

==Geography==
[[File:LakeNorman.jpg|thumb|A view of Lake Norman in the spring]]
[[File:Lake Davidson.png|thumb|Lake Davidson, Winter 2018]]
Davidson is located in the [[Piedmont (United States)|Piedmont]] of North Carolina at {{coord|35|29|28|N|80|49|58|W|type:city_region:US-NC}}, in northern Mecklenburg County, north of [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]].<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> A portion of the town extends north into [[Iredell County, North Carolina|Iredell County]]. The western edge of the town follows the shoreline of [[Lake Norman]], a large reservoir on the [[Catawba River]]. An arm of Lake Norman on the east side of Interstate 77 is known as Lake Davidson,<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.townofdavidson.org/DocumentCenter/View/797/updated-fact-sheet?bidld=| title=Lake Davidson Fact Sheet| publisher=Town of Davidson| access-date=March 19, 2025}}</ref> with part of its shoreline within the Lake Davidson Nature Preserve.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.townofdavidson.org/844/Nature-Preserve| title=Nature Preserve| publisher=Town of Davidson| access-date=March 19, 2025}}</ref> Davidson is bordered to the south by the town of [[Cornelius, North Carolina|Cornelius]] and at its farthest eastern edge by the city of [[Kannapolis, North Carolina|Kannapolis]] in [[Cabarrus County, North Carolina|Cabarrus County]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/tigerweb| title=TIGERweb: Davidson, North Carolina - Places and County Subdivisions| publisher=Geography Division, U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=March 19, 2025}}</ref>

[[Interstate 77 in North Carolina|Interstate 77]] passes through the western side of Davidson, with access from Exit 30 (Griffith Street). I-77 leads south {{convert|21|mi}} to Charlotte and north the same distance to [[Statesville, North Carolina|Statesville]]. [[North Carolina Highway 115]] is Davidson's Main Street; it leads north {{convert|7|mi|0}} to [[Mooresville, North Carolina|Mooresville]] and south {{convert|6|mi|0}} to [[Huntersville, North Carolina|Huntersville]].

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|6.8|sqmi|1}}, of which {{convert|6.5|sqmi|1}} are land and {{convert|0.3|sqmi|1}}, or 3.73%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2024"/> While the area west of Main Street drains into Lake Norman, part of the Catawba River watershed, the majority of the town drains eastward via the South Prong of the West Branch of the [[Rocky River (North Carolina)|Rocky River]], a tributary of the [[Pee Dee River]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 391
|1890= 481
|1900= 904
|1910= 1056
|1920= 1156
|1930= 1445
|1940= 1550
|1950= 2423
|1960= 2573
|1970= 2931
|1980= 3241
|1990= 4046
|2000= 7139
|2010= 10944
|2020= 15106
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Davidson racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US3716400&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 20, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 12,436
| 82.32%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 746
| 4.94%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 25
| 0.17%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 503
| 3.33%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 1
| 0.01%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 572
| 3.79%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 823
| 5.45%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 15,106 people, 4,336 households, and 3,011 families residing in the town.

===2010 census===
According to the 2010 census,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/3716400.html |title=UNITED STATES QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau |website=Quickfacts.census.gov |access-date=November 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905074530/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/3716400.html |archive-date=September 5, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> there were 10,944 people and 4,253 housing units in the town. The racial makeup of the town was 87.8% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 6.4% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.8% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 3.8% [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] and 1.7% from two or more races.

There were approximately 2,429 family households, out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.8% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.4 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.8% under the age of 18, 14.9% from 20 to 29, 21.9% from 35 to 49, 16.2% from 50 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.7 years. 47.5% of the population was male and 52.5% was female.

The median household income was $83,730, and the median income for a family was $124,045. Males who work full-time and year-round had a median income of $93,833 versus $56,178 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $49,065. About 4.8% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 6.5% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
[[Image:Chambers Building, Davidson College (Davidson, North Carolina).jpg|thumb|Chambers Building at Davidson College]]

===K-12 schools===
The residents of Davidson attend the [[Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st37_nc/schooldistrict_maps/c37119_mecklenburg/DC20SD_C37119.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Mecklenburg County, NC|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=February 14, 2023}}</ref> Davidson School is the zoned school for grades K-8.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cmsk12.org/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=10500&dataid=8565&FileName=Davidson_MS.pdf|title=Davidson School|publisher=[[Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools]]|accessdate=February 18, 2023}}</ref> High school students attend [[William A. Hough High School]] in Cornelius.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cmsk12.org/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=10509&dataid=8731&FileName=WA_Hough_HS.pdf|title=William Amos Hough High School|publisher=[[Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools]]|accessdate=February 18, 2023}}</ref>

Elementary schools include Davidson Elementary. Following the shutdown of Davidson IBMYP Middle School in 2011, students were re-assigned to J. M. Alexander Middle School.<ref>{{cite news|last=Arriero|first=Elisabeth|title=School welcomes Davidson IB students|newspaper=[[The Charlotte Observer]]|date=August 10, 2011|page=1P}} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119064328/ Clipping from] [[Newspapers.com]].</ref> There was no middle school located in Davidson for nearly 10 years. However, beginning around 2019, Davidson Elementary has been expanded to Davidson K-8,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lakenormanpublications.com/articles/site-work-part-of-davidson-schools-evolution-to-k-8/|title=Site work part of Davidson school’s evolution to K-8 |publisher=Lake Norman Media Group|place=[[Huntersville, North Carolina]]|accessdate=February 18, 2023}}</ref> although some students leave to attend magnet, charter, or private schools.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

;Private schools
* [[Davidson Day School]], located at 750 Jetton Road in Davidson
* [http://www.davidsongreenschool.org Davidson Green School], located in downtown Davidson, 511, South Main St

;Charter schools
* [[Community School of Davidson]]

===Colleges and universities===
Davidson is home to [[Davidson College]], a highly selective [[liberal arts]] college located in the heart of town on Main Street. Davidson College is ranked 15th in National Liberal Arts Colleges{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}, and the top school in the [[Southern United States|South]],.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/paigecarlotti/2014/07/29/top-25-best-southern-colleges-2014/ |title=Top 25 Best Southern Colleges 2014 |website=Forbes.com |access-date=November 24, 2016}}</ref> It is consistently ranked in the top ten best liberal arts colleges in the country, and has graduated 23 Rhodes scholars. Some notable attendees of the college are [[Woodrow Wilson]], the 28th President of the United States, [[George Osborne]], former British Chancellor of the Exchequer, and current NBA player [[Stephen Curry]].

===Libraries===
[[File:Davidson Public Library.jpg|thumb|Davidson Public Library]]
Davidson is served by a branch of the [[Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Davidson branch of the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County|url=https://www.cmlibrary.org/branch/davidson|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124000000/https://www.cmlibrary.org/branch/davidson|archive-date=January 24, 2009|access-date=February 17, 2021|website=Davidson Public Library}} [http://plcmc.org/Locations/branches.asp?id=8 Alt URL]</ref>  The library is located on the Green in Davidson.

== Employers ==
Davidson is home to many businesses small and large alike. Since Davidson is situated on an old railroad line it has attracted many industrial companies for corporate and commercial business. Two well-known companies have large offices in Davidson. Davidson has attracted these companies due to  the influence of [[Davidson College]] and [[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]] being 25 miles away. All while being a short drive to the up and coming [[Uptown Charlotte]].

===Trane/Ingersoll Rand===
Davidson is home to [[Ingersoll Rand]] US corporate headquarters.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trane Technologies |url=http://buildingnc.org/directories/member-directory/1751/ingersoll-rand/ |access-date=October 25, 2020 |website=NCBPA |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2020, the Beaty Street Corporate headquarters also became home to [[Trane]], a recent subsidiary of  Ingersoll Rand. The company has a five-building complex on one of Lake Davidson's peninsulas. Ingersoll Rand employs 1,600 people in Davidson.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Business {{!}} Davidson, NC - Official Website |url=http://www.townofdavidson.org/968/Business |access-date=October 25, 2020 |website=www.townofdavidson.org}}</ref>

===MSC Industrial Direct===
[[Msc industrial supply|MSC Industrial Direct]], located on Harbor Place Drive can be viewed from [[Interstate 77|I-77]] when traveling south. This building houses [[MSC Industrial Direct|MSC's]] Customer Support Center/Corporate Headquarters.<ref>{{Cite web|title=MSC Industrial Supply Co. {{!}} Locations|url=https://www.mscdirect.com/corporate/locations|access-date=October 25, 2020|website=www.mscdirect.com}}</ref>  [[MSC Industrial Direct]] is  Industrial Supplier, a [[Fortune 1000]]<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Perry|first1=Monica|last2=Bodkin|first2=Charles D.|date=February 2002|title=Fortune 500 manufacturer web sites|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0019-8501(01)00187-0|journal=Industrial Marketing Management|volume=31|issue=2|pages=133–144|doi=10.1016/s0019-8501(01)00187-0|issn=0019-8501}}</ref> company, and is on the [[New York Stock Exchange|NYSE]] under the ticker MSM<ref>{{Cite web|title=MSM|url=https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/stocks/msm}}</ref> company. MSC Industrial Direct employs 700 people in the Davidson Area.<ref name=":0" />

===Davidson College===
[[Davidson College]] has also created many opportunities for the community employing over 500 residents.<ref name=":0" /> Davidson College also created the Hurt HUB.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cuddy|first=Matt|title=ABOUT THE HUB {{!}} The Hurt Hub@Davidson|url=http://hurthub.davidson.edu/about-the-hub/|access-date=October 25, 2020|language=en-US}}</ref> The Hurt HUB at Davidson College is a place for business professionals in the Davidson Area to meet young college students and create new networking opportunities.

===Curtis-Wright Corporation===
The corporate headquarters of [[Curtiss-Wright]], an aerospace manufacturer, is located in Davidson.

==Points of interest==
* [[Davidson College]]
* [[Davidson College Arboretum]]
* [[Lake Norman]]

==Awards and recognitions==
* Fannie Mae Foundation Maxwell Award: to the Davidson Housing Coalition for the Bungalows (2001)<<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fannie-mae-foundation-honors-six-nonprofit-agencies-with-maxwell-award-of-excellence-for-outstanding-affordable-housing-efforts-76278812.html |title=Fannie Mae Foundation Honors Six Nonprofit Agencies With 'Maxwell Award of Excellence' |website=Prnewswire.com |access-date=November 24, 2016}}</ref>
* North Carolina Housing Finance Agency Multi-Family Housing Award: for the Bungalows (2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nchfa.com/About/01Press/Oct17.aspx |title=Press &#124; North Carolina Housing Finance Agency |website=Nchfa.com |date=December 16, 2015 |access-date=November 24, 2016}}</ref>
* National Environmental Protection Agency Smart Growth Award for Overall Excellence in Town Planning and Design (2004)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epa.gov/dced/sg_awards_publication_2004.htm#nat_award |title=Smart Growth &#124; US EPA |website=Epa.gov |date=November 6, 2016 |access-date=November 24, 2016}}</ref>
* Exit 30 Master Plan - Marvin Collins Outstanding Planning Award for Smart Growth (2004)
* Centralina Council of Government Sustainable Environment for Quality of Life: Best Practices Award for Davidson's Aging in Place Task Force (2006)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/livable-communities/learn/planning/developing-a-livable-centralina-region-for-all-ages-land-use-and-planning-2008-aarp.pdf |title=Charlotte_report_final.indd |website=Aarp.org |access-date=November 24, 2016}}</ref>
* North Carolina League of Municipalities Green Challenge: Level One Award (2008)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nclm.org/programs-services/Pages/Green-Challenge.aspx |title=The NCLM Green Challenge - North Carolina League of Municipalities |website=Nclm.org |access-date=November 24, 2016 |archive-date=April 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140412051711/http://www.nclm.org/programs-services/Pages/Green-Challenge.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> 
* Recognition as a National Historic District (2009)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://davidsonnews.net/blog/2009/07/28/nc-approves-historic-district-for-old-davidson/ |title=N.C. Approves historic district for old Davidson &#124; DavidsonNews.net |access-date=July 16, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726225637/http://davidsonnews.net/blog/2009/07/28/nc-approves-historic-district-for-old-davidson/ |archive-date=July 26, 2014 }}</ref>
* North Carolina Main Street Community (2009)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://davidsonnews.net/blog/2009/09/23/town-accepted-into-n-c-main-street-program/ |title=Town accepted into N.C. Main Street program &#124; DavidsonNews.net |access-date=July 16, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727000852/http://davidsonnews.net/blog/2009/09/23/town-accepted-into-n-c-main-street-program/ |archive-date=July 27, 2014 }}</ref>
* Tree City USA (2010)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arborday.org/programs/treeCityUSA/treecities.cfm?chosenstate=North_Carolina |title=Tree Cities |website=Arborday.org |access-date=November 24, 2016}}</ref> 
* Bike Friendly Community - Bronze (2010)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/site/images/uploads/bfc_master_list_spring2011_updated3.pdf |title=Current Bicycle Friendly Communities -- May 2011 |website=Peoplepoweredmovement.org |access-date=November 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304071040/http://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/site/images/uploads/bfc_master_list_spring2011_updated3.pdf |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Davidson Police Department - Accreditation by Commission for Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) (2011)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.calea.org/news-releases/2011/august/11/calea-recognizes-64-public-safety-agencies-its-summer-conference-cincin |title=CALEA Recognizes 64 Public Safety Agencies at its Summer Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio &#124; CALEA® |website=Calea.org |date=August 16, 2011 |access-date=November 24, 2016}}</ref>
* Comprehensive Plan - North Carolina American Planning Association (NCAPA) Planning Award - Honorable Mention (2011)<ref name="ci.davidson.nc.us">{{cite web|url=http://www.ci.davidson.nc.us/archives/35/2011-09-13_Minutes.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=July 16, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725035950/http://www.ci.davidson.nc.us/archives/35/2011-09-13_Minutes.pdf |archive-date=July 25, 2014 }}</ref> 
* Affordable Housing - NCAPA Planning Award (2011)<ref name="ci.davidson.nc.us"/> 
* Circles at 30 - NCAPA Planning Award (2011)<ref name="ci.davidson.nc.us"/> 
* Fit Community - Bronze (2011-2014)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.activelivingbydesign.org/what-we-do/funders-initiatives/fit-community |title=North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund: Fit Community &#124; Active Living by Design |access-date=July 16, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726060649/http://www.activelivingbydesign.org/what-we-do/funders-initiatives/fit-community |archive-date=July 26, 2014 }}</ref>
* Walk Friendly Community - Bronze (2011)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.walkfriendly.org/news_2011-09-22.cfm |title=WFC - Communities Across the Country Earn "Walk Friendly" Status |website=Walkfriendly.org |access-date=November 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161124160012/http://www.walkfriendly.org/news_2011-09-22.cfm |archive-date=November 24, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Great Main Street Award, North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association (2013)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://davidsonnews.net/realestate/2013/05/06/davidson-recognized-for-its-great-main-street/ |title=Davidson recognized for its 'Great Main Street' &#124; Real Estate |access-date=July 16, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727001106/http://davidsonnews.net/realestate/2013/05/06/davidson-recognized-for-its-great-main-street/ |archive-date=July 27, 2014 }}</ref> 
* North Carolina Land Trust Government Conservation Partner of the Year Award (2014)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ctnc.org/north-carolinas-local-land-trusts-present-annual-awards-conservation-leaders/ |title=North Carolina's Local Land Trusts Present Annual Awards to Conservation Leaders - Conservation Trust for North Carolina |website=Ctnc.org |date=April 28, 2014 |access-date=November 24, 2016}}</ref>

==Notable people==
:''See also'': ''[[List of Davidson College people|List of notable Davidson College alumni]]''
* [[Robert J. Abernethy]], entrepreneur and philanthropist
* [[Matt Ballard]], former [[college football]] head coach<ref>[https://msueagles.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/matt-ballard/56 Matt Ballard - Football Coach - Morehead State University]. Retrieved October 28, 2020.</ref>
* [[Elizabeth Bradford]], artist<ref>[https://www.blowingrockmuseum.org/athome/time-terrain Throwback Thursday: Elizabeth Bradford: Time + Terrain]. ''blowingrockmuseum.org''. Retrieved July 17, 2020.</ref>
* [[John Candelaria]], former [[Major League Baseball]] pitcher
* [[Steph Curry]], [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] player
* [[William Lee Davidson]], officer in the [[North Carolina]] militia and [[Continental Army]] during the [[American Revolutionary War]]; also namesake of the town
* [[Hayes Grier]], [[Internet celebrity|Internet personality]]
* [[Nash Grier]], Internet personality
* [[Will Grier]], [[National Football League|NFL]] quarterback
* [[Alan Gustafson]], [[NASCAR]] crew chief
* [[Herb Jackson]], professor of art at Davidson College
* [[Matt Kunitz]], the creator of the hit reality tv show "Wipeout"
* [[Lenny McAllister]], political commentator<ref>Hankins, Melissa. (June 1, 2009). [https://www.charlottemagazine.com/get-right-with-lenny/ Get Right with Lenny - Charlotte Magazine]. Retrieved July 17, 2020.</ref>
* [[Gene McEver]], [[American football]] player and coach<ref>[https://footballfoundation.org/honors/hall-of-fame/gene-mcever/1581 Gene McEver]. ''National Football Foundation''. Retrieved July 17, 2020.</ref>
* [[Josef Newgarden]], [[IndyCar]] driver
* [[Anna Chao Pai]], [[geneticist]] and [[professor emerita]] at [[Montclair State University]]<ref>(November 2, 2019). [https://www.mainstreetbooksdavidson.com/events/2019/11/2/an-afternoon-with-dr-anna-pai-memoirist An afternoon with Dr. Anna Pai, memoirist]. ''Main Street Books Davidson''. Retrieved July 17, 2020.</ref>
* [[Thomas Warren Ross|Thomas W. Ross]], former president of Davidson College and current president of the [[University of North Carolina]] system
* [[Mary T. Martin Sloop]], instrumental to the improvement of healthcare and education in the mountains of North Carolina<ref>Williams, Shane. [https://northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/mary-t-martin-sloop-1873-1962/ Mary T. Martin Sloop (1873 – 1962)]. ''North Carolina History Project''. Retrieved July 17, 2020.</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Portal|North Carolina}}
{{Commons category}}
{{wikivoyage|Davidson}}
* {{Official|www.townofdavidson.org}}
* [http://www.lakenormanchamber.org/ Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090124075724/http://plcmc.org/Locations/branches.asp?id=8 Davidson branch of the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County]

{{Charlotte/Metrolina}}
{{Mecklenburg County, North Carolina}}
{{Iredell County, North Carolina}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Iredell County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Towns in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Towns in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1837]]
[[Category:1837 establishments in North Carolina]]