Davidson is a small Southern college town located 30 miles from Charlotte. Davidson College was founded by the Presbyterian Church in March 1837. The area around Davidson consisted of small farms and plantations and remained rural until the 20^th century.

Originally, the town was named Davidson College. The college was the town government. In 1891, the name changed to Davidson.

At the turn of the 20^th century, the college was still critical to the town, not just as the largest business but also it provided the first water and electricity systems to the town. The first cars came to town in 1911 with bus services following in 1917. It was easier to get to Charlotte or Statesville which was important because the town no longer had a hospital or clinic. But as with the railroad, Davidson remained off the beaten path. Poor roads and inconvenient train schedules protected local businesses by keeping customers in town.

Today, the main street in Davidson has been preserved much like it was in the past. There are wide sidewalks, shops, a community library, and restaurants with outdoor patios. The town green is used for pick-up football games, outdoor festivals, and music concerts.

Development in town has been limited until recently. When driving off of I-77 into Davidson, you will see new offices, restaurants, hotels, homes, schools, shops and lots of green space. All are accessible by walking or biking.

Davidson won the 2004 Smart Growth Award for overall excellence in town planning and design.