davidson

Text Box: Davidson may be best known for the way it has managed growth. Strict rules have helped preserve a small, college-town atmosphere. In Davidson, new neighborhoods must incorporate a variety of lot sizes and housing types, including making 12.5 percent of the housing affordable. Davidson College is an independent liberal arts school with an enrollment of about 1,700 students.

History: The town was incorporated in 1879 as Davidson College and renamed Davidson in 1891. The area was surrounded by farms and remained rural into the 20th century. The annexation of River Run in 1991 changed the town’s dynamics and shifted priority from Main Street.

Landmarks: The quaint buildings on the campus of Davidson College, which was founded in 1837.

What the Locals Know: The Soda Shop on Main Street is the place to go for a great black and white milkshake, regardless of the temperature outside. There’s good fishing off the Griffith Street Bridge at Roosevelt Wilson Park.

Notables: Notable Davidson College grads include former U.S. president Woodrow Wilson, White House press secretary Tony Snow and former Charlotte mayor John Belk.

On the Job: Local businesses, such as Raeford’s Barbershop, line Main Street. But with 1,400 employees and 177 acres, Ingersoll-Rand’s corporate and manufacturing campus is the largest employer. Davidson College employs 750 people.

Chow: For gourmet with a Southern flair, try Kudzu on the Green at 101 N. Main St. Restaurant X at 408 S. Main St. has an eclectic menu that in part reflects where owners Christopher and Christina Phillips are from: London, England and Belfast, Northern Ireland, respectively.

See the Sights: Davidson’s quaint Main Street is perfect for warm weather strolls up to the historic Davidson College campus.

You’re from Davidson if … you know all the various side streets and cut-throughs to get to where you want to go, but don’t know what their names are.

Don’t Miss: Concerts on the Green during spring and summer months. And live music on Thursdays at Summit Coffee house.