Davidson County Real Estate

Click on the Davidson County map below for more information on the various cities in Davidson County

Demographics

Davidson County is the home to some of the best living spaces in the South, and the most exciting nightlife. Filled with fast growing cities, amazing attractions, a sense of community, and a booming economy, it is easy to see why Davidson County is one of the fastest growing counties in the state. This just goes to show that the community is not only one worth living in, but working in as well. One of the largest cities in Davidson, is of course, Nashville, which is understandably the county seat. Davidson County encompasses a 502 square mile are area and has a population of approximately 565,352 (U.S. Census 2000).

Geography

Davidson County is located in Central Tennessee. Davidson County is home to the state capital, Nashville. Davidson County's fast-paced, exciting yet incredibly historically rich land makes it an appealing place to live for people in all walks of life. It borders Sumner County to the southwest, Robertson County to the south, Cheatham County to the southeast, Williamson County to the north, Rutherford County to the northwest, and Wilson County to the west.

Municipalities in Davidson County

• Antioch
• Bellevue
• Goodlettsville
• Hermitage
• Joelton
• Madison
• Melrose
• Nashville
• Old Hickory
• Whites Creek

History

James Robertson led a group that are considered to be the first permanent settlers to arrive in the now Nashville/Davidson County, Tennessee area. They came from the settlement at Watauga in now upper East Tennessee. Along the way Robertson encountered John Rains, and a group of men, and their families headed from the New River area of Virginia to Kentucky. Robertson talked Rains and his assembly into joining him on his trek to the Bluffs of the Cumberland. Robertson and company arrived at the site that is now Davidson County in late December of 1779.

John Donelson and a crew of flatboats, carrying the families of many of the men who had come earlier with Robertson, arrived in April of 1780. In May of 1780 the settlers signed the Cumberland Compact. Although not signed by all the settlers, there are 255 signatures, which becomes helpful in identifying many of the first settlers.

James Robertson is credited with giving the new settlement the name of "Nashborough", bestowing honor upon Gen. Francis Nash, a North Carolina officer who had been killed in the battle of Germantown, in 1778. In 1784 the name was changed to Nashville by act of the North Carolina Legislature.

In addition to Nashborough there were a number of other small communities established in the area either shortly before or directly after the arrival of the Robertson/Donelson group. The most well known of these communities are Eaton's on the eastern side of the river, Freeland's in northern Nashville; Casper Mansker's in Goodlettsville; Asher's which is near Gallatin; Donelson's could be found at Clover Bottom on Stone's River; Union near where Spring Hill Cemetery in Madison is today; and Renfroe's or Red River Station, around forty miles northwest of Nashborough.

On April 14, 1783, North Carolina established Davidson County. It was named for General William Davidson, an officer that had represented North Carolina by fighting in the Revolutionary war.

"Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina, and it is hereby Enacted by the authority of the same, that all that part of this State lying west of the Cumberland Mountain where the Virginia line crosses, extending westward along the said line to Tennessee River, thence up said river to the mouth of Duck River, thence up Duck River to where the line of marked trees run by the commissioners for laying off land granted the Continental Line of this State intersects said river (which said line is supposed to be in thirty-five degrees fifty minutes north latitude) thence east along said line to the top of Cumberland Mountain, thence northwardly along said mountain to the beginning, shall after the passing of this Act be and is hereby declared to be a distinct county by the name of Davidson."