Davidson grew up alongside Davidson College, a liberal arts college founded in 1837, and the town's Main Street still carries that college-town character today, with independent shops, cafes, and a bookstore clustered around the Village Green. Main Street was named one of the American Planning Association's Great Streets in 2016, and Davidson has earned Walk-Friendly and Bike-Friendly community designations for its tree-lined, pedestrian-first downtown. The year-round Davidson Farmers Market keeps Saturday mornings busy on the Green, while Lake Norman sits just minutes away for boating and lake life. It's a small town built for walking, with a big-lake backyard.
Davidson's Main Street was named one of the American Planning Association's Great Streets in 2016, one of just a handful nationwide that year.
Davidson College, founded in 1837, sits right at the heart of downtown, within walking distance of the Village Green and Main Street shops.