Davidson County Genealogy
- Formed 1822
- Parent county / earlier Rowan
- County seat Lexington
- Neighbors rowan, davie, forsyth, guilford, randolph, montgomery, stanly
Photos & maps
What’s new
- Charleston-class research hub: history essay, record matrix, towns, repositories, and local history news.
- Formation 1822 from Rowan — search parents for earlier events.
- Seat: Lexington · Library: Davidson County Public Library.
- Method guides: Start here · Formation · Census.
In-depth topics
Towns & communities
Davidson County was formed in 1822 from Rowan. The county seat is Lexington. Neighboring counties include rowan, davie, forsyth, guilford, randolph, montgomery, stanly.
This hub combines a modern research floor—record matrix, towns, repositories, news—with local history narrative. Always search parent jurisdictions for pre-formation events.
The county was formed in 1822 from Rowan County. It was named after William Lee Davidson, an American Revolutionary War general killed at Cowan's Ford on the Catawba River in 1781.
One of the two major styles of North Carolina barbecue originated in Lexington, the county seat. Therefore, many Lexington-style barbecue restaurants are found throughout the county. Some include Lexington BBQ ("Honeymonk's"), The BBQ Center, Jimmy's, Whitley's, Smokey Joe's, Backcountry, Speedy's, Smiley's, Tarheel Q, Stamey's, John Wayne's BBQ, Kerley's, Welcome BBQ, and Cook's.
The county seat of Davidson County is Lexington. Davidson County is divided into the following townships: Abbotts Creek, Alleghany, Arcadia, Boone, Conrad Hill, Cotton Grove, Emmons, Hampton, Healing Spring, Jackson Hill, Lexington, Midway, Reedy Creek, Silver Hill, Thomasville, Tyro, and Yadkin College. Davidson County is also part of the Yadkin Valley Wine Region.
Lexington hosts a yearly Barbecue (BBQ) festival in October of each year. Also the Southeastern Old Threshers reunion is held yearly in the Denton Farmpark and Everybody's Day Festival is held in Thomasville. Boone's Cave Park, Mrs. Hanes Moravian Cookie Factory, Denton Farm Park, the North Carolina Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Davidson County Historical Museum, the Richard Childress Racing Museum and Childress Vineyards are all points of interest in Davidson County. Also, there is a big chair located in downtown Thomasville that is a symbol of the world-recognized furniture industry of this area. High Rock Lake is located in Davidson county and is the 2nd largest lake in North Carolina. Davidson County was home to Wilmer "Vinegar Blend" Mizell former professional baseball player and Congressman.
Genealogical Society of Davidson County
P.O. Box 1665
Lexington, NC 27293-1665
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Davidson County Courthouse
PO Box 1067
County Courthouse
Lexington, NC 27293
Census
1830 Federal Census Index This is more of an index than anything else, it gives last name, first name and page number.
Cemeteries
Query Forums
Cities and towns of Davidson County:
- Arcadia
- Arnold
- Churchland
- Cid
- Cotton Grove
- Denton
- Enterprise
- Erwin Heights
- Feezor
- Gordontown
- Handy
- Hannersville
- Healing Springs
- Hedrick Grove
- High Rock
- Holly Grove
- Jacksons Creek
- Lex
- Lexington (County Seat)
- Linwood
- New Hope Academy
- Newsom
- Petersville
- Reeds Cross Roads
- Reedy Creek
- Silver Valley
- South Lexington
- Southmont
- Thomasville
- Tyro
- Wallburg
- Welcome
- Yadkin
- Yadkin College
- Midway
News related to Davidson County, NC
History notes
Davidson County (formed 1822 from Rowan; seat Lexington) sits in the Piedmont furniture/industrial belt (Lexington–Thomasville). Parent Rowan is essential for pre-1822 work; directories and newspapers dominate later urban research.
Local history & events
- Our Davie: A short walk through the history of the Record, Enterprise and Enterprise-Record - Davie County Enterprise Record
- Hospice Gala Success and Reveals Rebrand to Alderwood of Davidson County - davidsonlocal.com
- Search underway for woman who escaped confinement facility in Davidson County, officials say - WBTV
- Unanimous vote clears way for expansion of one of NC’s largest industrial mega sites in Davidson County - the-dispatch.com
- Davidson County man held on $750,000 bond in Lexington shooting, crash investigation - the-dispatch.com
- Property value surge sparks debate over Davidson County revaluation process - hpenews.com
Research tools
Record availability matrix
| Record type | Coverage | Years (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal census | good | 1790–1950 | Federal schedules available for NC with known quirks/losses in some years. Place the household in the correct county for each decade. Before 1822, search parent jurisdiction: Rowan. |
| Birth records | sparse | 1915– | Statewide birth registration is comparatively late in NC. Use delayed births, church registers, Bibles, and census for earlier generations. Before 1822, search parent jurisdiction: Rowan. |
| Marriage records | partial | 1822– | County marriage records improve in the 19th–20th centuries; earlier events often appear in church books, bonds, or newspapers. Before 1822, search parent jurisdiction: Rowan. |
| Death records | partial | 1915– | Death certificates denser after statewide registration; earlier deaths via obituaries, church burial, probate, and cemeteries. Before 1822, search parent jurisdiction: Rowan. |
| Land & deeds | good | 1822– | Deeds/ROD series typically begin near county formation; colonial grants/plats may predate the county and live at State Archives of North Carolina. Before 1822, search parent jurisdiction: Rowan. |
| Probate & estates | good | 1822– | Wills, administrations, and equity files are core sources. Courthouse losses push research to neighbors, microfilm, and State Archives of North Carolina. Before 1822, search parent jurisdiction: Rowan. |
| Church & parish | partial | varies | Church coverage varies by denomination and survival; check local societies and denominational archives. |
| Newspapers | varies | varies | Title survival varies widely. Search local weeklies plus larger regional papers; use Chronicling America and the State Library of North Carolina and DigitalNC. |
| Military | good | 1775– | Revolutionary through 20th-century service may generate pensions, CMSRs, and local militia notes. Pair with county context for battles and units. |
| Cemeteries | partial | varies | Published surveys, Find a Grave, churchyards, and family plots. Unmarked burials are common—use obituaries and church books. |
| Court records | partial | 1822– | Common pleas, sessions, and other court series often begin near formation; equity may be with or near probate. Before 1822, search parent jurisdiction: Rowan. |
| Tax lists | sparse | varies | Tax lists can substitute for missing census years. Coverage is uneven by locality and year; check State Archives of North Carolina and published abstracts. |
Newspapers
Cemeteries & burial research
- Davidson County cemeteries (Find a Grave / surveys)
Societies & repositories
Research starting points
Census
Federal census schedules are foundational for Davidson County household reconstruction. Collect every decade, note neighbors (FAN club), and track the county name as it existed that year—especially across formation and split boundaries.
Vital records
North Carolina statewide vital registration expanded in the early 20th century. For many Davidson County families you will rely on marriage bonds, church registers, Bible records, newspapers, delayed births, and probate—not only a modern certificate.
Cemeteries (legacy notes)
Cemetery surveys for Davidson County appear in published books, Find a Grave, USGenWeb archives, churchyards, and family plots. Absence of a stone is not absence of burial—pair markers with obituaries and church books.
Courthouse & contacts
The county seat is Lexington. Confirm current Register of Deeds, Clerk of Superior Court, and library hours before visiting—offices move and digital portals change.
Public library: Davidson County Public Library
If not found here, try…
- Formed 1822
- Parent / earlier jurisdiction Rowan — check district-era records before this county existed (districts guide).
Neighboring counties (deeds, marriages, newspapers, and kin often cross the line):