Davidson County

Davidson County, the oldest county in Middle Tennessee, was founded in 1783. The North Carolina legislature formed the county and named it after William L. Davidson, a Revolutionary War officer from North Carolina. In 1963, the City of Nashville and the Davidson County government merged, creating the “Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County,” or “Metro Nashville.”

Nashville has always been the region’s center of commerce, industry, transportation, and culture. However, it was not until 1827 that it became the capital of Tennessee, and 1843 that it gained permanent capital status.

Davidson County is home to many of the Tennessee’s most well-known cultural and educational institutions including Vanderbilt, Fisk, Tennessee State, Belmont, and Lipscomb universities; the Grand Ole Opry; the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum; the Ryman Auditorium; the Tennessee Performing Arts Center; and three professional sports franchises: the Nashville Predators (NHL), the Tennessee Titans (NFL), and Nashville SC (MLS 2019).