Davidson County

Why this county matters

Davidson County, consolidated with the metropolitan government of Nashville in 1963, is the political, economic, and cultural center of Tennessee. Founded in 1783, it was named for Revolutionary War general William Lee Davidson. Nashville became the permanent state capital in 1843. The city's music industry grew from the Grand Ole Opry (1925-present) into a global recording center. The Hermitage, Andrew Jackson's plantation, is a National Historic Landmark. The Tennessee State Museum, the Parthenon replica, and Fort Neglect (Civil War fortification) preserve the area's heritage. Nashville was a major Civil War supply depot and the first Confederate state capital to fall to Union forces in 1862.

The record at a glance

Story themes

Featured historical markers

• Ryman Auditorium — The Ryman Auditorium, the 'Mother Church of Country Music,' was the longtime home of the Grand Ole Opry.
• Tennessee State Capitol — The Tennessee State Capitol, completed in 1859, is a National Historic Landmark and the seat of state government since 1843.
• The Hermitage — The Hermitage was the plantation home of President Andrew Jackson and is a National Historic Landmark.

THC program connections

• Survey & Inventoryfederal

  THC maintains the statewide inventory of historic resources — the foundation for National Register nominations, planning, and protection.

• Historical Markersstate

  THC places and maintains historical markers across Tennessee's 95 counties to commemorate people, places, and events of statewide significance.

• Cemeteriesstate

  THC documents and helps protect Tennessee's historic cemeteries, including abandoned and African American burial grounds.

• National Register of Historic Placesfederal

  As Tennessee's SHPO, THC administers the National Register — the nation's official list of places worth preserving. Tennessee has 2,000+ entries, at least one in every county.

• Tennessee Wars Commissionstate

  The Wars Commission preserves and interprets Tennessee's military heritage, from the frontier wars through the Civil War and beyond.