Davidson College - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

Occasionally prospective students are concerned by Davidson’s small-town setting. With a total population of 7,100—and that’s including 1,700 college students—Davidson, N.C., certainly fits into the ‘small town’ category. In many ways, however, Davidson’s setting offers the best of both worlds. The town of Davidson is small, quiet, and safe, with weekends that generally hold more church services than parties, but that does not mean that the town is isolated. Davidson is situated in the greater Charlotte metropolitan area, home to some 1.5 million people, and its ideal location on Interstate-77 enables even the least ambitious student to travel from campus to downtown Charlotte in about half an hour.

The town of Davidson is undeniably quaint. With the exception of CVS and Ben & Jerry’s, franchises are barred from the town, thus the town is dominated by small family-run shops and businesses, like the Soda Shop, Summit Coffee, Main Street Books, etc. You won’t find any Taco Bells or Wal-Marts marring the landscape in Davidson, but if you’re looking for something other than an old-style milkshake, don’t worry. Just hop on I-77, and you’re minutes away from the infinite entertainment that a big metropolis can offer. The towns of Cornelius, Huntersville, and Mooresville are all situated within 10 minutes of Davidson, and all boast huge commercial centers just off the highway. Ultimately, Davidson’s location provides all the benefits of big-city entertainment without the noise and clutter of a big-city campus. It may seem isolated while you take a walk down Main, but the area surrounding Davidson has a lot to offer in very close proximity.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

Davidson is a quaint town,... Davidson is a quaint town, surrounded mostly by countryside (no other universities) and Highway 77 (with extensive suburbs). The people of Davidson are very friendly, and very supportive of sports, theater, and outdoor activities. Most locals seem content with the presence of Davidson College. Without the college, I would venture to say that the town of Davidson could not survive and, if it did, it would be a pretty boring place. Charlotte is a great place to visit for nice restaurants, going to plays, theater, or sporting events. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

The town-student relationship is... The town-student relationship is very warm. Davidson is the only college in the vicinity, and the locals really seem to enjoy having the students here. Check out Main Street and the Soda Shop. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Davidson definitely has a small... Davidson definitely has a small town-feel, with only a few shops and restaurants located on the main road. There are no other universities located nearby except those in Charlotte. Not too many students go into Charlotte on the weekends, but there are some fun bars and clubs there. The lake campus has many outdoor activities available, like volleyball, swimming, sailing, and water skiing. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

The atmosphere in town is quaint,... The atmosphere in town is quaint, friendly, and quiet. There really isn’t much to the town of Davidson except the Soda Shop, Ben & Jerry’s, and CVS. Christmas in Davidson is well worth experiencing though, as are Concerts on the Green. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Davidson is a small town, but the... Davidson is a small town, but the big city of Charlotte is only 19 miles away. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Facts

Did You Know?

5 Fun Facts about Charlotte:
• Charlotte is the second largest banking center in the United States.
• Home to Lowe’s Motor Speedway and the Nextel Cup, Charlotte is a major center for NASCAR enthusiasts.
• The city was the filming location for the 1994 movie Nell and 2001’s Shallow Hal.
• Woodrow Wilson gave his first public speech while he was a student here from the steps of Eumenean Hall in 1873.
• The last cabinet meeting of the Confederacy was held here in 1865.

Famous People from Charlotte:
Rev. Billy Graham
Andrew Jackson
James K. Polk
Olympic medalist Donald Schollander
Randy Travis

Local Slang:
Northerners should be prepared for some light Southern dialect while on campus, and a bit more heavy “Southernese” around town. Get ready to hear the word “Yankee” a whole lot. Try not to take offense if the word is directed at you—the war has long been over.

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Annie Maietta
Hometown: Weston, MA
Major: Undecided

Annie has four siblings: one of her older sisters went to Davidson, and her younger brother aspires to.

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