Facts and Information about Lexington, Thomasville, Denton and Davidson County, NC





		Do you need information about our history for a school project or do you just want to know more about us? You’ll find trivia and Information below. Are you looking for fun free things to do? You’ll find it here also. Or are you looking for an itinerary or a list of similar places to visit? It’s here too! Davidson County is known for… Our Lexington Style Barbecue which was developed over 150 years ago The manufacture of handcrafted furniture (among them are Lexington Home Brands - formerly Dixie, Young Hinkle, Henry Link; Council Craftsmen, and Thomasville Furniture) The world’s largest Duncan Phyfe chair which is located in Thomasville Daniel Boone whom legend says hid from Indians in a cave along the Yadkin River when he was a teen which is now appropriately called Boone’s Cave Park Our water. Davidson County is located on both High Rock Lake and the Yadkin River. High Rock Lake has 365 miles of shoreline and covers 15,000 acres! It has been host to the BASS Masters Classic Fishing Championship. The Barbecue Festival which attracts over 100,000 people each October. And these attractions: Childress Vineyards, located at the gateway to the Yadkin Valley Appellation or wine region, the Richard Childress Racing Museum, the NC Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial and the Bob Timberlake Gallery, just to name a few! *Some of Davidson County’s current and former residents, and natives:* Artists Bob Timberlake, Dempsey Essick, Stephen Sebestian, Mike Helsabeck and Greg Farrell NASCAR personalities including Richard Childress, owner of NASCAR teams for driver Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, Clint Boyer, and the late Dale Earnhardt and Nationwide drivers Brandon Miller and Kerry Earnhardt; and Driver Brian Vickers, a native of Thomasville Pro football players - Madison Hedgecock currently plays for the NY Giants and was a member of the 2008 Super Bowl Championship team, Brad Hoover currently plays for the Carolina Panthers, Danny Medlin played with the 1977 Super Bowl Champion Oakland Raiders team, Deems May played for the Seattle Seahawks, and Perry Tuttle played for Clemson and later the Canadian League Former pro basketball player, Eric Montross, who played for UNC and in the NBA and Henry Etta Walls who played professional women’s basketball in Europe for many years Fishing - Eddie Smith, Jr., owner of Grady White Boat Company in Greenville which produces world renown deep water fishing boats and BASS Masters Classic Fishing Champion, David Fritts. Former baseball players - Johnny Temple played in both the American and National Baseball Leagues, the Father and Son team of Max and Hal Lanier were both major league players Tennis standout, Camey Timberlake Dillon who was the first female at UNC to receive a sports scholarship Recording artists Donna Beck Rhodes, who currently lives in Nashville, and Lee Spears who also hand crafts hammered dulcimers Concert pianists, William Chapman Nyaho who currently lives in Seattle, Washington and Barbara Lister-Sink who is currently on the faculty of Salem College Writers include author and columnist, Jerry Bledsoe whose novels include “Bitter Blood” and “Angel Doll”, Richard Walser and Gerald Johnson. *Other information about Davidson County…* Lexington and Thomasville were selected in by Site Selection Magazine as the Nation's Number 1 Micropolitan Area for Corporate Projects in April 2008. For hundreds of years the Trading Path which extends along the east coast brought Native Americans to this area to hunt, and Europeans soon followed. Prior to the 1700’s, the Sapona Indians lived on the banks of what is now the Yadkin River Davidson County was settled by Germans, English and Scotch Irish. Among the Germans were Moravians, who settled in great numbers in the Wachovia settlement of Salem Early settlers migrated South through Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley to North Carolina….and to Davidson County. These settlers were attracted by abundant land, thick forests, many streams and the mighty Yadkin River, which now forms the county’s western boundary. Davidson County is named for Revolutionary War General William Lee Davidson. Davidson County was established in 1822 when Rowan County was divided. It was considered the backcountry of North Carolina. Lexington was established in 1828 and was named in honor of the Revolutionary War events in Lexington, Massachusetts. Thomasville was established in 1852 when the exact path of the railroad was determined and is named for railroad pioneer John Thomas. A statue of Mr. Thomas was designed by the world famous artist, Dick Idol. Denton was established in 1907. Gold and silver were mined in the county in the mid 1800’s. Our 1858 courthouse was used as a barracks for Yankee soldiers during the Civil War Our population is 154,796, making us the 10th most populous county in North Carolina Davidson County covers 552 square miles! Our largest employer is the Davidson County School system. Our major employers include: PPG, Kimberly Clark, Unilin Flooring, and racing related businesses. We are unique in that we have THREE school systems - Davidson County, the City of Lexington and the City of Thomasville. Davidson County has lost over 5,500 jobs over the last six years in furniture manufacturing and textile industries. Davidson County is located in the middle of North Carolina and is close to Winston Salem, Greensboro and Charlotte! Pick up a Davidson County *Visitor Guide* from the Visitor Center in Lexington or Thomasville to use as your guide See how Davidson County looked during the time of Daniel Boone….visit *Boone’s Cave Park* in Tyro Escape to an earlier time at *antique stores* located throughout Davidson County. You’ll find a list on this website…. Destinations - antiques. Take in one of our *events…..The Barbecue Festival in October in Lexington, Everybody’s Day in September in Thomasville, Spring Daze at the Depot in Thomasville in May, or National Night Out in Lexington and Thomasville in August Come for a parade….the Welcome Easter Parade, Memorial Day Parade in Thomasville, Christmas Parades throughout the county, Veteran’s Day Parade in Lexington, and the MLK Day parade in Lexington are just a few. Feed the ducks* at Finch Park in Lexington or Lake Thom-a-Lex between Lexington and Thomasville “Expose yourself to art” at the Bob Timberlake Gallery, at Dempsey's Place in Welcome, the Steven Sebestian Gallery in Thomasville, or the Mendenhall Building on the campus of Davidson County Community College Experience the tradition and craftsmanship of Lexington and Thomasville *Furniture* at their outlets on Main Street in Lexington or Thomasville Head down Hwy 8 for a view of *High Rock Lake* and the Yadkin River Delight your senses on a tour of Mrs. Hanes’ Moravian *Cookies* in Clemmons. Bet you can’t eat just one cookie! Cross the Yadkin River going into Spencer on the 1922 *Wilcox Bridge..the first free bridge built by the state of North Carolina Pay tribute to our soldiers at the NC VietNam Veteran’s Memorial* at the rest stop between Lexington and Thomasville on I-85 At the *Davidson County Airport, take a picnic lunch and watch the planes take off and arrive In Lexington* See how wine is made during a tour of *Childress Vineyards* and Winery Marvel at the craftsmanship of the construction of the *Bob Timberlake Gallery* Get an Uptown Lexington Heritage Walking Tour brochure from a merchant and go walking! Wander through *Lanier Hardware* Store, one of the largest independently owned hardware stores in NC, to find something you didn’t know that you needed Watch the butcher at *Conrad & Hinkle* on North Main hand cut meat *Go for a walk* down a tree lined street on Lexington’s West First, Second and Third Avenues Get in the holding cell at the *Davidson County Historical Museum* in the old courthouse on the square or imagine you are arguing the first trial held in the courtroom in 1858 See a display of all of the *Barbecue Festival posters* at Lexington City Hall on West Center Street Listen to the player piano at the *Candy Factory* on North Main *Play tennis* on any one of Lexington’s 15 public courts Stroll along Uptown Lexington’s Historic Main Street and *window shop* Feel the patriotism...read the inscriptions on the *monuments in the Square* Search for the oldest marker while wandering through the *Lexington City Cemetery* on State Street Close your eyes and listen to the *clock strike the hour* on the Old Courthouse on the square Stroll by Lexington’s oldest private residence, *The Homestead, ca. 1834, on South Main Street Learn more about your family while browsing through the genealogy room* at the Lexington branch of the Davidson County Library on South Main Street in Lexington Listen to the *noontime chimes* at First Reformed Church on East Center Street Find all the fiberglass *pigs* from the wildly successful “Pigs in the City” public art projects from 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2009 that are located throughout Uptown Lexington and other locations across Davidson County Watch a banana split being made at the *Barbecue Center* in Lexington… do you think you could eat a whole one by yourself? *Tap your feet* to the music at “Alive After Five” in Uptown Lexington each summer Take note of the *architectural detail* of yesteryear throughout Historic Uptown Lexington Feel the bark on the *Lace Bark Elm trees* along Main Street in Lexington Test your historical knowledge .. try the Uptown Lexington *architectural scavenger hunt,* available at the Old Courthouse on the square Catch the Christmas spirit during Uptown Lexington’s annual November *Christmas Open House* See the beauty of the *stained glass window* at First Presbyterian Church on South Main Street, illuminated at night See the *life sized tribute* at the Police Department on North Main Street In Thomasville Listen as the clock tower *chimes the hour* in Downtown Thomasville Sit in the *bandstand* in Downtown Thomasville and watch as a train passes by. The original bandstand stood in this same site from the late 1800’s to the 1940’s Have your picture taken at the *world’s largest Duncan Phyfe chair* located in the heart of Downtown Thomasville Look for graves of *Union and Confederate soldiers* in the City Cemetery, located at 205 Memorial Park Drive, – the only known cemetery in the United States where soldiers from both the Union and Confederate armies are buried side by side Locate the three *murals* which depict the history of Thomasville and Mills Home See the vision of Thomasville’s founder when you visit the *statue of John W. Thomas* along Main Street in Thomasville, designed by world famous sculptor, Dick Idol Visit the former *depot* in Thomasville; now home to the Thomasville Tourism Commission and Visitor Center on West Main Street Pick up a *Historic Walking Tour Brochure* at the Visitor Center and go walking through the Historic Districts While you are walking, stop to rest in Thomasville’s newest park, the *John Nelson Hauss Memorial Park* and try your skills on a Charleston style ‘jogging bench’ Stroll by the Austin Elliott House on Lexington Avenue, the *oldest home within the original city limits* Go *window shopping* in the National Register Historic District Take a *walk around the pond* at Thomasville Medical Center Get healthy playing *tennis* on any of the city’s 10 courts *Go for a picnic* at Memorial Park Try your skills on the ramps at the *Skat8Park* Dance or just sit under a shade tree while enjoying Arts United’s *"Sunset Sounds" every Thursday evening in July in Downtown Thomasville Browse around the 11 Acre Flea Market* on Julian Avenue to find something that you just can’t do without! In Denton Locate remnants of the *Healing Springs Resort* along Highway 8 which was popular from the 1840’s through the early 1900’s Relax in the *gazebo* in Harrison Park in Downtown Denton Gaze across the *waters of Yadkin River* from the Brown Loflin Bridge on Hwy 8 Enjoy the *gardens* in Harrison Park’s Craven Corner Go *‘antiquing’* at any of the antique shoppes around Denton Almost Free Things to Experience While You’re In Davidson County Discover the unique flavor of our Lexington-Style Barbecue…..Eat a at one of our over 20 famous restaurants Drink a made from scratch lemon, orange or lime aide at Lexington Drug Store on East Center Street in Lexington – one of the last soda stands in North Carolina Take home a box of *peppermint sticks* made by Lexington’s own, Piedmont Candy Company available at the Candy Factory in Lexington Especially with Guys in Mind *Childress Vineyards, 1000 Childress Vineyards Drive, Lexington David Fritts Outdoors, 4343 Old US Hwy 52, Welcome Davidson County Airport, 1673 Aviation Way, Lexington Lanier Hardware, 218 South Main Street, Lexington RCR Racing Museum, 180 Industrial Drive, Welcome Or take your rod and reel fishing* on High Rock Lake, Lake Thom-a-Lex, Finch Park or City Lake! Stops to delight your taste buds *Fancy Pastry, 407 East Center Street, Lexington Designer Sweets, 101 South Main Street, Lexington Lexington Drug, (orange aides) 405 East Center Street, Lexington Mrs. Hanes Moravian Cookies, 4643 Friedburg Church Road, Clemmons The Candy Factory, 15 North Main Street, Lexington The Barbecue Center, (banana splits) 900 North Main Street, Lexington The Whistle Stop Café, (pies), 402 Lexington Avenue, Thomasville And of course any of our over 20 Lexington-style Barbecue Restaurants* Shopping for Home Décor Bob Timberlake Gallery, 1714 East Center Street Ext., Lexington *Damaged Freight, South Main Street, Lexington Emmaline Brook, 5005 W. US Hwy 64, Lexington Ivy and Old Lace, 60 South Main Street, Denton Lexington Home Brands Outlet, South Main Street, Lexington Silver Needles Golden Treads, 113 South Main Street, Lexington Southern Spirit, Salisbury Street, Denton The Decorator’s Edge, 509 Randolph Street, Thomasville The Shoppes at Vineyards Crossing* , Lexington Thomasville Furniture Outlet, 401 East Main Street, Thomasville Got Energy?!? *Hike* around Finch Park, Lexington *Walk* the trails at Boone’s Cave Park, Lexington *Cycle* a leg of the Davidson County Cycling route Try your *skating* talents at the Sk8park in Thomasville Play a round of golf on all four of our courses *Paddle* around Lake Thom-a-Lex or down the Yadkin-PeeDee River Trail For the Shutterbug…some of our best photo opportunities Across the *vineyards* at Childress Vineyards From the *river overlook* at Boone’s Cave Park Through the *garden gates* at the Bob Timberlake Gallery The *night time building lights* along Main Street in Thomasville *Reflections* on the glass of the bank on the corner of Center and State Street, Lexington *Sunset* on High Rock Lake The changing *autumn leaves* around the county Light reflected through the *stained glass window* at First Presbyterian Church, South Main Street, Lexington *Barns and fields* across the county *Architectural detail* found on buildings in our historic downtowns Looking up at The Mike Helsabeck Collection Patriotism *County Memorials and Monuments* in the Square on Main Street, Lexington *Vietnam Memorial* on I85 at the rest stop between Lexington and Thomasville *Memorial Park, 20 Stadium Drive, Thomasville History Davidson County Historical Museum, 2 South Main Street, Lexington Civil War Trail Markers* Davidson County Historical Museum, 2 South Main Street, Lexington * Lake Thom-a-Lex, 700 Yokeley Road, Lexington * The Homestead, South Main Street, Lexington * Thomasville Depot, 44 West Main Street, Thomasville Thomasville City Cemetery, 205 Memorial Park Drive, Thomasville being installed September 2007 County Memorials and Monuments* in the Square on Main Street, Lexington *The Big Chair, Intersection of Main and Salem Streets, Thomasville The Thomasville Depot, 44 West Main Street, Thomasville Room for Groups Lexington:* *Uptown Lexington: Arts United, Davidson County Historical Museum, Lanier Hardware, The Candy Factory, Lexington Home Brands Factory Outlet, and other shops Childress Vineyards, 1000 Childress Vineyards Drive, Lexington Bob Timberlake Gallery, 1714 East Center Street Ext., Lexington The Shoppes at Vineyards Crossing, Childress Vineyards, Lexington Thomasville: The Emporium, 32 East Main Street, Thomasville Thomasville Furniture Outlet, 401 East Main Street, Thomasville Stephen Sebastian Gallery, 8 Randolph Street, Thomasville Davidson County:* *RCR Racing Museum, 180 Industrial Drive, Welcome Boone’s Cave Park, Boone’s Cave Road, Lexington Senior Friendly Destinations Arts United, 220 South Main Street, Lexington Bob Timberlake Gallery, 1714 East Center Street Ext., Lexington Childress Vineyards and the Shoppes at Childress Vineyards* , 1000 Childress Vineyards Drive, Lexington *Davidson County Historical Museum, 2 South Main Street, Lexington Lanier Hardware, 218 South Main Street, Lexington RCR Museum, 180 Industrial Drive, Welcome The Emporium*, 32 East Main Street, Thomasville Additional information to help you plan a themed trip is available on www.homegrownhandmade.com And… don’t forget Lexington Style BBQ restaurants, antique shops, furniture and art destinations