Davidson County, Tennessee

Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County
Davidson County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
Coordinates: 36°10′N 86°47′W / 36.17°N 86.78°W / 36.17; -86.78
Country United States
State Tennessee
FoundedOctober 6, 1783
Named afterWilliam Lee Davidson
SeatNashville
Largest cityNashville
Government
 • MayorFreddie O'Connell (D)
Area
 • Total
526 sq mi (1,360 km2)
 • Land504 sq mi (1,310 km2)
 • Water22 sq mi (57 km2)  4.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
715,884
 • Estimate 
(2024)
729,505
 • Density1,420/sq mi (548/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code615, 629
Congressional districts5th, 6th, 7th
Websitewww.nashville.gov

Davidson County is a county in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is located in the central part of the region of Middle Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 715,884, making it the second most populous county in Tennessee. Its county seat is Nashville, the state capital and most populous city.

Since 1963, the city of Nashville and Davidson County have had a consolidated government called the "Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County", commonly referred to as "Metro Nashville" or "Metro". This is distinct from the larger metropolitan area.

Davidson County has the largest population in the 13-county Nashville metropolitan area, the state's most populous metropolitan area. Nashville has always been one of the region's centers of commerce, industry, transportation, and culture, but it did not become the capital of Tennessee until 1827 and did not gain permanent capital status until 1843.