State and local protected areas

• Perkins Game Land^[8]
• Yadkin River Game Land (part)^[8]

Major water bodies

• Bear Creek^[9]
• Buffalo Creek
• Carter Creek
• Chinquapin Creek
• Dutchman Creek
• Fourth Creek^[9]
• Greasy Creek
• Hunting Creek^[9]
• Little Bear Creek
• Little Creek
• Second Creek^[9]
• South Yadkin River
• Sugar Creek
• Third Creek^[9]
• Yadkin River
• Withrow Creek^[9]

Adjacent counties

• Yadkin County - north
• Forsyth County - northeast
• Davidson County - east
• Rowan County - south
• Iredell County - west

Major highways

• I-40
• US 64
• US 158
• US 601
• NC 801
• NC 901

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 42,712 people, 16,405 households, and 11,586 families residing in the county.

2000 census

At the 2000 census,^[16] there were 34,835 people, 13,750 households, and 10,257 families residing in the county. The population density was 131 people per square mile (51 people/km²). There were 14,953 housing units at an average density of 56 units per square mile (22 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.44% White, 6.80% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.31% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. 3.47% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 13,750 households, out of which 32.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.40% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.40% were non-families. 22.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was well distributed by age, with 24.30% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 29.40% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 94.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,174, and the median income for a family was $47,699. Males had a median income of $33,179 versus $24,632 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,359. About 6.40% of families and 8.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.20% of those under age 18 and 11.30% of those age 65 or over.

Towns

• Bermuda Run
• Cooleemee
• Mocksville (county seat and largest community)

Townships

By the requirements of the North Carolina Constitution of 1868, all counties in North Carolina were divided into townships.^[19] The townships have been used in U.S. Census enumerations since 1870. The following townships were created in 1868:

• Calahaln Township
• Clarksville Township
• Farmington Township
• Fulton Township
• Jerusalem Township
• Mocksville Township
• Shady Grove Township

Unincorporated communities

• Cornatzer
• Farmington
• Hillsdale
• Maine
• Sheffield
• Turkeyfoot

Census-designated place

• Advance

Post offices

Through 1971, there were only three continuing U.S. post offices in Davie County:^[20]

• Advance (since February 16, 1877)
• Cooleemee (since February 9, 1900)
• Mocksville (since January 4, 1830; created in Rowan County until Davie County was formed)