DavisToday

DAVIS HISTORY

When Davis was founded — and when it became a city

Davis traces its town origins to the railroad junction established in 1868, but it did not incorporate as a city until 1917.

There are two useful dates. Davis traces its town origins to 1868, when Davis Junction began operating and a settlement grew around the railroad. The City of Davis was formally incorporated in 1917, after a devastating 1916 fire underscored the need for organized municipal services.

1868Davis Junction begins operating; the settlement grows as Davisville.
1916A major fire exposes the need for formal municipal services.
1917Davis formally incorporates as a city.
Period1868–1917
EvidenceDocumented
Last checked2026-08-18
SourceCity of Davis — History & Symbols
View source ↗

More arts, culture & history in davis →

Keep exploring Davis history

The 1916 fire that helped push Davis toward incorporationA major November 1916 fire was especially damaging because Davis had no fire department; the following year the city incorporated.Why the Davis train depot matters to the town’s historyThe railroad created the conditions for Davisville to grow; today’s Mission Revival depot replaced an earlier station in 1913.Why Davis was once called DavisvilleThe railroad settlement that grew here in 1868 was known as Davisville, a name tied to rancher Jerome C. Davis and the Davis ranch.Jerome and Mary Davis and the ranch behind the city nameJerome and Mary Davis owned a ranch that once covered roughly 12,000 acres; the city’s name derives from that ranch.The building tied to Davis’s first mayorThe Anderson Bank Building was constructed in 1914 by J. B. Anderson, who became Davis’s first mayor after incorporation.Davis public art mapThe City publishes public-art resources and a pocket map organized by area, with public art listings plus bike paths, parks and art institutions.