The Downtown Development Commission works to preserve, develop
and promote Downtown Henderson.
Located 40 minutes North of the capital city of Raleigh, North Carolina, Henderson is a small town rich with history dating back to before 1785. The growth of what is now Henderson was spurred by the arrival of the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad in 1838 and the formation of a town charter in 1841.
Realizing the need to preserve and restore its wonderful history, the City of Henderson sought designation as a North Carolina Main Street City and gained that status in 1986. Composing 16 square blocks and occupying approximately 46 acres, Henderson’s Central Business Historic District is a testimony to the city’s role as the largest town and seat of Vance County since 1881. This district was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. The district contains 128 structures, 97 of which are contributing structures. Architectural detailing gives the district a remarkable turn-of-the-century appearance.
As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, the DDC is funded by annual contributions from our local City and County governments as well as raised funds. The full-time director and office space are entirely funded by the City of Henderson.We are located at 414 South Garnett Street in Downtown Henderson.