Driving along Highway 64 through Mocksville, one feels he has entered the quintessential American town; the tree lined road connects suburbia to the historic downtown. Mocksville began as a settlement formerly known as “Mocks Old Field.” Said to have been in existence before the time of the American Revolution, “Mocks Old Field” was often used as a secret meeting place for planners and colonial forces. The settlement’s first post office was established in 1810; nearly twenty years later, it was incorporated as the county seat of Davie County. The town’s limits were set as a square half-mile surrounding a courthouse, set to be built at the center of the town square. The fifteen acres incorporate were sold to finance construction of the courthouse and a jail.
In 1886, an earthquake destroyed part of downtown Mocksville. Much of the town was rebuilt, this time with earthquake rods placed through the floors and ceilings of brick buildings to give them added support. Since then, the city’s downtown area has thrived. It is part of the Main Street Program of the National Register for Historic Places, an organized designed to offer grassroots assistance to historic downtowns. Mocksville boasts three historic districts, all of which are registered with the National Trust. Currently, Mocksville is home to approximately 5,000 people. In response to recent movement in the U.S. to promote small businesses, there is growing pressure to preserve and refurbish old towns. Mocksville has supported this growth and has opened several new restaurants, stores, and businesses downtown. The population has grown over 20% in the past ten years and may continue to grow in response to the downtown’s development.