[3] The high point was named for John Nelson Davis, an early settler, American Civil War veteran, surveyor, and naturalist known for his studies of the mountain's flora and fauna.

On June 18, 1921, the local chamber of commerce held a ceremony to celebrate the newly named highest point in Pennsylvania.

Like much of Pennsylvania, Mount Davis can experience heavy winds, rain, and hail in the summer, with ice storms and blizzards in the winter.

Due to its high elevation, the area is colder much of the winter than Altoona, Johnstown, or State College, despite being well south of those locations.

During the summer months, the area is a retreat for other Pennsylvanians with high temperatures being cooler on average than Pittsburgh and eastern portions of the state.