Clarksville is well known for its beauty, being surrounded by countryside of hills, rivers, and lakes. The estimated population of Clarksville in 2004 was 107,953, making it the largest city in Montgomery County. Clarksville also has an abundance of recreational facilities, affordable housing, with a low cost of living. Its proximity to Nashville provides all the cultural and educational attractions of a large metropolis.
Location
Clarksville is located in Montgomery County, in north-central Tennessee.
It is the county seat. The closest major city to Clarksville is Nashville-Davidson, which is 50 miles to the southeast, with a population of over 500,000. Chicago (population 2,896,016) is 366 miles directly north of Clarksville. Oak Grove, Kentucky, and Fort Campbell North, Kentucky are northwest of Clarksville, both within 10 miles away. Guthrie, Kentucky, Pembroke, Kentucky, Slayden, Tennessee and Adams, Tennessee are all within 20 miles from Clarksville.
Geography
The total land area of Clarksville is 94.9 miles. It is at an elevation of 493 feet. Clarksville is at the confluence of the Cumberland and Red rivers. Lakes in this area include Lake Barkley and Dunbar Lake.
Jobs
The major industries providing employment in Clarksville are; educational, health and social services (21.3%), manufacturing (16.1%), and retail trade (13.6%). Clarksville is the main business address for Legends Financial Holdings, Inc. (State Commercial Banks). Over half of the residents live and work in Clarksville, and the average commute for those who are employed elsewhere is 24 minutes.
Housing
In Clarksville, you can purchase a detached single family home with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms for under $100,000. Pre-existing homes in the $75,000 - $125,000 range generally sell very quickly. New construction is on the rise, and custom built homes with acreage can be purchased, with some upper-end offerings priced between $500,000 and $1,200,000. Because of its low cost of living, Clarksville is a wonderful place to retire.
Recreation
There are many parks in Clarksville, including Billy Dunlop Park, the New Providence Recreation Area, Bel Air Park, Perez Baseball Field, Coy Lacy Park, Fairgrounds Park, Saint Bethlehem Civilian Sports Complex, Meri Court Park and Montgomery County Rotary Park.
Cumberland River Walk is Clarksville’s riverfront park. Fishing and other water recreation, including jet skiing, are popular. There is also a playground and hiking nature trails. The park is also home to concerts and festivals year round.
Dunbar Cave State Natural Area is located 1 ½ miles northeast of downtown Clarksville. There are several caves located in this designated natural area, with Dunbar Cave the most significant. In times past, big band era concerts, radio shows, and square dances were held in the large mouth of the cave!
There are two public golf courses in Clarksville. The Mason Rudolph Golf Course has 9 holes, and the Swan Lake Municipal Golf Course is an 18-hole course. Additionally, Eastland Green South is a semi-private golf course, with a total of 27 holes on two courses. The Clarksville Country Club is a private club, with an 18-hole golf course.
Special Attractions/Events
Every year, there are many annual festivals and events in the city of Clarksville. In late March, Clarksville is host to the old Time Fiddlers Championship. It is one of the largest championships of fiddling that still occurs, and the event attracts people from around the country.
Other activities include the Spring Jubilee, which takes place in late April in downtown Clarksville. The Mid-South Jazz Festival is also held in the spring. The North Tennessee State Fair is held in midsummer at the fairgrounds every year, and is sponsored by the Jaycees.
Riverfest is a festival of arts, crafts, entertainment and activities for the whole family that is hosted every September along the Riverwalk on the Cumberland River. Another event that draws all the locals every year is Octoberfest, sponsored by the Edelweiss Club.
Additionally, Clarksville is within a 60 minute drive to four major lakes: Barkley, Cheatham, Old Hickory and Percy Priest Lakes. The area is a nature lover’s paradise, with great opportunities for fishing and water sports.
Interesting Facts
Clarksville was founded in 1784, and was established as a town in 1785, by the North Carolina Assembly. Tennessee became a state in 1796, and Clarksville was an incorporated town with elected officials in 1819.
Clarksville was named after Revolutionary War General George Rogers Clark. It was a 19th century tobacco port, and much of Clarksville’s early wealth was due to the tobacco industry.
In 1919, First Woman’s Bank opened in Clarksville. It is believed to be the first bank in the United States that was run entirely by women. Seven years later, it merged with First Trust and Savings.
Olympic medalist Wilma Rudolph was born in Clarksville in 1940, the 20th of 22 children! Born prematurely and weighing only 4.5 pounds, Wilma suffered many childhood illnesses, but miraculously went on to attend Tennessee State on a full scholarship. She participated in the summer Olympics in Rome in 1960, and became the first American woman to win 3 gold medals, for the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash, and the 400-meter relay team. She went on to become one of the most celebrated female athletes of all time.
The Downtown Clarksville Architectural Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It includes several structures from the 1800’s, including churches, the courthouse, the public square, and business warehouses.
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