Clarksville, TN

Clarksville, Tennessee, is located in Montgomery County, near the confluence of the Cumberland and Red rivers. It is the county seat for Montgomery and is the fifth-largest city in the state. Clarksville is also known by the following nicknames: "the Queen City," "Queen of the Cumberland," and "Gateway to the South."

In 1785 Clarksville was incorporated and named after General George Rogers Clark, who was a frontier fighter and a Revolutionary War hero. Clarksville is home to two of the oldest institutions in the state: Northern Bank, which was was established in 1854, and the Leaf-Chronicle newspaper, established in 1808.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Clarksville features a variety of housing options in its many neighborhoods. There is everything from executive residences to farms. Due to the influx of businesses in the area, the cost of living is much lower than in other communities. Some of the most affluent neighborhoods in Clarksville include Sango, Wayfield Boulevard, Memorial Drive, Shade Grove, Saint Bethlehem, Kirkwood, Madison Street, Pollard Road, and Kenwood.

Downtown Clarksville is the geographic and historical center of the community. However, the area has been plagued by a series of natural disasters, from floods to fires to tornadoes. The Clarksville Downtown District Partnership encourages business development in the area, as well as residential development and infrastructure improvements.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Clarksville was recently dubbed "Tennessee's Top Spot" because of a multibillion dollar investment that Hemlock Semiconductor (a subsidiary of Dow Chemical) earmarked for the construction of a facility in the community. The Hemlock facility is expected to bring more than 900 jobs to the community, and the company is already planning to develop educational programs for training new employees. The city has since adopted "Tennessee's Top Spot" as its slogan.

In 2001, Clarksville-Montgomery County Corporate Business Park was developed on 960 acres of land. There are more than 20 businesses located in this industrial park.

BEST BETS

• In the Architectural Historic District, located in downtown Clarksville, the past comes alive with the beauty of 19th-century architecture in the courthouse, churches with elegant stained-glass windows, and several homes. The public square contains quaint restaurants, antique stores, and boutiques.
• Fort Defiance is the preserved Civil War fortification that was burned and abandoned by Confederate forces in 1862. There is an annual picnic each September that features period music and artillery, as well as arts and crafts, games, and demonstrations from the era.
• Wilma Rudolph Statue is a bronze statue at the southern end of the Cumberland Riverwalk honoring one of the greatest U.S. Olympians, Clarksville native Wilma Rudolph.
• Historic Collinsville is a living-history museum that features 15 restored log homes and outbuildings dating from 1830 to 1870. Each building has authentic furniture and objects of the era. There are also picnic tables and walking trails on the 40-acre property.
• Other historic sites and museums around Clarksville include: Clarksville-Montgomery County Museum, L & N Train Station, Port Royal State Historic Park, Sevier Station

FOR VISITORS

Located on the northwest edge of the Highland Rim, which surrounds the Nashville Basin, Clarksville is 45 miles northwest of Nashville near the Cumberland and Red Rivers. The natural beauty of the area adds to Clarksville's appeal.

• Within Dunbar Cave State Park is the most prominent cave of several in the area. The mouth of the cave is so roomy that in the past people used to hold square dances, radio shows and big band concerts in it. Hiking tours of the cave and surrounding park are available, and special events such as the "Haunting History" tour (October) are held there throughout the year.
• Beachaven Vineyards & Winery is one of the foremost wineries in Tennessee and has been critically acclaimed for the quality, variety and consistency of its wines. This winery has been in production since 1986 and produces semi-dry and dry wines, sweet wines and champagne.
• Cumberland Riverwalk includes an amphitheater, plazas, a playground, picnic facilities, a wharf, a boat ramp, and performance stages.
• Other attractions and resources include: five community centers, five public pools, 25 public parks and many recreational sports facilities.

EVENTS

• Rivers & Spires Festival (April) won both the State of Tennessee's Tourism Spotlight Award and the International Festivals and Events Association's Gold Grand Pinnacle award in 2008. This festival features live music and interactive entertainment.
• Queen City Day Race (April) features a 5K race through downtown Clarksville, a one-mile walk, one-mile Fun Runs, and one-mile Wheelchair Races. This event has been held for more than 25 years.
• Riverfest (September) is the city of Clarksville's annual music and fine arts celebration. Fishing tournaments, a regatta and a lighted boat parade are some of the featured event.

EDUCATION

Austin Peay State University is a beautiful campus with 80 buildings on 165 acres. There are 57 majors with 91 concentrations. The institution was founded in 1927.

Other colleges located in Clarksville are Draughons Junior College and Queen City College.

FUN FACTS

• In the 19th century, Clarksville was a major tobacco port.
• The first bank in the United States entirely run and operated by women, the First Woman's Bank of Tennessee, opened in Clarksville in 1919.
• The Monkees' 1966 Number One hit song "Last Train to Clarksville" was inspired by the city's train depot.