Welcome to Clarksville, Tennessee! This is one of the fastest-growing communities in America, and for good reasons. If you’re new to the area, you may not be familiar with some of the fun things to do, how to navigate things like schools, or who to call about that pothole.
This is the Clarksville Now “Newcomer’s Guide to Clarksville,” full of information and links to resources, and we’ll keep this updated with new information. We hope it helps, and let us know if you have more questions! Clarksville Now is the primary local news site in Montgomery County; you can reach us by email at news@clarksvillenow.com.
Clarksville history: How we started, how we grew
Clarksville has always been defined by its rivers. It was settled at the point where the Cumberland River meets the Red River, and it served as an important early trading post. The city was founded in 1785, and it grew to prominence as a barge shipping port for dark-fired tobacco – commonly used in snuff. Tobacco was gathered into warehouses along the river and then shipped by barge to the Ohio River, then the Mississippi to New Orleans and then to Europe.Most of downtown was built during the snuff tobacco industry’s heyday in the 1800s.
In 1942, in the early years of World War II, what was then called Camp Campbell was built nearby on the Tennessee/Kentucky state line. At the time, Clarksville’s population was only 11,000, and that population effectively doubled with the 11,000 construction workers it took to build the military installation. Over the next several decades, Clarksville expanded its city limits to Fort Campbell’s front door, boosting our city’s role as a desired home not only for military families but also for veteran retirees.
In 1978, Interstate 24 was completed, providing a better connection between Clarksville and Nashville, while also tempting retailers to develop near the exits. Eight years later, in 1986, Governor’s Square Mall opened near Exit 4, coinciding with a large annexation of the St. Bethlehem area as Clarksville’s city limits expanded toward the interstate.
MORE:
- 10 women to remember as part of Clarksville history
- 10 Black leaders who helped shape Clarksville’s history
About Clarksville: Who we are
Today, Clarksville is a city of 180,000, according to 2024 Census estimates, with Montgomery County’s population being 239,000. Clarksville is the only incorporated city in the county, and it takes up most of the county’s land mass, so you’ll frequently see the area referred to as “Clarksville-Montgomery County.” The population is growing fast: Clarksville has doubled in population since 1995 and it is on track to outpace Chattanooga as the fourth-largest city in Tennessee within the next few years.
MORE: Clarksville hits population of 180,000, adding 14,000 people in only 3 years
Age and race: Clarksville is a young city, with the 2022 median age only 30.8 years. For comparison, the average age in the state of Tennessee is 39.2. The population is roughly 54% white, 24% Black, 2.4% Asian, 6.9% mixed race and 11.8% Latino.
Veterans:Our community attracts a lot of veteran retirees, finding through their rotation at Fort Campbell that Clarksville is one of the most welcoming military communities in the Army. In 2022, 20.3% of the population was veterans, compared to only 7.2% statewide.
Income: The 2022 median household income was $63,723, however, since that figure is based on IRS tax returns that don’t include the Basic Housing Allowance paid to all of our military families, the actual number is considerably higher.
MORE: 10 things you probably didn’t know about Clarksville
Entertainment and Things to Do
Beachaven Vineyards & Winery: The winery is a great place to visit anytime to taste their locally produced wines. They host special events all year and are known for their free outdoor summer concerts. 1100 Dunlop Lane.
Roxy Regional Theatre: This professional theater downtown brings in players from across the country for about a dozen productions a year, from Shakespeare to modern dramas to kid-friendly comedies to The Rocky Horror Show. 100 Franklin St.
F&M Bank Arena: The 5,000-seat arena hosts concerts, shows and other events, and is the home arena for Austin Peay State University basketball. The arena is managed by Sabertooth Sports & Entertainment, an affiliate of the NHL team the Nashville Predators. 101 Main St.
Ford Ice Center: The Ice Center at F&M Bank Arena is a single-sheet rink recreational facility with several hockey and figure skating programs for children and adults. 150 College St.
MORE: Keep up with events every day with the Clarksville Events calendar
Hiking and walking trails: Several city and county parks have walking or biking paths and trail systems. The main ones are:
- Clarksville Greenway: The Greenway is a paved walking and biking trail built mainly along an abandoned railbed, and it includes scenic views of Big West Fork Creek, hills, valleys and a large walking bridge. The 6-mile trail runs from Heritage Park at the north to the Red River at the south, with an extension coming soon to cross the Red, connecting to the Riverwalk on the other side for a 9-mile path. Bicycles are available for rent at the Pollard Road Trailhead.
- Dunbar Cave State Park: The state park has over 3 miles of mostly unpaved walking trails through the hills, woods and grassland behind the cave. It’s at 401 Old Dunbar Cave Road.
- Rotary Park: This Montgomery County park boasts over 6 miles of hiking and biking trails through the woods, with a creek flowing through, plus a nature adventure trail. Rotary Park is at 2308 Rotary Park Drive.
Boats, canoes, kayaks: In recent years Clarksville has more fully embraced its position along the rivers for recreational boating.
- Clarksville Marina: This marina built alongside the Cumberland River offers full service to boat owners using about 200 slips, plus it offers boat rentals and a large ramp and parking for boat trailers. The marina is located at Liberty Park on Cumberland Drive in south Clarksville.
- Blueway: The city has built designated let-in and pickup points and for canoes, kayaks and rafts on Big West Fork Creek. Boaters put in at Robert Clark Park and get out at Billy Dunlop Park. Several other access points have been designated on the Red and Cumberland Rivers for boating. For details, visit the Blueway website.
MORE: Kayaking and canoeing in Clarksville: Here’s where you can drop in and hop out
Dunbar Cave: This state park is built around a natural cave formation that has been explored for hundreds of years, including by early Native Americans who left their mark in the cave passages. Cave tours are offered in the summer months, and the cave is surrounded by natural hiking trails. 401 Old Dunbar Cave Road.
Swimming pools: The City of Clarksville operates three swimming pools (Beachaven, Swan Lake and New Providence) and several splash pads. For the full listing, go to the City of Clarksville Pools website.
Parks: The City of Clarksville has dozens of neighborhood and large community parks, and Montgomery County has several as well. The three big ones are:
- Downtown Commons: A county park in the center of downtown that features the Downtown @ Sundown outdoor concerts in the summer months. 215 Legion St.
- Liberty Park and Marina: A city park that features a large fishing pond surrounded by a wooden boardwalk walking trail, a community-built playground, a dog park, and the Wilma Rudolph Event Center. 1188 Cumberland Drive next to the Clarksville Marina.
- Heritage Park Sports Complex: The city’s largest sports park, Heritage has eight soccer fields, four baseball fields and four softball fields, all used by local sports leagues. There’s also a skate park, playground, dog park, basketball courts, splash pad, and the northern trailhead for the Clarksville Greenway. 1241 Peachers Mill Road.
Fort Defiance: This city park is at the site of what once was Clarksville’s earthenworks Civil War fort. The remains of the earthenworks are still visible, and the park has an interpretive center that documents local Civil War History. 120 Duncan St.
Customs House Museum & Cultural Center: Located in the 1898 Federal Post Office, the Customs House offers over 35,000 square feet of fine art and general interest exhibitions, along with interactive exploration areas for children. 200 S. Second St.
MORE: Entertainment coverage in Clarksville
Other local venues:
- AMC Classic Governor’s Square 10 movie theater
- City Forum arcade, bowling, go-carts
- Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library
- Governor’s Square Mall
- Historic Collinsville
- Magic Wheels skate center
- Pinnacle Family Entertainment Center with bowling
- Regal Clarksville & RPX movie theater
- Sky Zone Trampoline Park
- Wade Bourne Nature Center
Restaurants
For food lovers, Clarksville can be generally divided into three areas: downtown with an array of unique local restaurants, Fort Campbell Boulevard with authentic international foods, and Wilma Rudolph Boulevard with every national chain you can imagine. Because of our proximity to foodie-mecca Nashville, only a 45-minute drive away, we don’t have as much local fine dining as we should. But there are still several very nice restaurants for date night.
Each year, Clarksville Now holds a free contest where readers select the best of the best in several categories, with restaurants leading the way. Here are last year’s Clarksville’s Best results. Over the years, we’ve also compiled some collections of the best local spots in several categories. Here are a few:
- Burgers: 8 local hamburger joints you need to check out
- Korean restaurants: 9 to try for bibimpap, kimchi and bulgogi
- Barbecue: 12 BBQ joints for pulled pork, dry rubs and everything in between
- Ice cream: Here’s where you can get a great scoop
- Breweries: 7 brewpubs where you can sample locally inspired IPAs, sours and stouts
- Coffee shops: Lattes and pour-overs, gaming and fish among local options
Keep in mind that some of those articles were done a while back so business details may have changed.
MORE:6 Clarksville restaurants to be featured on Food Network’s ‘Best Bite In Town’
Fort Campbell: Home of the 101st Airborne
Fort Campbell, the military installation that straddles the Tennessee/Kentucky state line is home to the 101st Airborne Division (Airborne) “Screaming Eagles,” along with several other tenant units, including the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) “Night Stalkers.” In all, Fort Campbell hosts about 30,100 active-duty soldiers and over 8,500 civilian employees and contractors, according to 2023 data.
The 101st Airborne Division is made up of roughly 25,000 soldiers divided primarily into three Brigade Combat Teams of roughly 3,500 soldiers each and a helicopter-based aviation brigade:
- 1st Brigade Combat Team, “Bastogne”
- 2nd Brigade Combat Team, “Strike”
- 3rd Brigade Combat Team, “Rakkasans”
- 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, “Wings of Destiny”
- 101st Artillery, “Guns of Glory”
- 101st Headquarters and Headquarter Battalion, “Gladiators”
- 101st Sustainment Brigade, “Lifeliners”
While about 66% of soldiers and their families live off post, the remaining 33% live on post: about 4,500 in family housing, and about 9,800 in barracks. The installation has its own hospital, Blanchfield Army Community Hospital (BACH), commissary and PX, and its own DoDEA-operated Fort Campbell School System, with four elementary schools, a middle school and Fort Campbell High School. Fort Campbell also has its own full-size airport capable of landing the largest aircraft.
MORE: Military news in Clarksville
Government: How it works
National: The people of Montgomery County are represented by the Tennessee’s two U.S. senators serving staggered six-year terms, and by the 7th District congressman in the U.S. House, elected every two years. Primaries are in August, with general elections in November.
State: The Tennessee General Assembly is the legislative body for the state, made up of the state Senate and state House. Most of Montgomery County is in state Senate District 22, with the northeast tip being part of District 23. Senators are elected to four-year terms. In the state House, the county is divided into three districts: 75 (western side), 67 (middle portion of Clarksville) and 68 (eastern side). House legislators, or representatives, are elected to two-year terms. Primaries are in August, with general elections in November.
Montgomery County: Citizens are represented by a county mayor and a 21-member district-based County Commission. The commissioners and mayor serve four-year terms, with county primaries in May and general elections in August. Terms begin in September. The commission meets at 6 p.m. on first Mondays for a nonvoting informal session and at 6 p.m. on second Mondays for regular voting sessions. All meetings are open to the public and held at the County Courthouse downtown.
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City of Clarksville: Citizens are represented by a city mayor and a 12-member ward-based City Council. The mayor and council members are limited to three consecutive four-year terms, which begin in January. City elections are in November, with half the terms staggered on the ballot every two years. The council meets for a regular voting session at 6 p.m. on first Thursdays and for a non-voting executive session at 4:30 p.m. on last Thursdays. All council meetings are open to the public and held in Council Chambers at 106 Public Square.
School Board: The consolidated Clarksville-Montgomery County School System is governed by a schools director and the seven-member CMCSS School Board. Board members serve four-year terms, with primaries in May and general elections in August. Terms begin in September. The board meets for a work session at 6 p.m., usually on first Tuesdays, with the formal session at 6 p.m. two weeks later. Board meetings are open to the public and held at the Central Office Board Room, 621 Gracey Ave. The County Commission is the funding body for CMCSS schools.
Education: Public schools and higher ed
Clarksville-Montgomery County School System: The consolidated city/county system is the seventh largest in the state of Tennessee, with 44 schools: 8 high schools, 8 middle schools and 24 elementaries. Total enrollment is 38,900 students. There are about 5,600 employees, 2,500 of those certified teachers, making CMCSS our largest employer outside of Fort Campbell. In addition, there are several specialty schools and programs, among them Middle College at Austin Peay State University, K-12 Virtual School, Early Technical College at TCAT.
Austin Peay State University: This state institution in downtown Clarksville offers 50 bachelor’s, 21 master’s and 2 doctoral degree programs. It is home to the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts and the Center of Excellence for Field Biology. Enrollment was 9,900 in fall 2023. The school was established in 1927 and named for then-Gov. Austin Peay of Clarksville. In sports, the APSU Governors, or Govs, are part of the ASUN Conference, with the football team in the United Athletic Conference.
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Nonprofits: Helping each other, building community
An array of nonprofit organizations help to make Clarksville a better place to live, from food banks to animal rescues to disaster relief.
As a way of helping to connect volunteers, people in need and the agencies that serve our community, Clarksville Now provides Clarksville Strong, an ongoing directory of local nonprofits.
Do you have a suggestion for the Clarksville Now “Newcomer’s Guide to Clarksville”? Email news@clarksvillenow.com.
Correction: Governor’s Square Mall opened in 1986.
