Long before the dawn of written history, humans inhabited the lands along the Cumberland and Red Rivers. Clarksville, the only station to become a city, was established in 1784 near the confluence of the two rivers.

The town was named for General George Rogers Clark, Indian fighter and Revolutionary War leader. In December 1785, North Carolina established Clarksville as a town. Despite frequent Indian attacks, the town survived and prospered.

In 1796 when Tennessee became the 16th state, Tennessee County, of which Clarksville was a part, was divided into Montgomery and Robertson Counties. The name Montgomery honored John Montgomery, who was a founder of Clarksville, as well as a renowned Indian fighter and Revolutionary War leader.

The early years of the 1800's were progressive ones, chiefly devoted to the building of roads, railroads and bridges, and the establishment of churches and educational institutions. When the Civil War began in the 1860's, the residents were forced to make a momentous decision concerning the loyalty of the Union. In June 1861, Montgomery County citizens cast 2631 votes for separation and 33 against. Fort Donelson, Fort Henry, and Fort Defiance were established in preparation of the Union advance, only to fall to Federal troops in 1862.

After the Civil War, traffic on the Cumberland River continued to be of great importance to the community and Clarksville became well known for its production of dark fired tobacco, its primary money crop. From 1900 to 1940, Clarksville's trade and business progressed with the growth of the town being closely connected to the county farming area.

Education became an important theme in the county with the establishment of the Rural Academy in 1806 on the present site of Austin Peay State University.

Military activity again would impact the county during World War II when the army established Camp Campbell in Montgomery County. Over 42,000 acres were purchased and in June 1942, relocation of facilities was completed. The post was named in honor of General William Bowen Campbell. On April 15, 1950, the post became Fort Campbell when it changed from a temporary installation to a permanent one.

Montgomery County furnished two governors to the state, William Blount and Austin Peay; a United States Supreme Court Justice and a Postmaster General, Horace Lurton and Cave Johnson, respectively. Clarksville has the distinction of being home to the oldest bank in the state, the Northern Bank established in 1854, now AmSouth Bank; the state's oldest newspaper, The Leaf-Chronicle, established in 1808; and the first and only bank in the world established and operated entirely by women, the Women's Bank of Tennessee that opened in 1919.

During the 20th Century, Montgomery County has profited from communication and mechanical technology with a growth in population and industrial expansion. No longer dependent upon an agriculture base, the county has become an important transport, industrial, retail, and professional center with numerous recreational facilities.

Today, Clarksville, county seat of Montgomery County, is Tennessee's fifth largest, and third fastest growing city, behind only Nashville and Memphis.

Read more Clarksville history at the Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture.

Famous Clarksvillians

Fort Campbell

FORT CAMPBELL One of the key factors in Clarksville's growth is the relationship which it has with adjoining Fort Campbell, Kentucky, home of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), the 160th Special Operations Aviaition Regiment (SOAR), 5th Special Forces Group and 101st Corps Support Group. The 101st Airborne Division is one of the most powerful and prestigious divisions, having made a name for itself during World War II as the Screaming Eagles in Bastogne, Market Garden, Holland. Today, the highly trained soldiers of the 101st are the world's only Air Assualt Division. The 101st participates in peacekeeping and humanitarian missions at home and abroad. Over 30,000 soldiers and 55,000 family members call Fort Campbell home. The installation manages the records of some 4,000 civilians, with approximately $2.5 billion per year, making it the largest employer in both Tennessee and Kentucky. QUICK FACTS Active Duty 30,334 Officers 2,603 Family Members 56,537 Civilian Employment 4,388 FY 04 Disbursement $4,473,765,399 Other Disbursements $3,113,258,630 Public Works Activities $1,820,217,386 Source: Fort Campbell Public Affairs Office. Reported September 30, 2006

AUSTIN PEAY STATE UNIVERSITY Clarksville is home to Austin Peay State University, one of Tennessee's outstanding public universities. With its beautiful, park-like campus, APSU is adjacent to Clarksville's central business district. Founded in 1927 and named for native son Gov. Austin Peay, APSU is a progressive university, offering high-quality undergraduate, graduate, and pre-professional programs. APSU offers: Diverse Degree Programs:Offering 57 majors with more than 91 different areas of concentration and earn a bachelor's, master's or education specialist's degree. New Facilities:A first-class science-education complex, University Center, village-style housing and a new 75,000-square-foot recreation center. Athletics:Teams compete in the Ohio Valley Conference, NCAA Division I and in the Pioneer Football League. The University fields 16 competitive sports, as well as intramurals. Centers of Excellence:Two Accomplished Centers of Excellence (creative arts and biology) and four Chairs of Excellence (creative arts, nursing, and two in business). Constructed in 2002, the 180,000-square-foot Sundquist Science Complex is one of the South's premier science education facilities. With more than 40 "smart" classrooms, state-of-the art labs and wireless Internet access. It also features a zoological museum, herbarium, interactive TV classroom and the Robert F. Sears Memorial Planetarium . With a price tag in excess of $38 million, it represents the largest capital appropriation ever in Tennessee for a single classroom building. QUICK FACTS Enrollment 9,207 Faculty 800 Average Age of On-Campus Students 25

Education

CLARKVSILLE-MONTGOMERY COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM 621 Gracey Avenue · Clarksville, TN 37040 (931) 648-5600 • fax: (931) 648-5612 With national and statewide recognition, the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System has been hailed as one of the leading school systems in the state. Both national and state goals for education are met and exceeded each year. All schools in the system are approved by the State Board of Education and are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. View our Report Card QUICK FACTS Enrollment 28,235 Faculty 1,445 2007 Graduates 1,715 Elementary Schools 19 Middle Schools 7 High Schools 6 Per Pupil Expenditure $6,186 PRIVATE EDUCATION Several private schools in the Clarksville-Montgomery County area offer a choice for parents seeking an alternative to the public school system. Search Chamber Directory for Private Schools HIGHER EDUCATION AUSTIN PEAY STATE UNIVERSITY VOCATION & TECHNICAL SCHOOLS Clarksvillians have several choices when it comes to choosing a vocational or technical school to further their education. Business and technical schools offer students the opportunity to seek a job in the service industry and they also offer additional training to those already established in their careers. Search Chamber Directory for Technical/Vocational Schools

The City of Clarksville, founded in 1784, is a private act charter municipality. The city's government is conducted under the Mayor/Council system. The Mayor serves a four-year term and is elected at-large. The City Council is composed of 12 members who are elected from wards.

City Council

Montgomery County

One Millenium Plaza
Clarksville, TN 37040
931-648-5787

Carolyn Bowers, Mayor

A 21-member Board of Commissioners oversees the operation of the Montgomery County government. They are elected by district and serve four-year terms. An elected County Mayor handles the daily operations of all departments and agencies of the county government.

The Center annually produces more than 100 quality arts activities by faculty and regional and internationally acclaimed guest artists who bring change in arts awareness and understanding. Performances are held in the elegant European-style, 600-seat concert theatre of the music/mass communication building and in the more intimate atmosphere of the 200-seat Trahern Theatre.

Most Center Events are free and open to the public.

Another hallmark is Clarksville's own Roxy Regional Theatre, located at 100 Franklin Street in historic downtown. The theatre is Clarksville's oldest professional theatre and offers patrons a combination of professional company shows and community offerings. Housed in a 1947 art modern theatre, The Roxy produces 10 mainstage productions annually.

MUSEUMS
Located in the heart of historic downtown, the Customs House Museum and Cultural Center is Tennessee's second largest general museum. With over 35,000 square feet of the region's best hands-on activities gallery space, the Customs House Museum provides a terrific outing for all ages. The Museum's premier gift store, Seasons, offers unique, high-quality art, jewelry, books, handcrafted treasures, and other merchandise.

Located at Fort Campbell, the home of the famed 101st Airborne Division's Screaming Eagles, the Don F. Pratt Memorial Museum traces the history of the unit from World War II to Operation Desert Storm. Just outside the museum, various aircraft, military equipment, and monuments are on display. These massive machines are sure to capture the imagination of every child and child-at-heart.

PUBLIC ART
Public art is becoming more and more prominent in Clarksville, especially in the downtown area. Of particular interest are:

• Millennium Fountain - Millennium Plaza
• Mural of Spires - Franklin Street
• John Montgomery - City Hall
• Leaf Chronicle Reader - 2nd and Commerce Streets
• Wilma Rudolph - McGregor Park at Pedestrian Overpass
• Eternal Flame - Public Square
• Nora Witzel - Montgomery County Courthouse

   

LIBRARY
An impressive facility and community treasure, the Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library is 74,000 square feet and offers nearly 184,000 volumes. The two-story structure features a book security and automation system, a completely enclosed children's area with theatre and crafts, a large genealogy department, three public meeting rooms, internet access, periodical databases, term paper and resume software, eight study rooms, two large reading rooms and a large audio-visual area.

CHURCHES
Clarksville's diverse population is reflected in the various religions that are located here. More than 250 individual churches representing almost all religious denominations are located in Clarksville and the surrounding area. Many of the churches in the downtown area are listed on the National Register of Historic places.

Downtown Artist Co-op

Check our Attractions Listing for information on local museums.

Check our Community Calendar for local events.

From expansive executive homes, to apartments...and everything in between...Clarksville-Montgomery County offers a variety of housing options in numerous neighborhoods.

Whether you'd prefer a 100-acre farm with rolling hills, or an upscale development, knowledgeable and helpful realtors abound to assist with your relocation process.

Between 1,200 and 1,500 homes are on the market at any given time. With the average cost of a home around $110,000 and the average two-bedroom rent of $550, Clarksville-Montgomery County is one of the most affordable places to live in the country.