Clarksville is a town in Clark County, Indiana, United States, along the Ohio River and is a part of the Louisville Metropolitan area. The population was 22,333 at the 2020 census. The town was founded in 1783 by early resident George Rogers Clark at the only seasonal rapids on the entire Ohio River, it is the oldest American town in the former Northwest Territory. The town is home to the Colgate clock, one of the largest clocks in the world and the Falls of the Ohio State Park, home to the world's largest exposed Devonian period fossil bed.

History

thumb|right|250px|Original plat of Clark's Grant

The site that would become Clarksville was first used as a base of operations by George Rogers Clark during the American Revolutionary War. In 1778 he established a post on an island at the head of the Falls of the Ohio, from which he trained his 175-man regiment. After the war, Clark was granted a tract of for his services in the war. In 1783, were set aside for the development of a town, Clarksville. The same year a stockade was built and settlement began.

The explorer William Clark was a younger brother of George Rogers Clark. Historian Stephen Ambrose writes of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in Undaunted Courage, "When they shook hands [at Clarksville], the Lewis and Clark Expedition began." A two-figure statue near the falls commemorates the expedition. Several localities other than Clarksville claim precedence for the start of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, most notably St. Louis, Missouri.

Clarksville became a popular dueling spot for Kentuckians who wanted to dodge their home state's anti-dueling laws. The most famous of these was the 1809 duel between Henry Clay and Humphrey Marshall. There was an attempt to build a second town within Clarksville's boundaries, named Ohio Falls City, until the Indiana Supreme Court ruled that this would be illegal.

thumb|left|200px|[[George Rogers Clark cabin along the Ohio River]]

The town was managed by a ten-member Board of Trustees in the charter from Virginia.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Clarksville had a population of 22,333. The median age was 39.1 years. 22.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 91.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 87.6 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 9,282 households in Clarksville, of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 37.1% were married-couple households, 20.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 33.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. of 2010, there were 21,724 people, 9,175 households, and 5,464 families living in the town. The population density was . There were 9,839 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 85.1% White, 5.6% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 5.7% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.5% of the population.

There were 9,175 households, of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.4% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.98.

The median age in the town was 37.3 years. 22.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.5% were from 25 to 44; 24.8% were from 45 to 64; and 15.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.

2000 census

As of the census

Several other local parks included sports fields, such as the Lapping Park, which contains a golf course, a Disc Golf course, soft ball field, shelter house, amphitheater, and hiking trails.

The city has the "7th largest clock in the world", at the former Colgate-Palmolive Plant near the Ohio River. Many locals still mistakenly claim it as the "2nd largest clock in the world", but it was surpassed years ago. As the Colgate company closed the plant in early 2008, the clock's future was in question. The town has vowed to keep the clock in its current location, which can be seen from across the river in downtown Louisville, Kentucky.

The Clarksville Little Theater is one of the oldest continuously running community theaters in the United States. Also located here is Derby Dinner Playhouse, the only dinner theater in the area.

thumb|First Texas Roadhouse at the Green Tree Mall

Clarksville is home to several churches, including Southeast Christian Church, Faith Assembly Church, St. Anthony Parish, and Seven Pillars Church International.

The restaurant chain Texas Roadhouse first started in Clarksville, and its original location is open as an outlet at the Green Tree Mall. Clarksville is the home of the United States's second-largest Bass Pro at the River Falls Mall.

Education

Clarksville Community School Corporation,<!--01920--> Greater Clark County Schools,<!--03940--> and West Clark Community Schools<!--09370--> serve sections of Clarksville.

Notable people

  • John James Audubon spent considerable time here, as he made many of his bird fieldbook sketches at the Falls of the Ohio.
  • Tony Bennett, former Indiana Director of Education
  • Frank Kimmel, a NASCAR driver, was born and lives in Clarksville.
  • Mickie Knuckles, female professional wrestler, born in Clarksville
  • Rose Will Monroe, aka Rosie the Riveter

Twin cities

The Clarksville sister or twin city program began in 1998.

Bewdley and Melton Mowbray in the UK were the first sister cities to begin friendship ties in 1998 and 1999 and relations have continued. Most recently La Garenne-Colombes in Paris urban area, France joined the sister cities of Clarksville.

  • Bewdley, Worcestershire, United Kingdom
  • Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, United Kingdom
  • La Garenne-Colombes, Île-de-France, France

thumb|Ohio River Greenway, Clarksville, IN. Overlooking [[Fourteenth Street Bridge (Ohio River)|Fourteenth Street Bridge and Ohio River.]]

<gallery widths="180px" class="center">

Derby_Dinner_Playhouse.jpg|Derby Dinner Playhouse

Clarksville_High_Indiana.jpg|Clarksville High School

Our Lady of Providence Junior-Senior High School exterior.jpg|Providence High School

2016WIKI FallsOfTheOhioSP1June13.jpg|World's largest exposed Devonian fossil bed is at Clarksville's Falls of the Ohio State Park

</gallery>

See also

  • Clarksville Senior High School
  • Clarks Hill, Indiana, a community in Tippecanoe County originally named Clarksville
  • John Minta
  • List of cities and towns along the Ohio River

References

  • Clarksville Parks & Recreation Department