Clarksville, Tennessee

To get a feel for Clarksville, all you have to do is take a stroll down the RiverWalk on a summer evening.

You will be able to quickly see what makes Clarksville such a rich community: the people.

More specifically, the diversity of the people, from the Harley riders to the fishermen — both on the banks and in the boats — to the families of all sizes, configurations and ethnicities, to the groups of teenagers — all can be seen along the historic river.

After all, it's the Cumberland River that first brought large scores of people to this area, giving it a start as a port and trading center.

Today, the river serves both as an avenue for commerce and a recreation spot for many with frequent events, such as Riverfest, Concerts in the Park and Christmas on the Cumberland, all along the RiverWalk and at McGregor Park.

The people who attend those events and ultimately those who populate the area come from many backgrounds and experiences, thanks in part to Austin Peay State University and Fort Campbell.

Diversity
Austin Peay, the state's fastest-growing university in the past four years, brings a fresh influx of motivated people into the community each fall, with an enrollment of more than 9,000 across 57 majors.

Fort Campbell's more than 30,000 soldiers and 4,300 civilian employees have a huge impact on North Clarksville. Most soldiers come from across the nation and some from across the world. Often soldiers bring newfound loves to the area after visiting foreign soils, adding a distinct international flavor to Clarksville's already diverse melting pot.

Both of these major influences add to the youthfulness of the city with a median age of just 32, compared to 36 statewide.

Almost 58 percent of the city is married, with an average household size of 2.69 persons.

Traditionally a blue-collar manufacturing town, Clarksville is still firmly rooted in the middle class, with an average county household income of $57,084, and a per capita income of just $20,926.

Of Montgomery County's estimated 162,576 people, more than 68,000 are part of the civilian labor force, boasting a 4.1 percent unemployment rate, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Clarksville has become a regional hub for education, health care, retail and jobs.

The largest local industry group is retail trade, making up 10.9 percent of the work force. Manufacturing, education, accommodation and food service, and health care round out the top five industry groups in the area.

The hub for health care in Clarksville is Gateway Medical Center, the community's only hospital. Gateway is a fully accredited 196-bed facility with a full complement of surgical and diagnostic services.

Growth
As the fifth-largest city and the third-fastest-growing county in Tennessee, Clarksville-Montgomery County is experiencing tremendous growth. A new hospital, new schools and new residential developments are exciting current events in Clarksville.

The new 270-bed hospital is on its way to St. Bethlehem, and is scheduled to open in July 2008, at which point the old hospital, built in 1954, will be abandoned, making room for new visions for the Hilldale area being spearheaded by the Leadership Clarksville Hilldale Study Group.

The community's 32 public schools serve more than 27,500 students and are organized as a countywide system, with elementary and middle schools feeding into six high schools.

August saw the opening of West Creek Middle School, Clarksville-Montgomery County School System's newest school with a price tag of $19.8 million.

West Creek Middle is just the beginning of the West Creek campus off Peacher's Mill Road. Construction on two other schools started in June. The $14 million West Creek Elementary is scheduled to open in August of 2008, the system's 20th elementary school. The $38.5 million West Creek High School is scheduled to open in fall 2009, the system's seventh high school.

Also slated to open in 2009 is the final addition to the Rossview School's campus, Rossview Elementary.

A sure sign of growth is the burgeoning construction of residential developments.

In Montgomery County, 1,850 single-family and 157 multi-family homes were built in 2006. And according to Market Graphics, a residential research service out of Kansas City, Mo., close to 11,000 new homes will need to be built and sold over the next five years to meet market demands.

And, even though new developments are taking place, Clarksville is a community that is steeped in history and heritage. From the Customs House Museum and Cultural Center to Fort Defiance and several historic mansions, visitors and residents alike can experience history through area attractions, unique architecture, and a variety of festivals and entertainment events that take place year round.

From Jazz on the Lawn, Oktoberfest, Rivers & Spires, Riverfest and Christmas on the Cumberland to events like the Lone Oak Picnic and the Old-Time Fiddlers Championship, the people in Clarksville and Montgomery County always have something to look forward to.

Austin, Jason. "Introduction." Fact Book, 2007-08, The Leaf Chronicle.