Austin Neighborhoods – Clarksville
Austin Neighborhoods – Clarksville
This historic section of Austin has a beautiful and rich history. During slavery the area was the location of the Pease Plantation, and the quarters for the slaves. In 1865, after slavery was made illegal, Pease gave some of the land to his slaves and sold some to even more of them. These newly freed individuals made the place their home.
The area is named after a former slave, Charles Clark, who moved to the area in 1871 and established the community with the same name. Clark envisioned a community where former slaves could be together and direct their own lives. The area at that time was far outside Austin and densely wooded. The early residents built simple homes, hunted and fished in the area and built a community for themselves.
Early residents included Elias Mays, state legislator, Reverend Jacob Fontaine, one of the founders of the Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church and founder of Austin’s first Black newspaper. Most of the original homes are long gone now, but the area has held onto it’s unique cultural, architectural and historic identity. It has the title of a National Register Historic District.
Now Clarksville is an eclectic urban hub in the heart of Austin. It is populated with young professionals and students. Clarksville is known as a very creative area with many art galleries.
If you enjoy outdoors there’s plenty for you here, you’ll enjoy walking through the hilly streets, there are two small parks with wading pools, Clarksville Park and West Austin Park. Zilker Park is close by to the south and to the northeast there’s the Shoal Creek Hike and Bike Trail. There’s also a community garden.
There’s a Whole Food’s closeby and a Fresh Plus store, along with a garden center. You’ll find some wonderful dining in the area, Nau’s drugstore still makes milkshakes the old fashioned way. There’s Jeffrey’s for game and seafood and the Cosmic Cafe for vegetarian fare. You’ll also enjoy the Sweetish Hill Bakery, Portabla, and Wiggy Liquors for wine and cigars.
This beautiful and historic rich neighborhood is just west of downtown and has become very sought after and more expensive in the last several years. It is very lovely and a little older than most Austin neighborhoods. With lots of hills and overgrown trees it could be your next home.
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