Clarksville, Austin, Texas
historical marker
Clarksville, located in Austin, Travis County, Texas, is a historically significant neighborhood. It was founded in 1871 by Charles Clark, a freedman who changed his name from Charles Griffin after emancipation. Clark purchased two acres of land from Confederate general Nathan G. Shelley. This land had previously been part of Governor Elisha M. Pease's plantation. Clark then subdivided his property, creating a community for other freedmen. Clarksville is recognized as one of the oldest surviving freedmen's towns west of the Mississippi River. The Sweet Home Baptist Church, established in 1871, served as a central gathering place for the community. Early residents described Clarksville as a closely knit village. In 1973, the Texas Historical Commission erected a historical marker here. Clarksville was later inducted into the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. This community represents a significant post-Civil War settlement founded by former African-American slaves.