Clarksville, Virginia

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For the place in Washington County, see Clarksville, Washington County, Virginia.

Clarksville is a town in Mecklenburg County Virginia, United States. The population was 1,329 at the 2000 census. The town is located on Kerr Lake, which is also known as Buggs Island Lake. The 50,000 acre lake is popular for boating and fishing; especially for catfish and many varieties of freshwater bass including largemouth bass, striped bass and crappie. The The Virginia Lake Festival is held annually at Clarksville in mid-July. The town often attracts more than 50,000 visitors during this three day event also known as "Lakefest" that culminates with a fireworks show on the lake. Since the town exhibits some 18th century architecture, the downtown area of Clarksville has been named to the Virginia and National Registers of Historic Places.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Notable residents
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Clarksville is located at 36°37′20″N, 78°33′44″W (36.622171, -78.562230)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.2 km² (2.0 mi²). 5.1 km² (2.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (1.49%) is water.

Clarksville was the first incorporated town in the county of Mecklenburg. In 1818, the town was named after its founder, Clarke Royster. Located along the Roanoke River, these lands were originally the home to the Occoneechee Indians and several trading paths wound through the area. The Indians were driven away in 1676 by the British, led by Nathaniel Bacon. Settlers populated the area quickly because of the temperate climate and the fine tobacco soil.

By 1832, Clarksville was recognized as one of the fastest growing towns in Virginia. The Clarksville Tobacco Market was so large and important that The Roanoke Navigation Company was formed to transport the crop by way of the Roanoke River to Petersburg and other areas. A plank road was built from Clarksville to Petersburg distance of 80 miles, for overland transport. In years to follow, the Roanoke Valley Railroad was built from Clarksville to Manson, North Carolina.

By 1848, Clarksville was known as a large market for leaf tobacco and a great tobacco-manufacturing center. Large shipments of tobacco were exported to Europe. In 1860, R. H. Moss and Brothers Factory in Clarksville was producing more manufactured tobacco than any other establishment in Virginia or the Carolinas. To date, Clarksville proudly claims the title of the oldest continuous tobacco market in the World.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 1,329 people, 641 households, and 380 families residing in the town. The population density was 259.2/km² (671.5/mi²). There were 753 housing units at an average density of 146.8/km² (380.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 71.18% White, 26.79% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.08% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.53% of the population.

There were 641 households out of which 21.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.7% were non-families. 37.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.71.

In the town the population was spread out with 20.2% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 25.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 77.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $33,063, and the median income for a family was $39,625. Males had a median income of $30,556 versus $17,375 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,546. About 6.4% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.