Timeline of Clarksville, Tennessee

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Clarksville, Tennessee, United States.

18th-19th centuries



 * 1784 - Town platted; named Clarksville after military leader George Rogers Clark.
 * 1788 - Blockhouse (fort) built.
 * 1794 - November 11: "Native American attack repulsed at blockhouse."
 * 1796 - Town becomes seat of newly formed Montgomery County.
 * 1800 - Religious "revival at Red River" held near Clarksville.
 * 1815 - Clarksville Chronicle newspaper in publication.
 * 1820 - James E. Elder becomes mayor.
 * 1822 - First Presbyterian Church founded.
 * 1830
 * Tobacco stemmery in business.
 * Post House built (approximate date).
 * 1846 - Clarksville Female Academy chartered.
 * 1850 - Stewart College active.
 * 1855 - City of Clarksville incorporated.
 * 1860 - Memphis, Clarksville and Louisville Railroad begins operating.
 * 1868 - Labor strike of the Memphis, Clarksville and Louisville Railroad.
 * 1869 - Clarksville Tobacco Leaf newspaper begins publication.
 * 1875 - Southwestern Presbyterian University active.
 * 1878
 * Fire.
 * County courthouse constructed.
 * 1882 - Madison Street Methodist Church built.
 * 1888 - Star newspaper begins publication.
 * 1889 - Times newspaper begins publication.
 * 1890
 * Clarksville Evening Tobacco Leaf-Chronicle newspaper in publication.
 * Population: 7,924.

20th century

 * 1905 - Herald newspaper begins publication.
 * 1910 - January 6: Snowstorm.
 * 1919 - First Woman's Bank established.
 * 1922 - Confederate Monument installed in Greenwood Cemetery.
 * 1923 - Public library established.
 * 1925 - Southwestern Presbyterian University moves from Clarksville to Memphis.
 * 1927 - Austin Peay Normal School founded.
 * 1928 - Capitol Theatre in business.
 * 1937 - January: Flood.
 * 1940 - Population: 11,831.
 * 1941
 * WJZM radio begins broadcasting.
 * Roxy Theatre in business.
 * 1942 - U.S. military Camp Campbell begins operating near Clarksville.
 * 1954 - WDXN radio begins broadcasting.
 * 1955 - Sunset Drive-In cinema in business.
 * 1959 - Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library active.
 * 1960
 * Clarksville–Montgomery County Regional Airport active.
 * Athlete Wilma Rudolph of Clarksville wins gold medal at 1960 Summer Olympics.
 * 1970 - Population: 31,719.
 * 1984 - Clarksville Montgomery County Museum established.
 * 1990 - Population: 75,494.
 * 1999 - January 22: Tornado.
 * 2000 - Population: 103,455.

21st century

 * 2003 - Marsha Blackburn becomes U.S. representative for Tennessee's 7th congressional district.
 * 2010
 * Population: 132,929.
 * Cumberland River overflowed with nearly a foot of rainfall, covering Downtown Clarksville and causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage.
 * 2011 - Kim McMillan becomes mayor.
 * 2019
 * Mark Green becomes U.S. representative for Tennessee's 7th congressional district.
 * Joe Pitts becomes mayor.
 * 2020 - Population: 166,772.
 * 2023 - Intense EF3 tornado impacts the area, killing 3 and injuring 60+