Clarksville is located at the mouth of Spencer Creek on the Cumberland River, approximately 30 miles northwest of Nashville. It is the county seat of Montgomery County, Tennessee. The population was 120,434 as of the 2010 census, up from 112,309 residents as of 2000. Clarksville is the fifth-largest city in Tennessee and the state’s 14th-largest city.
The largest employers in Clarksville are the Gateway Medical Center, Montgomery County Schools Corporation, and the federal government. These three employers account for approximately twenty-five thousand jobs in Clarksville, which is roughly forty percent of all employment in Clarksville. Fort Campbell, a United States Army base, dominates the landscape south of Clarksville. Most of the servicemen and women who live in Clarksville work at Fort Campbell, or one of the other military bases throughout Montgomery County. While Clarksville is usually thought of as an industrial town, the military has a stronger presence in Clarksville than any single industry.
When it comes to entertainment, Clarksville has a lot to offer. The most popular attraction in Clarksville is the General Motors plant. Most people don’t realize it, but this massive plant is visible from twenty miles away. Tourists flock to the GM plant because of its size and history. While visiting the GM Plant, visitors can take a 20-minute tour of the facility.