Clarkesville, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clarkesville
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 Clarkesville
Location in Alabama
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Clarke |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
Clarkesville (also spelled Clarksville) is a ghost town in Clarke County, Alabama, United States. A ghost town is a place where people used to live, but now it's mostly empty. Clarkesville was once the most important town in Clarke County. It was the county seat until 1831.
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History of Clarkesville
Clarkesville was founded a long time ago, in 1819. The leaders of Alabama decided to choose a special spot for Clarke County's "seat of justice." This means they wanted a central place for the county's government and courts.
Choosing the County Seat
On December 13, 1819, the Alabama legislature picked a group of people. Their job was to find the best place for the county seat. The rules said the spot had to be within 3 miles (about 5 kilometers) of the very center of Clarke County.
Founding and Relocation
The group chose the spot, and that's how Clarkesville was started. It became the main town for Clarke County. But things changed over time. By 1831, many people in the county were not happy with Clarkesville as the county seat. So, the leaders decided to move the county seat to a different town called Macon. This town was later renamed Grove Hill.
Clarkesville Becomes a Ghost Town
After the county seat moved, Clarkesville slowly became less important. By the end of the 1800s, the town had disappeared from most maps. Today, there's a small community nearby that also calls itself Clarksville. It's about a mile from where the old ghost town used to be.
