Clarksville, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clarksville
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 Clarksville
Location in Mississippi
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| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Wilkinson |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
Clarksville is a ghost town in Wilkinson County, Mississippi, United States. A ghost town is a place where people used to live, but now very few or no one lives there.
This old settlement was right on the Mississippi River. It was about 2.25 mi (3.62 km) south of Fort Adams. Clarksville was one of the very first places settled by non-Native people in Mississippi. Many thought it would become a very important town.
A stream called Clark Creek joined the Mississippi River at Clarksville. The settlement was on the south side of this creek. About 3.5 mi (5.6 km) south of Clarksville is the 31st parallel north. This imaginary line now forms the border between Mississippi and Louisiana.
Contents
History of Clarksville
Clarksville was named after Daniel J. Clark, Sr. He was a merchant from Ireland and a former captain in the British Army. In 1768, he received grants for thousands of acres of land. This land was in what was then called West Florida. One of his land grants was for 500 acres (200 ha) of land along the river. This area is now in Wilkinson County. Clark settled there and started a large farm.
Surveying the Border
In 1797, Clarksville was an important spot for Andrew Ellicott. He was surveying the 31st parallel, which would become a border. Ellicott found he was a little too far north of the actual 31st parallel.
He wrote that it was very hard to travel in the area. The land was rough, and the riverbanks were not flooded enough to allow travel by boat through swamps.
Ellicott also described the land east of the Mississippi River near Clarksville. He said the first 20 miles were very fertile. But the area was also very thick with tall canes and vines. This made it hard to clear a path. His team could only clear a short distance each day.
Hopes for a Great Town
Early settlers believed Clarksville could become a major settlement. In 1799, it became a port where the government collected taxes.
William Dunbar, a friend of Clark, wrote a letter in 1799. He told the governor that Clarksville was "destined by nature" to become a big place. Dunbar thought it had many advantages. He said it was the "first safe and convenient landing place" north of the 31st parallel.
Dunbar also mentioned that Clarksville had "seven elegant Indian mounds." He believed these mounds would become the site of a "great commercial town." He also thought Clark Creek could be turned into a "grand Canal" for large boats. This would create a safe harbor along the Mississippi River. Soldiers at Fort Adams could also protect Clarksville.
However, not everyone agreed. Some pointed out that few people lived near Clarksville. Also, no one had started a trading business there yet.
Later Years
When Daniel J. Clark, Sr. passed away in 1800, his nephew, Daniel J. Clark, Jr., inherited his land. Daniel J. Clark, Jr. became a very wealthy person in New Orleans. He was also the first person from the Territory of Orleans to be elected to the United States House of Representatives.
Clarksville appeared on maps of the Mississippi Territory in 1804. It continued to be shown on some maps and mentioned in records until the late 1800s. The river landing was still mentioned in newspaper notices in 1870.
In 1805, a census showed that Clarksville had a small population. There were four white males, two white females, and 130 enslaved people living there.
Cemeteries and What Remains
Two cemeteries were located near Clarksville. The Riverside Cemetery was used between 1835 and 1860. It is now covered with plants, but some grave markers can still be seen. The Clarksville Cemetery is north of the old settlement. It has grave markers from as recently as 1988. This shows it was used long after Clarksville became a ghost town.
Today, nothing remains of the original Clarksville settlement. You can reach the area by a dirt road called Fort Adams Main Street. Several cottages and hunting lodges are nearby. The land where the Clark family's farm was located is now part of Clark Creek State Park. However, there are no historical signs or information at the site.
