Clarksville District neighborhood in Austin

The Clarksville District neighborhood is located west of downtown. The Austin neighborhood shows off the city's eclectic side with historical homes and busy shops. The neighborhood is full of restaurants and shopping and is located in a desirable location to other amenities that Austin has to offer. The neighborhood provides locals with a taste of urban living in an old quiet neighborhood.

The neighborhood was developed in the 1870's and was originally the plantation of Texas Governor Elisha Pease. The governor sold some of his property to a freed slaved named Charles Clark who started the community which was eventually named in his honor. The original Clarksville residents were descendants of freed slaves. Today, the area is favored by young families and professionals who want a quiet, historic, and affordable place to live. Artists are attracted to Clarksville because of the amount of low rent apartments that are available in the neighborhood. Although home prices vary in the area, the Clarksville District neighborhood has some of the most beautiful historical homes in the city of Austin.

The Clarksville District neighborhood also has a small shopping center on West Lynn Street. some of Austin's premier restaurants and historical drug stores are located in the heart of Clarksville. Two noteworthy places in the neighborhood are Nau's Enfield Drug, Jeffrey's and the Cosmic Cafe. Nau's is a traditional diner with church pew-style booths and mint-green table tops. Homemade malts, shake, sundaes, and ice cream sodas are specialties of the diner that opened in Clarksville in 1951. Jeffery's has also been an integral part of the Clarksville District neighborhood for over thirty years. The restaurant has won awards and accolades for an exceptional menu that blends a variety of tastes and textures.

The neighborhood store in the Clarksville District area has been replaced by the organic grocery chain Whole Foods Market. The popular organic store began in Austin over 25 years ago and has its largest location in the Clarksville District neighborhood. The Whole Foods Market in Clarksville is located at the corner of Sixth Street and Lamar Boulevard and is the largest Whole Foods in the nation at 80,000 square feet. Several smaller locally owned shops are sprinkled throughout the area.

Clarksville District neighborhood has its own neighborhood park. The Clarksville Park is over an acre large and is beautifully landscaped with soft rolling hills. During the warmer months, Clarksville District residents can visit the wadding pool in the Clarksville District neighborhood. The West Austin Park is in close proximity to the Clarksville District neighborhood and provides an alternative to the Clarksville Park.

Locals who want to become advocates for Clarksville District neighborhood can join OWANA which is the Old West Austin Neighborhood Association. Members often have meetings at the Clarksville Community Center. The organization maps out plans to keep the entire west side of Austin beautiful, eclectic, and safe. The Clarksville District neighborhood was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. The area continues to grow and thrive in the city of Austin.