| The West Austin area of Clarksville was originally | | | | Clarksville area, including a home referred to by |
| a freedman's colony for slaves freed after the | | | | the children as "the Castle", since it looks just like |
| Civil War. Clarksville now has a very diverse | | | | a medieval castle, but which was originally a |
| population, and this diversity is reflected in the | | | | military college building. There is also a "Moonlight |
| various nationalities of the residents. There is an | | | | Tower", another local landmark, in the area of the |
| excellent public grade school in Clarksville, named | | | | Castle. Austin and Clarksville are home to many |
| Mathews Elementary. Every fall, Mathews holds a | | | | local politicians and well-known Austinites. Ann |
| carnival on the grounds, which includes the | | | | Richards was a regular at the drug store soda |
| Clarksville Annual International Dinner and the | | | | fountain, and most Hollywood celebrities visit the |
| Octoborama Festival, which is held at the end of | | | | restaurants when in Austin. |
| October. During Octoberama, local musicians, | | | | The Johnson Creek Hike and Bike Trail skirts the |
| many of whom are the parents or relatives of | | | | western edge of Clarksville, and winds along under |
| Mathews School students, perform at the carnival. | | | | the Loop One freeway, also called the MoPac for |
| Also, most of the kids bring large quantities of | | | | the Missouri Pacific rail line which runs directly |
| food to be sold at the International Dinner, to | | | | alongside the freeway. You can walk, ride a bike, |
| reflect the cuisine of the countries of their origin. | | | | or jog up and down the hike and bike trail, which |
| Since most of the University of Texas Division of | | | | crosses Johnson Creek in one place and begins at |
| Housing apartment complexes are located in the | | | | Austin High School, on the northern shore of Lady |
| West Austin area, and the grade school children | | | | Bird Lake. |
| residing there with their parents attend Mathews, | | | | From the Austin High School access point to the |
| many ethnicities and heritages are represented at | | | | trails, You can cross the lake, which is actually the |
| the dinner, including Chinese, Korean, Japanese, | | | | Colorado River, and hike through Zilker Park or |
| Mexican, and various African and other | | | | swim in Barton Springs, or go north, and once |
| nationalities. While at the Octoberama Festival, you | | | | past Clarksville, you eventually wind up in the |
| can hear local musicians, sample all kinds of | | | | Brykerwoods area, if you go south you can head |
| homemade food, watch contests such as | | | | down to the Barton Hills and Travis Heights. |
| two-legged races and relay races, and enjoy | | | | Clarksville is also home to various arts and crafts |
| juggling and face-painting, which all of the kids | | | | establishments, and the yearly Eeyore's Birthday |
| love. Right down the street from the school is | | | | Party Celebration, another fun local event, which is |
| another Austin legend, Nau's pharmacy, which has | | | | held in Pease Park, on the north-eastern |
| one of the oldest soda fountains in Austin. You | | | | perimeter of the Clarksville area. All in all, The |
| can have eggs for breakfast or a shake after | | | | Clarksviile area of Austin is truly a great place to |
| school at Nau's, and then head down to the 9th | | | | live, whether you're raising a family, a student, |
| Street dog park. | | | | retired, or any one of the varied lifestyles which |
| There are many good restaurants in the | | | | flourish in Austin. You will always feel at home in |
| Clarksville area, and this area is a short bus ride or | | | | Clarksville. |
| long walk to Lady Bird Lake, and the jogging trails, | | | | Ki lives in Austin and spends way too much time |
| or you can go downtown by bus or on the | | | | blogging. He also runs a site about Austin real |
| sidewalk, just a mile or so in the other direction. | | | | estate which has a search of the Austin MLS and |
| There are also a number of historic homes in the | | | | information on mortgage interest rates. |