For generations,Tennesseans have referred to the state’s big four cities: Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
- Yes, but: It’s time to start thinking in terms of the Big Five.
Why it matters: Clarksville is at a tipping point after decades of meteoric growth.
- The once-sleepy Middle Tennessee town an hour away on Interstate 24 is attracting massive mixed-use developments that are on par with Nashville’s current East Bank overhaul.
Stunning stat: With a population of 188,829,Clarksville is only a few thousand people away from passing Chattanooga to become Tennessee’s fourth-biggest city.
- A new report from U-Haul found Clarksville was the top destination for residents of all ages who were moving out of Nashville.
- An ambitious multi-use development received a record-setting government incentive.
The big picture: Clarksville is home to large institutions in Fort Campbell and Austin Peay State University that draw residents and help set the vibe for the city.
- Although houses are more affordable than in Nashville, there are neighborhoods that feel similar to Donelson or Crieve Hall.
- The surrounding Montgomery County area attracted major economic development wins in recent years — Korea Zinc, LG Chem and Hankook’s recent expansion combine for $10 billion in direct investments and thousands of jobs.
Reality check: Despite its wins, government leaders say they’re still fighting the ingrained regional view that the Clarksville area is sleepy and small.
- “A lot of our time is spent selling Montgomery County to state officials,” Lee Harrell, who serves as chief of staff to Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden, tells Axios.
What they’re saying: But Golden tells Axios the city’s growing appeal is obvious to its residents.
- “Families and employers continue to choose this community because they see a county that is planning not just for today, but for the next generation,” he says.
By the numbers: Clarksville’s growth
At the turn of the century, Chattanooga was about 50% bigger than Clarksville.
- Today, the population gap has narrowed to less than 3%.
By the numbers: Clarksville has added 85,374 residents since 2000, and that pace picked up in the aftermath of the pandemic.
- Clarksville added 22,040 residents since 2020 — roughly one-quarter of its entire gain since 2000 — and a bigger jump in raw numbers than any Tennessee city besides Nashville.
Yes, but: This is beyond a pandemic-era blip.
- Montgomery County grew by roughly 28% in both the 2000s and the 2010s, adding about 37,500 residents in the first decade and nearly 48,000 in the second.
- “Strong growth has been going on for the better part of two decades,” Tennessee State Data Center director Tim Kuhn tells Axios.
Yes, and: Clarksville has room to keep expanding.
Between the lines: Chattanooga is geographically boxed in by the Tennessee River, the Georgia state line and already-developed land. But Clarksville can absorb growth within its existing footprint while also extending outward at its edges, Kuhn says.
The bottom line: Clarksville has already become one of the state’s largest cities. Overtaking Chattanooga is a symbolic milestone that is now within reach.
Data: U.S. Census Bureau; Table: Adam Tamburin/Axios
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