The Clarksville historic district is one of Austin's oldest African American communities and established neighborhoods. A freedman, Charles Clark, settled the area in 1871, having purchased two acres outside of Austin specifically for the purpose of forming a district for freedmen. Austin eventually expanded to encompass the neighborhood. The construction of the Mopac Expressway through Clarksville greatly reduced the size of the district, although it has not diminished the enduring sense of community pride. When visiting the area, be sure to stop by the Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church at 1725 W. 11th St.

Watch the following video to learn more about Freedmen's Communities in Texas. This video was produced for inclusion in the African Americans in Texas mobile tour found in our Texas Time Travel Tours mobile app. For more information about the mobile tour and African American cultural heritage in Texas, visit the African American Heritage theme page at the following link: http://texastimetravel.com/travel-themes/main-african-american-heritage