Clarksville is both the name of an unincorporated community and the name associated with Districts 4 & 5 in Howard County

Howard County, Maryland

-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*62.2% White*17.5% Black*0.3% Native American*14.4% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.6% Two or more races*2.0% Other races*5.8% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...

, the third wealthiest county in the United States according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The community is named for William Clark, a farmer who owned much of the land on which the community now lies.
According to the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau, Clarksville District 5 had a population of 56,239, with median income of $150,272. The estimated average income in 2009 was $195,124, with median income of $160,606. Some of the most expensive homes on the East Coast

East Coast of the United States

The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...

 are located in or around the town, whose property values are among the highest in the country.
The village of River Hill

River Hill, Columbia, Maryland

River Hill is the last and westernmost village to be developed in the town of Columbia, Maryland, though numerous residents have addresses in Clarksville. Construction started in 1990. It is bounded by Maryland Route 108 and Maryland Route 32, and is centered on Trotter Road...

 is contained within Clarksville, the newest addition to the planned community

Planned community

A planned community, or planned city, is any community that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are less frequent in planned communities since...

 of Columbia

Columbia, Maryland

Columbia is a planned community that consists of ten self-contained villages, located in Howard County, Maryland, United States. It began with the idea that a city could enhance its residents' quality of life. Creator and developer James W. Rouse saw the new community in terms of human values, not...

.
Clarksville's public schools, part of the Howard County public school system

Howard County Public Schools

The Howard County Public School System is the school district that manages the public schools of Howard County, Maryland, USA. It operates under the supervision of an eight-member Board of Education. The Superintendent is Sydney L...

, are among the highest-ranked in the nation and often have significantly higher funding than competing private and charter schools.
The area is located southwest of Baltimore and north of Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....

, and many residents of Clarksville commute to work in one of these two cities or their close-in suburbs.

Montrose

Montrose (Clarksville, Maryland)

Montrose is a historic home located at Clarksville, Howard County, Maryland, United States. It was built in 1844 by Dr. William H. Hardey, prominent physician and secessionist in the American Civil War. One of Dr...

 and Richland Farm are listed on the National Register of Historic Places

National Register of Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...

 in 1973.

Schooling

Clarksville is perhaps best known for its highly successful high school, River Hill

River Hill High School

River Hill High School is a public high school in Clarksville, Maryland. It is part of the Howard County public school system. It is one of the two former Technology Magnet schools in Howard County, along with Long Reach High School...

. The school made the 397th rank on Newsweek's Top 1,200 High School http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7723397/site/newsweek/page/4/ River Hill, opened in 1996 It has 1,652 students and ranks as one of the top schools in the state of Maryland. In 2005, River Hill has a 97.55% graduation rate, ranking the highest in Maryland. 86.3% of its students passed the HSA (High school Assessment). River Hill is also very successful in sports, capturing numerous state titles in many sports. The boy’s soccer team has captured three of the last four class 3A state titles (losing in 2006 to rival Mount Hebron). In 2007 River Hill won five state championships in the fall: Football, Boys and Girls Soccer, and Boys and Girls Cross Country. In addition, Clarksville Middle School

Clarksville Middle School

Clarksville Middle School, also known as CMS, is a Public Middle School located in Clarksville, Maryland. It is part of the Howard County Public School System.-Student Mobility :-Ethnicity:PTA Members: 779-Accomplishments:...

's Wind Ensemble attended the prestigious Midwest Clinic in 2009, being the first middle school from Maryland to perform there.

Pop culture

Clarksville, MD was referenced in the Fox

Fox Broadcasting Company

Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...

 television show 24

24 (TV series)

24 is an American television series produced for the Fox Network and syndicated worldwide, starring Kiefer Sutherland as Counter Terrorist Unit agent Jack Bauer. Each 24-episode season covers 24 hours in the life of Bauer, using the real time method of narration...

as the target for surface missiles by terrorists in the seventh season episode having the original air date 4/13/09.