New Providence, Tennessee

New Providence was a small railroad town in Montgomery County, Tennessee. It was a mostly working class city until about the mid 20th century when it was annexed by the nearby city of Clarksville.

Nineteenth century

The nineteenth century saw the advent of the railroad through New Providence and the nearby hubs of Clarksville and Saint Bethlehem. It brought new industry to the town, and a rise in population. Though it did not compare to that of nearby Clarksville, it fed railroads lines that went to St. Louis, Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga, Atlanta, and many other major hubs in the southern United States. During the Civil War, the town was a strategic hub, given its railways and proximity to Fort Donelson in Stewart County. After the war, the town began to decline.

Twentieth century

The railroads still brought many jobs to the town, but it paled in comparison to many of its neighboring communities. The two world wars and the building of nearby Fort Campbell, saw many young men enlisting in the United States Army. During the 1960s the town was annexed into the city of Clarksville, which now incorporated Clarksville, St. Bethleham, parts of Sango, and other parts of Montgomery County.

Crime

Since New Providence became part of Clarksville, one of its rising problems was that of rising crime rates and gang enrollment. The area has been known for its notorious incidents of businesses being robbed and burglarized. It has also been known in the local area for its drug and illegal alcohol substances problems. There have been numerous drug bust in the neighborhood, and local police have always had problems with moonshine stills. In recent years it has contributed to the rising murder rate in the Clarksville area, and the Clarksville, TN-KY metropolitan statistical area.