Clarkson is a city in Colfax County

Colfax County, Nebraska

-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 10,441 people, 3,682 households, and 2,592 families residing in the county. The population density was 25 people per square mile . There were 4,088 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile...

, Nebraska

Nebraska

Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. The population was 685 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Clarkson is located at 41°43′29"N 97°7′23"W (41.724676, -97.123015).

According to the United States Census Bureau

United States Census Bureau

The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...

, the city has a total area of 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²), all of it land.

Clarkson is located in Northeast Nebraska, three miles west of the junction of Nebraska Highways 15

Nebraska Highway 15

Nebraska Highway 15 is a highway in Nebraska. It has a southern terminus at the Kansas border south of Fairbury and a northern terminus northeast of Maskell at the South Dakota border.-Route description:...

 and 91

Nebraska Highway 91

Nebraska Highway 91 is a highway in central and eastern Nebraska. Its western terminus is at an intersection with Nebraska Highway 2 north of Dunning. Its eastern terminus is at an intersection with U.S. Highway 30 and U.S. Highway 75 in Blair....

. Clarkson lies 35 miles southeast of Norfolk, Nebraska

Norfolk, Nebraska

Norfolk is a city in Madison County, Nebraska, United States, 113 miles northwest of Omaha and 83 miles west of Sioux City at the intersection of U.S. Routes 81 and 275. The population was 24,210 at the 2010 census, making it the ninth-largest city in Nebraska. It is the principal city of the...

; 35 miles northeast of Columbus, Nebraska

Columbus, Nebraska

Columbus is a city in east central Nebraska, United States. Its population was 22,111 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Platte County.-Pre-settlement history:...

; 85 miles northwest of Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...

; and 90 miles northwest of Lincoln, Nebraska

Lincoln, Nebraska

The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....

.

Demographics

As of the census

Census

A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...

of 2000, there were 685 people, 311 households, and 185 families residing in the city. The population density

Population density

Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...

 was 999.3 people per square mile (383.3/km²). There were 366 housing units at an average density of 533.9 per square mile (204.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.12% White, 0.73% from other races

Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, and 0.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.31% of the population.

There were 311 households out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% were married couples

Marriage

Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...

 living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.5% were non-families. 38.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 26.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 86.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,726, and the median income for a family was $36,094. Males had a median income of $25,625 versus $20,938 for females. The per capita income

Per capita income

Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...

 for the city was $14,189. About 6.5% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 15.5% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Economic activities in Clarkson include farming, cattle, and hog feeding, nursery, and retail and wholesale sales. Clarkson is also home to the largest perennial grower in the midwest — Bluebird Nursery.

Economic progress in Clarkson since 1995 includes several expansions of Bluebird Nursery and the construction of a new concession stand in the City Park. The Opera House is now managed by the Clarkson Community Opera House, Inc. organization, founded in 2002. The current organization expects to maintain the Opera House as a viable facility on Main Street. The Physicians Clinic is now Alegent Health Clarkson Clinic. A new medical clinic building is currently in use.

County Government

Colfax County is governed by three county commissioners who are elected by popular vote to four-year terms. Colfax County belongs to the Northeast Nebraska Economic Development District along with 12 other counties.

Municipal Government

Clarkson, a second-class city, is governed by a mayor-council form of government who are elected to four-year terms. For further information contact the city clerk's office at (402) 892-3100.

Fire Protection

Fire protection in the community is provided by a 44 member volunteer fire department. The Rural Fire Protection District provides fire protection for areas outside the community limits. The rescue squad has two units staffed by 23 EMTs, nine first responders, and one paramedic.
They recently took delivery of a 2007 Medtec 4X4 Ambulance from Midwest Vehicle Professionals in York, NE. It's a very nice piece.

Law Enforcement

Clarkson employs one full-time certified policeman who has a patrol car, radio communications and other standard equipment. For emergencies dial: 911 and for non-emergencies dial: Clarkson Police Department at (402) 892-3111 or Colfax County Sheriff at (402) 352-8514.

Points of interest

• Clarkson Public Library
• Clarkson Historical Museum
• Clarkson Opera House
• Memorial Park
• Bohemian National Garden
• Clarkson City Park