Clarkson Nebraska - Nebraska Directory

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City · Colfax County · Population 641 (2020 census) · ZIP 68629 · Founded 1886 · Peak population 918 (1930)

About Clarkson

Clarkson is a city of 641 in northern Colfax County, just north of NE 91 and about 3 miles west of NE 15. Its farm country was settled largely by Czech families, and it holds Clarkson Czech Days on the last weekend of June. It has Clarkson Public Schools, St. John Neumann Catholic School, CHI Health Clinic Clarkson, the public library, the Clarkson Historical Museum and the 1913 Z.C.B.J. Opera House.

History

A post office named Clarkson opened on January 24, 1882, at "Old Clarkson," several miles from the present town; it was named for T. S. Clarkson, a Schuyler postmaster who helped found the town. When the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad built its branch west from Scribner in 1886, the Western Town-Lot Company platted the present town in October, the first train arrived in December, and the old buildings were moved to the tracks. Clarkson incorporated in July 1887 with about 300 people and reached its peak of 918 in 1930.

The Western Bohemian Fraternal Association (Z.C.B.J.) built its opera house at 4th and Pine in 1913 for plays, dances, lectures and films; talking pictures arrived in 1930, and it still hosts Czech Days polkas. The town had Czech-language newspapers from 1906 to 1924, and the Colfax County Press has been published here since 1954. Czech Days was recorded for the Library of Congress Local Legacies project in 1999 and held its 64th festival in 2026.

Highways and trails through Clarkson

Route	One way	Other way
NE 91East–west just south of town; spur north into town on Bryan St.	East to NE 15 (about 3 mi) and Howells (about 6 mi)	West to Leigh (about 6 mi) and Creston
NE 15About 3 mi east of town	North into Stanton County	South to Schuyler (about 19 mi)

Nearby towns

Howells	about 6 mi east	NE 91
Leigh	about 6 mi west-southwest	NE 91
Heun	about 8 mi south-southeast	NE 15 and county roads
Creston	about 12 mi west	NE 91
Stanton	about 17 mi north-northwest	NE 15 and county roads
Schuyler	about 19 mi south	NE 15

Things to see

Z.C.B.J. Opera House, 4th and Pine (1913; National Register) · Clarkson Historical Museum, 221 Pine St., more than 20 rooms of local history (by appointment and during Czech Days) · Zion Presbyterian Church, about 5 mi southeast (1887–88; National Register), described as Nebraska's first Czech Presbyterian church · Holy Trinity Church at Heun, about 8 mi south-southeast · Memorial Park, the Czech Days stage, and City Park with pool and campground · Clarkson Bakery, 113 Pine St., for kolaches

Events in Clarkson

Clarkson Czech Days

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Schools and health care

Schools: Clarkson Public Schools, 649 Cherry St.: Clarkson Elementary and Clarkson Jr.-Sr. High School; St. John Neumann School (Catholic, pre-K to 6), 420 Cherry St.

Health care: CHI Health Clinic Clarkson, 322 Pine St.; nearest hospital CHI Health Schuyler (about 19 mi)

Sources: U.S. Census; Wikipedia; Andreas, History of the State of Nebraska (1882); Fitzpatrick, Nebraska Place-Names (1925); NEGenWeb Colfax County; History Nebraska; National Register of Historic Places; Nebraska Department of Transportation; Lower Elkhorn NRD; CHI Health. Distances marked "about" are estimates.