General Information

Location

Clarkson is located in Colfax County in Northeast Nebraska, three miles west of the junction of Nebraska Highways 15 and 91. Clarkson lies 35 miles southeast of Norfolk, Neb.; 35 miles northeast of Columbus, Neb.; 85 miles northwest of Omaha, Neb.; and 90 miles northwest of Lincoln, Neb.

Local Economy

Basic 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 which formed in January 2002. The current organization expects to maintain the Opera House as a viable facility on main street. The Physicians Clinic is now CHI Clarkson Clinic. A new medical clinic building is currently in use.

In March of 2002, a bond issue passed for a new addition to the Clarkson Public Schools. This 26,000 square foot addition consists of a 1,100 seat gymnasium and six classrooms.

After major renovation of the dental clinic, Clarkson now has a dentist that is in town one day a week.

Communications

Telecommunications services are provided in the Clarkson area by Century Link with a digital central office. Clarkson has a first-class post office with one mail receipt and one mail dispatch daily. Package delivery services available include the United Parcel Service, Federal Express, and U.S. Postal Service. The local paper, The Colfax County Press, is published weekly. Daily papers include the Columbus Telegram, Norfolk Daily News, Fremont Tribune and the Omaha World-Herald.

Seven area radio stations and many area television stations carry local news.

Local Government

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 36 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 18 EMTs, five EMRs, and one RN.

Law Enforcement

Clarkson is contracted with Colfax County Sheriff Department to patrol daily. Deputies are on the north and south sides of the county at all times. For emergencies, call 911 or (402) 352-8527.

Transportation

Motor Carrier

Clarkson is served by Nebraska Highway 91 (east-west). Nearby Nebraska Highway 15, just 3 miles east of town, runs north and south. Interstate 80 is 65 miles south and Interstate 29 is 71 miles east of Clarkson. Fifteen commercial trucklines serve the area with interstate and intrastate services. Bus service is available at Norfolk, Neb., and Columbus, Neb.

Air

The Columbus Municipal Airport, 35 miles southwest of Clarkson, and the Karl Stefan Memorial Airport in Norfolk is 35 miles northwest of Clarkson. Commercial air service is also available at Omaha's Eppley Airfield, 85 miles southeast of Clarkson, with approximately 80 flights per day and the Lincoln Airport, located about 85 miles south-southeast of Clarkson.

Rail

A main line of the Union Pacific Railroad serves Schuyler, Neb., 21 miles south of Clarkson.

Utilities

Electricity

Loup Power District provides electric service to Clarkson and over 20 other communities in its four-county service area of Boone, Colfax, Nance, and Platte Counties. Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) is the wholesale provider for Loup Power District. Working in partnership with the state's rural public power districts, cooperatives, and municipalities, NPPD helps serve an estimated 800,000 Nebraskans with retail and wholesale electric power and energy-related products and services. Loup Power District, Nebraska Public Power District and Cornhusker Public Power District serve the rural areas around Clarkson and are headquartered in Columbus, Neb., 35 miles southwest of Clarkson.

Water

The municipal water system in Clarkson is supplied by two wells, which have an average depth of 145 feet. The system has a combined pumping capacity of 940 gallons per minute and an overhead storage capacity of 200,000 gallons. The average daily demand is 58,000 gallons, and the historic peak daily demand is 230,000 gallons. The system has a maximum capacity of 222,560 gallons per day. The static pressure is 82 pounds and the residual pressure is 54 pounds per square inch.

Groundwater is available for industrial uses. Three wells produce 940 gallons of water per minute. The quality of water in Clarkson does not necessitate a water treatment plant.

Sewerage

Clarkson has a municipal sanitary sewerage system and a storm sewer system. The lagoon type treatment facility, built in 1992, was designed to handle a population of 800. The plant has an average daily flow of 65,000 gallons.

For additional information regarding rates and service, please contact the City of Clarkson, PO Box 18, Clarkson, NE 68629 or call (402) 892-3100.

Solid Waste Disposal

Privately owned solid waste removal services are available in Clarkson. Albracht Disposal Services and Waste Connections of NE are available in Clarkson. Please contact the City Office for further information at (402) 892-3100.

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