Clarkson Ghost Town
Polk County, Iowa41.8347, -93.7528
Can you visit?
Closed federal land
National Guard Camp Dodge Johnston Training Site · No public entry
- Nearest town
- 4 miPolk City, IA
- Mild months
- Apr–Oct7 of 12
- Next ghost town
- 33 miMorrisburg
Clarkson is a former settlement in Polk County, Iowa, listed among the ghost towns of Iowa.
On the map
- Military, DOE
- Private or unlisted
Star: Clarkson. Dots: other ghost towns within 40 miles, colored by land manager. Squares: towns over 1,000 people. Rings are straight-line distance. Live map: © OpenFreeMap, OpenMapTiles, OpenStreetMap contributors.
The closest town with more than 1,000 people is Polk City, IA, about 4 miles southeast in a straight line. The nearest city over 50,000 is Ankeny, IA, 11 miles away.
Ghost towns nearby
- Morrisburg33 mi southwest
- Secor48 mi northeast
- Hughes50 mi northeast
- Mount Pisgah58 mi south
- Fisk59 mi southwest
- Buxton Historic Townsite67 mi southeast
- Unique68 mi northwest
- Queen City76 mi southwest
Distances are straight lines. Roads to ruins are often dirt, and a 20-mile hop can take an hour.
Who owns the land
Military or DOE land: National Guard Camp Dodge Johnston Training Site
This spot falls inside National Guard Camp Dodge Johnston Training Site, land held by the U.S. Department of Defense. Sites like this are usually closed to the public. Another parcel starts within a quarter mile: Big Creek Lake, Big Creek Wildlife Management Area. Ruins often spread across more than one owner.
The point is the town location from Wikidata, and the land record is from PAD-US 3.0 (USGS). Ruins can spread past that point, and land changes hands faster than the database. How we read PAD-US.
Weather by month
Mild months here run April to October, judging by NOAA normals from Des Moines Wsfo-Johnston. Snow is normal from November to April.
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from the Des Moines Wsfo-Johnston station (USC00132209), 6.9 miles away. About 36.0 inches of precipitation a year.
Facts
| Location | Polk County, Iowa |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41.83472, -93.75278 |
| Sources | Wikidata Q107504200 · Wikipedia article |
Questions
Where is Clarkson ghost town?
In Polk County, Iowa, at 41.8347, -93.7528. The closest town with more than 1,000 people is Polk City, IA, about 4 miles southeast in a straight line. The nearest city over 50,000 is Ankeny, IA, 11 miles away.
Can you visit Clarkson?
Closed federal land. This spot falls inside National Guard Camp Dodge Johnston Training Site, land held by the U.S. Department of Defense. Sites like this are usually closed to the public. Another parcel starts within a quarter mile: Big Creek Lake, Big Creek Wildlife Management Area. Ruins often spread across more than one owner.
When is the best time to visit Clarkson?
Mild months here run April to October, judging by NOAA normals from Des Moines Wsfo-Johnston. Snow is normal from November to April.
Are there other ghost towns near Clarkson?
Yes. Morrisburg (33 mi).
