Clarkton, Missouri

Originally called Beech, the town site was platted as Clarkton in 1876.{{cite web|url=http://shsmo.org/manuscripts/ramsay/ramsay_dunklin.html |title=Dunklin County Place Names, 1928–1945 (archived) |publisher=The State Historical Society of Missouri |accessdate=29 September 2016 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624071947/http://shsmo.org/manuscripts/ramsay/ramsay_dunklin.html |archivedate=24 June 2016 }} The present name is after Henry E. Clark, a contractor on a new plank road leading to town.{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_RfAuAAAAYAAJ | title=How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named | publisher=The State Historical Society of Missouri | author=Eaton, David Wolfe | year=1916 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_RfAuAAAAYAAJ/page/n63 166]}}{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n32 83]}} A post office called Beech was established in 1855, and the name was changed to Clarkton in 1870.{{cite web|url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=MO&county=Dunklin |title=Post Offices |publisher=Jim Forte Postal History |accessdate=29 September 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001205330/http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=MO&county=Dunklin |archivedate=1 October 2016 }}

Clarkton is located at {{coord|36|27|3|N|89|58|4|W|type:city}} (36.450899, -89.967853).{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}} It lies at the intersection of Missouri Route 25 and Missouri Route 162 in the western Bootheel. Gideon is located just to the east, and Holcomb to the southwest.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|1.13|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=2012-07-08 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archivedate=2012-01-25 }}

{{US Census population

|1880= 314

|1910= 682

|1920= 689

|1930= 493

|1940= 733

|1950= 1004

|1960= 1049

|1970= 1177

|1980= 1228

|1990= 1113

|2000= 1330

|2010= 1288

|2020= 1009

|footnote=source:{{cite web|url = http://mcdc.missouri.edu/trends/tables/cities1900-1990.pdf|title = Missouri Population 1900 - 1990|format = CSV|publisher = Missouri Census Data Center|accessdate = 6 October 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140704072802/http://mcdc.missouri.edu/trends/tables/cities1900-1990.pdf|archive-date = 4 July 2014|url-status = dead}}

}}

As of the census{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=2012-07-08}} of 2010, there were 1,288 people, 495 households, and 327 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1139.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 557 housing units at an average density of {{convert|492.9|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 84.32% White, 5.05% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 8.15% from other races, and 2.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.78% of the population.

There were 495 households, of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.4% were married couples living together, 18.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.9% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.20.

The median age in the city was 32.9 years. 30% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.4% were from 25 to 44; 24% were from 45 to 64; and 10.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,330 people, 537 households, and 366 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,182.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 598 housing units at an average density of {{convert|531.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 91.58% White, 4.51% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 1.80% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.53% of the population.

There were 537 households, out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% were married couples living together, 18.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city the population was spread out, with 30.0% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $16,250, and the median income for a family was $20,350. Males had a median income of $20,147 versus $19,479 for females. The per capita income for the city was $9,292. About 35.2% of families and 40.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 53.1% of those under age 18 and 17.9% of those age 65 or over.

Clarkton C-4 School District, which covers the municipality,{{cite map|author=Geography Division|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st29_mo/schooldistrict_maps/c29069_dunklin/DC20SD_C29069.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Dunklin County, MO|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2025-05-30}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st29_mo/schooldistrict_maps/c29069_dunklin/DC20SD_C29069_SD2MS.txt Text list] operates one elementary school and Clarkton High School.{{cite web | url=https://www.greatschools.org/missouri/clarkton/clarkton-c_4-school-district/schools/ | title=Clarkton C-4 School District | publisher=Great Schools | accessdate=17 March 2018}}

Clarkton has a public library, a branch of the Dunklin County Library.{{cite web | url=http://dunklin-co.lib.mo.us | title=Locations | publisher=Dunklin County Library | accessdate=17 March 2018}}

• Leary Lentz - Former basketball player for the Houston Mavericks; born here.
• Gary Blaylock - Former MLB player and pitching coach of the 1985 Kansas City Royals.

{{Commons category|Clarkton, Missouri}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140202205417/http://www.clarktonmissouri.com/ Clarkton City Website]

{{Dunklin County, Missouri}}

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Category:Cities in Dunklin County, Missouri

Category:Cities in Missouri