Clarkson has new options outside Leitchfield
Technically, Clarkson, Kentucky, is its own town, but it’s really a small residential enclave 5 miles east of Leitchfield. It still feels like a small town, but recently it's become popular with commuters, and development is accelerating to match. “Clarkson is a very, very small rural town, and the main reason people live there is to be close to Leitchfield, which is the hub of Grayson County,” says Chris Howard, a Realtor with Green Team Real Estate Services who’s lived in the Elizabethtown area — a nearby city — for over 20 years. U.S. Route 62, also recognized as Main Street or Elizabethtown Road, connects Clarkson and Leitchfield. Newly developed subdivisions have given buyers more reason to look out here. “They’re building brand-new communities out there,” Howard says. “There’s one that’s not even finished, and it has about 50 lots.” In Clarkson’s rural setting, these modern suburban options provide a spacious, countryside alternative to the average residential tract.
Many new homes available and more to come
The median price for a home in Clarkson is around $270,000, which mainly reflects the influx of new homes. On the streets around the town center, there are older ranch-style homes and prairie-style cottages. Some have midsize grassy lawns, and others are on multiacre lots. These usually range in price from $120,000 to $250,000. The newer subdivisions are on the east end of town. New Traditional and contemporary Craftsman architecture is common in these communities, and many lots are an acre or more in size. Some of these options were built in the 2010s, but many are recently finished 2020s homes. Overall, they can cost $245,000 to $345,000.
Clarkson Elementary is a pillar of the community
Grayson County Schools serves Clarkson and the greater Leitchfield area and receives a C-plus overall grade from Niche. Clarkson kids begin at B-plus-rated Clarkson Elementary. Grayson County Schools is partnered with the Dollywood Foundation as part of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The program provides one free book every month to students 5 years old and under. After fifth grade, students make the short trip to Leitchfield for middle and high school. Grayson County Middle earns a B, and Grayson County High gets a C-plus.
Little League games at Clarkson City Park
Most of the fields around Clarkson are full of soybeans and hay, but Clarkson Community Park is reserved for recreation. The park is on the east end of town, just off Elizabethtown Road. It has four Little League fields for softball and baseball games, and the Mike Marshall Memorial Playground gives kids a space to play. There are more parks to the west in Leitchfield, like James D. Beville City Park, which has a dog park and a pond with walking trails.
Nostalgic eateries and supermarkets on Main Street
Clarkson is a residential community, but there are a few businesses on Main Street. K’s Café is one of these staple establishments. It’s a classic diner with nostalgic signs covering the walls, and they serve hearty meals from breakfast to dinner. The town’s other restaurant is Redneck Ranch, a barbecue spot, just south of Main. Clarkson’s only supermarket, Best Grocery, is also on Main, on the west end of town. Residents can follow Main Street a few miles farther west to Walmart on the east end of Leitchfield, and to other stores in downtown Leitchfield.
U.S. Route 62 leads to Leitchfield and Elizabethtown
U.S. Route 62 is also known as Main Street and Elizabethtown Road. No matter the name, it’s Clarkson’s central thoroughfare. It connects Clarkson to Leitchfield, just 5 miles west. Leitchfield is the seat of Grayson County and has a decent amount of industry. It’s also home to Owensboro Health Twin Lakes Medical Center, a large hospital that serves the area. Commuters can also follow Route 62 to Elizabethtown, less than 30 miles northeast. U.S. Army Fort Knox is north of Elizabethtown, about 40 miles northeast of Clarkson. Louisville is the closest major city and the closest place with an international airport, just over 70 miles northeast.
