Oct 3, 2026, 7:00 PMDan + Shay
Pine Knob Music Theatre · Dan + Shay — concert at Pine Knob Music Theatre, Clarkston.
Metro Detroit Oakland County City
Clarkston
Michigan's smallest city by land area: a Victorian main street next door to Pine Knob
- People (2025 estimate)
- 903
- Land area
- 0.4 sq mi · 1.1 km²
- From downtown
- 33.6 miles · 54 km · northwest
- Incorporated
- 1992
01 / Why it matters
Why Clarkston matters
Clarkston's official name is the City of the Village of Clarkston, and that tells you a lot: it was incorporated as a village in 1884 and became a city in 1992, but at heart it's still a village. It's Michigan's smallest city by land area, surrounded on all sides by Independence Township.
Main Street (M-15) and the side streets hold more than a hundred historic buildings, many of them Queen Anne houses. The village has been a Michigan State Historic Site since 1976 and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979.
The old train depot has housed the Clarkston Village Players community theater since 1962. A few minutes' drive away in Independence Township is Pine Knob: ski hill in winter, and in summer the Pine Knob Music Theatre, one of metro Detroit's biggest outdoor concert venues since 1972.
02 / Known for
What Clarkston is known for
Michigan's smallest city by land area
The Clarkston Village Historic District, with more than 100 historic structures, on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979
The nearby Pine Knob Music Theatre: it opened on June 25, 1972, as the largest amphitheater in the United States and holds 15,040 today
Bob Seger Drive: Pine Knob's address was renamed to honor Bob Seger's 33 shows there
03 / What’s on
What’s on in Clarkston
Oct 3, 2026, 7:00 PM
Jun 25, 2027, 4:00 PM99.5 WYCD Hoedown with Riley Green
Pine Knob Music Theatre · Riley Green hits the Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston on Friday, June 25 at 4 p.m., joined by Muscadine Bloodline, Jake Worthington, and Hannah McFarland.
04 / Places
7 places on our site in Clarkston
Clarkston Village Players4861 White Lake Rd, Clarkston, MI 48346
Pine Knob Music Theatre33 Bob Seger Drive, Clarkston, MI 4834805 / What to do
If you’re in Clarkston
Clarkston Village Historic District
A walkable main street and quiet side streets lined with Queen Anne, Greek Revival and Tudor Revival houses, small shops and restaurants.
Official site ↗Clarkston Village Players (Depot Theatre)
A community theater founded in 1961 that bought the old Grand Trunk depot for $150 in 1962 and stages five to seven shows a year.
Official site ↗Pine Knob Music Theatre
An outdoor amphitheater in Independence Township that holds 15,040; Pollstar has named it the world's top amphitheater for tickets sold several times.
Official site ↗Pine Knob Ski & Snowboard Resort
A ski hill on Sashabaw Road with night skiing and lessons, right next to the amphitheater.
Official site ↗Independence Oaks County Park
Oakland County's largest county park at 1,286 acres, with trails around Crooked Lake and exhibits at the Wint Nature Center.
Official site ↗
06 / History
Clarkston through the years
- 1830
A squatter from New York builds the first house, a simple shanty.
- 1842
The settlers vote to name the village Clarkston after the Clark brothers.
- 1884
Clarkston is incorporated as a village.
- 1972
Pine Knob Music Theatre opens on June 25 with a matinee by David Cassidy.
- 1979
The village's historic core is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1992
The village becomes a city while keeping the name City of the Village of Clarkston.
07 / People
Famous names from here
- Geoff Johns comic book writer and a leading DC Comics creator, grew up in Clarkston and graduated from Clarkston High School in 1991
Sources
Population and area are Census Bureau figures (Village of Clarkston city).
- 2020 Census, Michigan (PL 94-171)
- Census Bureau population estimates: cities and towns
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarkston,_Michigan
- villageofclarkston.org/community/history.php
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarkston_Village_Historic_District
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine_Knob_Music_Theatre
- 313presents.com/venue/pine-knob-music-theatre
- clarkstonvillageplayers.org/about-us
- skipineknob.com
- oaklandcountymi.gov/community/oakland-county-parks/parks-trails/independence-oaks
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoff_Johns
- villageofclarkston.org
Change since 2020, per the Census Bureau estimate: −1.7 percent.
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