[3] Clarion is the birthplace of the four-leaf clover emblem used by the 4-H Clubs of America, conceived of in 1907 by the local school superintendent, O.H.

Clarion is the site of an unsolved murder case from 1888. https://iowaunsolvedmurders.com/the-murders/fatal-glass-beer-murder-george-diggle-1888/ George Diggle was killed by someone - perhaps his wife, who was a traveling theatre star.'

Originally known as Grant, Clarion was plotted out to be the exact center of Wright County.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.26 square miles (8.44 km2), all land.

The subdivision is located near the high school on the northeast side of town.

The center of the business district is the Wright County Courthouse, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The courthouse is underway to renovate the courtroom to both modernize the facility and restore some of the original architecture.

The development of the Clarion Industrial Park has led to the opening of a new factory, Clarion Packaging LLC, that has built a 114,000 sq ft (10,600 m2) egg carton factory that manufactures egg cartons out of recycled paper.

The company, incorporated by Ray Hagie, is responsible for designing and building the first high clearance sprayer.

Hagie has expanded significantly in the past three years, building a 75,000 square foot addition to their facility in 2008.

Some of the other industrial companies in Clarion include Monsanto Company, Team Effort, SportsGraphics, Stronghold, Wright County Egg, Centrum Valley Farms, Ahrends Grips and North Central Cooperative.

That in turn merged with the Dows Community School District on July 1, 2014.

Also, a renovation project was finished that included doubling the square footage of the building.

During the renovation, the original 1908 ceiling was revealed, along with a small attic that contained relics from the early 1900s.

In 2006 a major expansion and renovation project was completed making facilities state-of-the-art, including a new emergency room.

Iowa Special Hospital maintains state of the art campuses in Clarion and Belmond as well as outreach clinics in Clear Lake, Hampton, Webster City, Fort Dodge, and West Des Moines.

The aquatic center features two large slides, two deep-water drop-slides, a zero-depth beach-style entrance with play features, a six-lane lap swimming area, and two diving boards.

Heartland Museum is located on the western edge of Clarion on Highway 3.

Features include the large agriculture hall with much antique farm equipment, balcony level farm toy displays, and displays showing the history of agriculture.

Alvina was from Clarion and gave 5,636 programs including an appearance in the David Letterman Show.

Another feature of the museum is the period streetscapes that recreate businesses in Clarion from years gone by.

The Heartland Museum also has a newly renovated and expanded community room available for rent, a steel building was built to house more antique farm machinery, and an Outdoor Learning Center.