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Michigan Guides

Oakland County · Metro Detroit

Clawson city guide hub

A two-square-mile city with a genuinely local Main Street.

Visit the Clawson Guide

Local listings, businesses and events live on clawsonguide.com.

About Clawson

Clawson is one of the smallest cities in Oakland County — a little over two square miles — wedged between Royal Oak and Troy. That size is the point: it is a tight residential grid with a short, very local Main Street at its center.

The downtown strip runs a few blocks and is almost entirely independent businesses: neighborhood restaurants, a brewery or two, coffee, barber shops and services. It draws from the surrounding neighborhoods rather than the whole region, which gives it a different feel from nearby Royal Oak.

Community events do a lot of the social work here — the farmers market, summer concerts in the park and seasonal festivals are well attended relative to the city's size.

What Clawson is known for

  • A compact, independent Main Street
  • Clawson Farmers Market
  • Small-city community events
  • Affordable, walkable residential blocks
  • A central location between Royal Oak and Troy

Neighborhoods and areas

  • Downtown Main Street
  • North Clawson
  • South Clawson

Clawson questions, answered

How big is Clawson?
About 2.2 square miles, making it one of the smallest cities by area in Oakland County.
What is Clawson known for?
A short, walkable Main Street of independent restaurants and shops, and a strong small-town community feel.
Which cities border Clawson?
Royal Oak to the south and west and Troy to the north, with Madison Heights nearby to the east.

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