Clinton District Court is in the Seventh judicial district of Iowa. US 30, US 61 and SR 136 run through Clinton county. US 67 runs along the Mississippi river in the Eastern part of the county.

The first settlers to the area of Clinton, who were of European background, came around 1835 and settled the town of Lyon. The town of Clinton was laid out by another settler around 1836 as a town called New York. When the Chicago, Iowa, Nebraska Railroad announced it would cross the river at Little Rock Island adjacent to the town of New York; the Iowa Land Company was organized and bought out this settlement renaming it Clinton in honor of DeWitt Clinton. The Wild Rose Casino and Resort offers the opportunity for casino gambling or to experience a night of live theater. The Ericksen center is equipped with two gyms, a fitness area and a pool hall. The Clinton Riverboat Days sponsors the annual Miles Dirt Days in late June. Events at this festival include Mini Tractor, Kiddie Tractor and Big Tractor pulls, Mud Bog runs in several classes and Mud volleyball. This is all led by a big parade. The Eagle Point Park course is the scene of disc golf and Hawthorne park the scene of horseshoe pitching.