Harrison, Arkansas

Harrison, Arkansas
City
Location in Boone County and the state of Arkansas
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
County	Boone
Area
• Total	10.2 sq mi (26.5 km2)
• Land	10.2 sq mi (26.5 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation	1,050 ft (320 m)
Population  (2000)
• Total	12,152
• Density	1,191.4/sq mi (458.6/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	72601-72602
Area code	870
FIPS code	05-30460
GNIS feature ID	0077134

Harrison is a city in Boone County, Arkansas, United States. It is the county seat. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city was 12,764. Boone County was organized in 1869, during reconstruction after the civil war. Harrison was platted and made the county seat. It is named after L. LaRue Harrison, a Union officer who surveyed and platted the town. Template:GR Boone County Regional Airport serves the city.

Harrison is the principal city of the Harrison Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Boone and Newton counties.

Geography

Harrison is located at 36°14′14″N 93°6′49″W (36.237247, -93.113703).Template:GR

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.2 square miles (26.5 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 12,152 people, 5,259 households, and 3,260 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,187.5 people per square mile (458.6/km²). There were 5,747 housing units at an average density of 561.6/sq mi (216.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.24% White, 1.00% Black or African American, 0.74% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. 1.53% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,259 households out of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 85.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,850, and the median income for a family was $34,009. Males had a median income of $27,934 versus $18,873 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,909. About 11.5% of families and 16.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.5% of those under age 18 and 12.2% of those age 65 or over.

Community

Harrison is nationally recognized as one of the "Best Small Towns in America."

Harrison is home to Cavender's Greek Seasoning, the general office of FedEx Freight, the second Wal-Mart store ever opened, and Claridge Products. The courthouse, opened in 1909, serves as the heart of the downtown district and is still in operation today.

Harrison serves as the National Park Service's Buffalo National River headquarters. The park was established in the 1970's, and was the nation’s first National River. The river flows for 135 miles, and offers opportunities for fishing, canoeing, hiking and swimming. There are over 60 different species of fish in the Buffalo National River.

Crooked Creek, a nationally recognized “Blue Ribbon” smallmouth bass fishery flows through Harrison.

Harrison was one of the first few towns in Arkansas to have a library. The library opened in 1903 with 600 donated books.

Hemmed-in-Hollow, the tallest waterfall between the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachians is near Harrison and stands at 209 feet tall. Just around the corner, on the same bluff line is Diamond Falls. At 148 feet, it is the second tallest in the state.

The historic Lyric Theater is now used for plays, community events, old movies and other gatherings. It was originally opened as a movie theater in 1929.

Harrison host the annual Arkansas Hot Air Balloon races each September, Crawdad Day's Music Festival each May, a Harvest Homecoming festival each October, and Christmas celebration in December.

The North Arkansas Regional Medical Center is located in Harrison, and has been recently renovated to better serve the community.

Harrison is just 35 miles south of the live music capital, Branson, MO.

Education

Residents are served by the Harrison School District [1]. The history of Harrison Schools dates back to August 1841 when Joseph Burkett and his family traveled overland from Tennessee, stopped overnight on the banks of Crooked Creek and decided that it would be useless to go farther in search of a home rich in all the bounties of nature. He was soon followed by James Stiffler, L.D. Rush, Captain H. W. Fick, and several others

This small handful of sturdy citizens began at once to plan for a school. Captain Fick donated a block of land for the purpose of building a public school on the site that is now occupied by the Administration Building. Despite the fact that they were few in number and that the materials had to be hauled more than fifty miles, the building was soon erected at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars. Around twenty-five pupils enrolled under the instruction of Professor Killo.

From a small one-room building to the present district consisting of four elementary schools, one middle school, one junior high and one senior high, Harrison has grown to an enrollment of approximately 3,000 students. Many consider the Harrison Mascot, the Golden Goblin, to be one of the most distinctive mascots in the state of Arkansas.

Harrison's success in academics is paralleled by its success in extracurricular programs. The Goblin Football program, led by coach Tom Tice, has been one of the most successful of the last 30 years, making 16 playoff appearances, and winning one state title. The soccer program, led by Chris Pratt, are five-time AAAA state champions.

The Harrison School District is known in the surrounding area for its quality programs in the performing arts. The music program is paramount, with the band and choral programs consistently earning superior ratings at festivals and competitions. The Harrison Choral Program, directed by Michael Crouch and Thomas Rickman, won the sweepstakes award at the DC Festival in Dallas in 2003.

Harrison is also home to North Arkansas College (NAC). A comprehensive, public two-year college, North Arkansas College provides a variety of educational opportunities.

Harrison has been a member of the North Arkansas Association and Colleges and Schools since 1936.

Other

In 1901 and 1905, white mobs drove the entire black population from Harrison. These events were the subject of an Independent Lens program entitled "Banished" on PBS in 2008.

The Harrison Police Department has had two officers killed in the line of duty, both by gunfire and both within a year of one another. The first was officer Ed Williams, killed on a disturbance call on May 25 1934. The second was Chief of Police Burr Robertson, killed while arresting a murder suspect at the railroad station on March 27 1935.

Gracie Pfost, first woman elected to Congress from Idaho, was born in Harrison.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has recognized the Harrison Courthouse Square Historic District. It contains a large number of the city's original commercial and governmental structures, including the still-used courthouse in the center of the square, the recently refurbished Lyric theater, and the beautiful 1929 Hotel Seville, which underwent a complete restoration in 2008.

A Harrison, Arkansas address is given at the foot of the top page of the Ku Klux Klan website.

External links

• Official Site
• Chamber of Commerce