Harrison

Overlooking the Lakota River far below, Harrison is a neighborhood of magnificent views and consistently capturing opportunity. With a mix of political influence and investment in infrastructure, Harrison was able to attract the railroad, the Lincoln Highway, and one of the tallest buildings in the state for decades.

Harrison is unquestionably the regional center (as much as the surrounding communities may resent it), and is one of the more populous towns in the state. Harrison is always eyeing opportunities to develop into a national city, drawing many entrepreneurs to the cause. Indeed, many have earned riches here, but just as many have lost everything.

With Marble Canyon moving into the modern era, will Harrison continue to be the center of gravity in Marble Canyon will the other neighborhoods find their muscle?

Population: 32,791

Avg Land Value/m2: $0.37

Year Founded: 1858 (as Portersville; name changed to Harrison in 1902)

History

Harrison was founded in 1858 as the town of Portersville. The original founders were a group of 5 land speculators from New York and Connecticut seeking to build a new town on the frontier. The town is named after one of the investors, and all 5 lent their names to the original streets. The town struggled initially, but in 1899 the Kansas & Cheyenne Railroad builds a station in Portersville as it passes through the area. Personal connections between Portersville leaders and owners of the railroad cause the station to be built there. Leaders of nearby communities resent this as they also wanted the stop in their town. As the town develops into a regional center, Portersville renamed itself Harrison after the recently departed President Benjamin Harrison.

Harrison, 1906

When the Lincoln Highway came through the region and connected through Harrison beginning in 1913, the town quickly expanded. Taking advantage of the spectacular views of the Marble Canyon below, Harrison became a popular stop along the first transcontinental highway in the United States. Around the same time, a tram system is constructed to connect Harrison with the nearby communities of Johnstown, Port Murray, and Florence. In 1918, the Lakota Tower was built in the downtown area and would dominate the region's skyline for decades to come. However, the Great Depression hit Harrison particularly hard, stalling growth and even causing the landmark Lakota Tower to become abandoned. During the New Deal era, Oliver Farm and Victoria Farm are sold to the city as the downtown area expands. The land is being used for two new train stations, a new high school (George Oliver High School), and overall development of the land. Much of the production of these farms is moved to nearby Dale Farm and Heather Farm.

Notable Citizens

Timeline

March 4, 1858: Portersville platted

A group of 5 speculators from New York and Connecticut seek to build a new town on the frontier.
The town is named after one of the investors, also lending their names to the original streets.
It struggles to attract settlers initially but soon takes off because of spectacular views of the Marble Canyon below.

January 20, 1899: Kansas City & Cheyenne Railroad builds station in Portersville. Personal connections between Portersville leaders and owners of the railroad cause the station to be built there. Leaders of Johnstown resent this as they also wanted the stop in their town.

July 4, 1902: Portersville renames itself Harrison after the recently departed Benjamin Harrison. Leaders of the rebranded Harrison hope to grow into a national city. Many nearby communities resent this approach, particularly Florence, Johnstown, and Winston.

September 14, 1909: Harrison Courthouse built

1911

Florence paves their downtown area. Not to be outdone, other towns in the region follow suit, including Harrison, Jackson, and Hamilton.
Harrison begins to allow high-density zoning for the first time.

1913: The Lincoln Highway, one of the first transcontinental roadways in the United States, comes through Marble Canyon. It connects through the towns of Florence, Port Murray, Harrison, and Emerson (and bypasses Greenville, Johnstown, Siluria, and Winston) along the southwestern side of the Lakota River.

December 2, 1914: The Lincoln & Cheyenne Railroad's cargo station in Harrison is becoming way too overcrowded, causing traffic problems in the nearby neighborhood. Therefore, a cargo bypass is built with a new station south of Johnstown.

August 23, 1916: Tram lines connect downtown Harrison with the neighboring towns of Johnstown, Port Murray, and Florence.

June 14, 1918: Lakota Tower built in downtown Harrison.

January 20, 1937: Oliver Farm and Victoria Farm in Harrison are sold to the city as the downtown area expands. The land is being used for two new train stations, a new high school (George Oliver High School), and overall development of the land. Much of the production of these farms is moved to nearby Dale Farm and Heather Farm.

May 19, 1938: A new tram line is built from downtown Harrison through Winston and ending at the Mulberry Beach amusement park at the railroad bridge.

September 2, 1950: A new city park with a large fountain is built downtown to celebrate the end of World War II.

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