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Harrison, Tennessee
Location of Harrison, Tennessee
Location of Harrison, Tennessee
Country United States
State Tennessee
County Hamilton
Area
 • Total 8.59 sq mi (22.25 km2)
 • Land 6.74 sq mi (17.46 km2)
 • Water 1.85 sq mi (4.78 km2)
Elevation
768 ft (234 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 7,902
 • Density 1,172.06/sq mi (452.50/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
37341
Area code(s) 423
FIPS code 47-32600
GNIS feature ID 1286997

Harrison is a special kind of community called a census-designated place (CDP) in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. It's not a city or town with its own government, but it's a place where many people live. In 2020, about 7,902 people called Harrison home.

Harrison is part of the larger Chattanooga metropolitan area. It's known for several cool spots. These include Harrison Bay State Park, a large park by the water, and the Bear Trace Golf Course, which was designed by famous golfer Jack Nicklaus. You can also find Skull Island here, a fun area managed by the TVA.

Exploring Harrison's Location

Harrison is located at 35°7′9″N 85°8′58″W / 35.11917°N 85.14944°W / 35.11917; -85.14944. This means it's in a specific spot on the map.

How Big is Harrison?

According to the United States Census Bureau, Harrison covers about 9.0 square miles (23.3 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 7.1 square miles (18.4 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 1.8 square miles (4.7 square kilometers), is water. This water area makes up about 20% of Harrison's total size.

A Look Back at Harrison's Past

Harrison has a rich history that goes back many years. It started as a small community near a ferry crossing.

Early Beginnings and Naming Harrison

The area where Harrison is now began near a ferry crossing called Vann's Ferry. This ferry was set up by James Vann, a well-known Cherokee trader. Later, the community was named Harrison. It was named after President William Henry Harrison.

In 1840, Harrison became the main government center, or county seat, for Hamilton County. This meant important county offices were located there.

Moving the County Seat and the Post Office

The first post office in Harrison opened on June 16, 1841. However, after the Civil War, the county seat was moved. In 1870, the Hamilton County Courthouse moved from Harrison to Chattanooga.

The Impact of Chickamauga Dam

Harrison's size used to be much larger than it is today. A big change happened when the Chickamauga Dam was built. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) completed this dam on the Tennessee River in 1940.

When the dam was finished, a large part of Harrison was flooded. This event was even shown in a movie from 1960 called Wild River. Today, if you look closely, you can still see parts of the old town. Things like old building foundations and roads can sometimes be seen, especially near Harrison Bay. This bay was named after the town that was submerged. Harrison Bay State Park is now a popular park in this area, built by the TVA.

Who Lives in Harrison?

Street scene - NARA - 279749
A street scene in Harrison in 1937.
Historical population
Census Pop.
2020 7,902
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2020, the 2020 United States census counted 7,902 people living in Harrison. These people lived in 3,132 households. About 2,321 of these households were families.

Fun and Games: Parks and Recreation

Harrison is a great place for outdoor activities and fun.

Exploring Harrison Bay State Park

Harrison Bay State Park is a big park located right in Harrison. It covers about 1,200 acres. This park was created in the 1930s and includes part of the shoreline of Chickamauga Lake. It's a perfect spot for enjoying nature and water activities.

Other Nearby Fun Spots

There are other cool places to visit nearby too. These include Skull Island in Birchwood and Booker T. Washington State Park in Bartlebaugh. You can also find many Civil War Parks and other tourist attractions in and around Chattanooga.

Learning in Harrison: Education

The Hamilton County Schools system runs several schools in the Harrison area.

Local Schools in Harrison

Students in Harrison attend one of five schools. These include Harrison Elementary School and Snow Hill Elementary School for younger kids. For middle school, there's Brown Middle School. Older students go to either Chattanooga Central High School or Hamilton County High School.

See also

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