Harrison, Michigan is the county seat of Clare County, and is situated in the interior of the Lower Peninsula, north of center.
Budd Lake and a portion of Little Long Lake are in the northeastern segment of the city, while McWatty Lake is just north of the northeastern city limits, and Sutherland Lake is a couple of miles to the east, and several other lakes are nearby. In fact, Harrison attracts thousands of visitors with its "twenty lakes in twenty minutes" campaign. The city is also surrounded by a large amount of state land available for recreational sports.
The chief routes through the city are M-61 and Business 127, which connects with US-127 just east of Harrison. East Townline Lake Road forms the northern border of the city, North Harrison Avenue forms its western border, East Lily Lake Road forms its southern border, and North Grant Avenue forms its eastern border.
Cities and villages within twenty miles of Harrison include Clare, Farwell, and Gladwin, while the unincorporated communities of Allendale, Ash Acres, Piney Woods, Long Lake Heights, and Hatton are within ten miles of the city.
Three decades of population losses following the decline of the forest products industry in the early 1900s were followed by nine decades of gradual and sharp increases, with a peak population of 2,114 in 2010.
Although lumber activity was already in place by that time, the townsite was chosen by the board of supervisors for Clare County, who made their recommendation of the site on January 8, 1878. The following year, the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad platted the village, presenting a block of land to the county for a county seat.
John Hatfield built the first permanent home in 1879 and, by 1880, there were sawmills along the shores of Budd Lake. A post office was established on January 27, 1880, with Reuben Smith as postmaster. Named for former President William Henry Harrison, Harrison was incorporated as a village in 1885, and became a city in 1891.
Today, the main driver of the city's economy is tourism. As the surrounding region offers year-round outdoor recreational opportunities, Harrison serves as a commercial center as well as a destination, as there are several guest lodging facilities in the city.
Besides its "twenty lakes" campaign, Harrison is home to several historic buildings and homes, such as the Surrey House, a former hotel and restaurant from the lumber era. The Clare County Fair and Frostbite Open Golf Tournament are also held in Harrison.
The focus of this category is on the City of Harrison, Michigan. Appropriate topics include online resources pertaining to the city itself, or to any schools, churches, organizations, businesses, industries, attractions, or events within the city.
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Recommended Resources
Situated near the junction of US-127 and Mi61, Harrison is the county seat of Clare County, and a destination for outdoor recreation. The official municipal website presents a brief history of the city and its Master Plan, code of ordinances, zoning map, water reports, and planning and development data. The city council, boards, and commissions are identified, board meeting schedules and agendas are posted, and minutes may be viewed online. Office hours and contacts are included.
https://www.cityofharrisonmi.org/
The Chamber is a non-profit business membership organization created to provide opportunities for member businesses and organizations to network, to promote the businesses and communities that it serves, to provide a referral source to prospective citizens and businesses, and to partner with the Harrison Area Economic Development Corporation to strengthen economic viability in Clare County. Contacts, a calendar of events, and a member directory are put forth.
https://www.harrisonchamber.com/
The Harrison, Michigan public school district provides a PK-12th-grade curriculum through its Early Childhood Preschool, Larson Elementary School, Hillside Elementary School, Harrison Middle School, Harrison High School, and an alternative education program, each of which is featured here, with daily schedules, school calendars, student handbooks, staff contacts, and announcements. District administrative personnel are identified, with contacts, and its athletics programs are outlined.
https://www.harrisonschools.com/
The district library is on East Main Street in Harrison, Michigan. Its hours of operation, a history of the facilities, staff contacts, policy information, and employment opportunities are published on the library's website, along with a calendar of events, an overview of its programs for children and teens, local history resources, and library services, including online services for cardholders, such as access to their accounts, the library's database, and its on-site services.
https://hdl.org/
The power sports dealership in Harrison, Michigan carries a large selection of new and used inventory, including ATVs, utility vehicles, snowmobiles, golf carts, and outboard powerboats and pontoons, as well as trailers, outboard motors, parts, and accessories. Manufacturer models, new and used in-stock inventory, and manufacturer promotions are highlighted. A form is included for trade-in evaluations, online finance applications, store hours, contacts, and employment opportunities.
https://www.harrisonpowersports.com/
Providing full-service real estate services in Northern Michigan, the real estate firm in Harrison facilitates the listing and selling of vacation cottages, waterfront properties, hunting land, and cabins, as well as homes and commercial properties. Available properties may be viewed here, sorted by category, or through the site's search features. The office location, hours, and contacts are posted, and contacts for various regional property owners associations are included.
https://harrison-realty.com/
Founded in 1965, the funeral home is on West Oak Street in Harrison, Michigan. Its history, an overview of the facilities, and a discussion of what makes this funeral home unique are presented. Providing traditional funeral services and cremation services, a price list is set forth, along with a guide to funeral preparations, planning a funeral, and funeral service trends. The funeral home's pre-planning and immediate need services, grief support, and a list of local flower shops are provided.
https://stockingfuneralhome.com/
Opened as a 9-hole golf course in May of 1981, the course is still owned and maintained by the founding Hawkins and Ashcrafts families. Expanded to 18-holes in 1991, the course layout measures just under 6,000 yards, with trees lining every fairway, and water on half of the holes. Featured are a course layout, course photos, seasonal rates, scorecard, and membership information. League schedules and other event schedules are posted, and tee times may be booked through the website.
https://www.thetamaracks.com/
