Harrison

History

Harrison was incorporated in 1899 and was once the largest city on Lake Coeur d'Alene. The community was named after President Benjamin Harrison. Harrison developed from a squatters homestead to a thriving village in about twelve years. A branch of the O.R. & N. Railroad from Tekoa, Washington, to Harrison was completed in 1890 and was a prime factor in the development of Harrison. In 1891, Silas W. Crane settled on a timbered tract which joins the present city on the south and east. He built the first house in Harrison which remained in the Crane family until 1936. The building is now used as the Crane House Museum. The same year Fred Grant purchased the Fisher Brothers Sawmill in St. Maries and moved it to Harrison. Known as Grants Mill, it had a capacity of 60 thousand feet per day. In 1892, S.W. Crane opened a general store. The first post office was established in 1893, the name was chosen and W.E. Crane became the first postmaster. W.S. Bridgeman opened a Gen. Merc. in 1893, and another general store was opened in 1894 by W.A. Reiniger. The first newspaper, The Signal, was established in 1895, later it was known as the Mountain Messenger and in 1900 became known as The Searchlight. A paper with that name is still published annually by the Oldtime Picnic Committee. In 1895, a Methodist church was erected and School District #29 was formed. The first year of school was taught by Mr. Edelbute in the Methodist Church. The first school was erected in 1896 and by 1903 there were 59 students. The original townsite was in the form of a triangle and covered approximately . The Village of Harrison was incorporated on July 21, 1899. The first meeting of the board of trustees for the Village of Harrison was held July 24, 1899. George W. Thompson was elected chairman.…

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water. Harrison is located south of Interstate 90 on the Lake Coeur d'Alene Scenic Byway, Highway 97. The Coeur d'Alene River flows into Lake Coeur d'Alene on Harrison's northern edge. The lower reaches of the river's valley are filled with smaller lakes, and as such water dominates much of the local geography. The Saint Joe Mountains of the Bitterroot Range rise high above the flat lakes around Harrison.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• KOOTENAI JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL
  High · HARRISON · 107 students · 13.4:1 ratio
• HARRISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
  Elementary · HARRISON · 103 students · 14.7:1 ratio