# Harrison, Michigan

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For the township in Macomb County, see [Harrison Township, Michigan](/source/Harrison_Township,_Michigan).

**Harrison** is a city in and [county seat](/source/County_seat) of [Clare County, Michigan](/source/Clare_County,_Michigan), United States.[3] The population was 2,150 at the [2020 census](/source/2020_United_States_census).

The community was settled as early as 1877 and was named after [William Henry Harrison](/source/William_Henry_Harrison).[4] [Wilson State Park](/source/Wilson_State_Park_(Michigan)) and [Budd Lake](/source/Budd_Lake_(Michigan)) are located within the city.

## History

Harrison was first designated as the new centralized location of the county seat of Clare County in 1877. It would become a replacement for [Farwell](/source/Farwell,_Michigan), which was the first county seat when Clare County was formally organized in 1871. The [Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad](/source/Flint_and_Pere_Marquette_Railroad) platted the village in 1879 and set aside property for a new county government after the previous courthouse in Farwell burned down. The Harrison post office opened on January 27, 1880 and was named after former president [William Henry Harrison](/source/William_Henry_Harrison). The new community incorporated as a village in 1885 and later as a city in 1891.[4]

## Geography

According to the [U.S. Census Bureau](/source/United_States_Census_Bureau), the city has a total area of 4.03 square miles (10.44 km2), of which 3.71 square miles (9.61 km2) is land and 0.31 square miles (0.80 km2) is water.[5]

The city's motto is "20 Lakes in 20 Minutes" due its proximity to numerous lakes. [Budd Lake](/source/Budd_Lake_(Michigan)) is mostly located within the city limits, while the northern coastline extends into [Hayes Township](/source/Hayes_Township,_Clare_County,_Michigan). The only other lake within the city limits is [Little Long Lake](/source/Little_Long_Lake_(Clare_County,_Michigan)), which also extends into Hayes Township.

### Major highways

- runs south–north just outside the eastern border of the city.
- is a business route of US 127 that runs through the center of the city.
- is a state highway that enters the west-central part of the city and then runs concurrently with Bus. US 127.

## Demographics

### 2020 census

As of the [2020 census](/source/2020_United_States_census), Harrison had a population of 2,150. The median age was 41.7 years. 20.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.9 males age 18 and over.[6][7]

80.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 19.5% lived in rural areas.[8]

There were 934 households in Harrison, of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 30.3% were married-couple households, 19.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 37.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 40.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[6]

There were 1,264 housing units, of which 26.1% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.3%.[6]

Racial composition as of the 2020 census[7] Race Number Percent White 1,984 92.3% Black or African American 37 1.7% American Indian and Alaska Native 21 1.0% Asian 6 0.3% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.0% Some other race 8 0.4% Two or more races 94 4.4% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 43 2.0%

### 2010 census

As of the [census](/source/Census)[9] of 2010, there were 2,114 people, 913 households, and 524 families residing in the city. The [population density](/source/Population_density) was 568.3 inhabitants per square mile (219.4 /km2). There were 1,306 housing units at an average density of 351.1 inhabitants per square mile (135.6 /km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.7% [White](/source/White_(U.S._Census)), 1.7% [African American](/source/African_American_(U.S._Census)), 0.8% [Native American](/source/Native_American_(U.S._Census)), 0.5% [Asian](/source/Asian_(U.S._Census)), 0.2% from [other races](/source/Race_(U.S._Census)), and 3.1% from two or more races. [Hispanic](/source/Hispanic_(U.S._Census)) or [Latino](/source/Latino_(U.S._Census)) of any race were 2.5% of the population.

There were 913 households, of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.0% were [married couples](/source/Marriage) living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.6% were non-families. 37.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.79.

The median age in the city was 42.1 years. 21% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.4% were from 25 to 44; 27.4% were from 45 to 64; and 18.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.1% male and 50.9% female.

### 2000 census

As of the [census](/source/Census)[1] of 2000, there were 2,108 people, 857 households, and 526 families residing in the city. The population density was 563.3 inhabitants per square mile (217.5 /km2). There were 1,187 housing units at an average density of 317.2 inhabitants per square mile (122.5 /km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.78% [White](/source/White_(U.S._Census)), 2.04% [African American](/source/African_American_(U.S._Census)), 0.62% [Native American](/source/Native_American_(U.S._Census)), 0.71% [Asian](/source/Asian_(U.S._Census)), 0.43% from [other races](/source/Race_(United_States_Census)), and 1.42% from two or more races. [Hispanic](/source/Hispanic_(U.S._Census)) or [Latino](/source/Latino_(U.S._Census)) of any race were 1.47% of the population.

There were 857 households, out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were [married couples](/source/Marriage) living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.3% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,392, and the median income for a family was $35,179. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $20,909 for females. The [per capita income](/source/Per_capita_income) for the city was $15,443. About 14.1% of families and 18.5% of the population were below the [poverty line](/source/Poverty_line), including 20.8% of those under age 18 and 15.1% of those age 65 or over.

## Education

The city of Harrison is served entirely by [Harrison Community Schools](/source/Harrison_Community_Schools), which is centrally located within the city and serves a large part of the northern portion of the county.[10]

[Mid Michigan Community College](/source/Mid_Michigan_Community_College) has a Harrison campus located just to the southeast in [Hatton Township](/source/Hatton_Township,_Michigan).

## References

1. ["U.S. Census website"](https://www.census.gov). [United States Census Bureau](/source/United_States_Census_Bureau). Retrieved 2008-01-31.

1. ["Find a County"](http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx). National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.

1. Romig, Walter (October 1, 1986 [1973]). *Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities* (Paperback). Great Lakes Books Series. Detroit, Michigan: [Wayne State University Press](/source/Wayne_State_University_Press). p. 254. ISBN 978-0-8143-1838-6.

1. ["2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files"](https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_26.txt). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2022.

1. ["2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)"](https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=place%3A36800&in=state%3A26). *United States Census Bureau*. 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2026.

1. ["2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)"](https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=place%3A36800&in=state%3A26). *United States Census Bureau*. 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2026.

1. ["2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)"](https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=place%3A36800&in=state%3A26). *United States Census Bureau*. 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2026.

1. ["U.S. Census website"](https://www.census.gov). [United States Census Bureau](/source/United_States_Census_Bureau). Retrieved 2012-11-25.

1. Michigan Geographic Framework (15 November 2013). ["Clare County School Districts"](http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/mgdl/pdfmaps/CountySchools/SD_BYCO_esize_CLARE%20COUNTY.pdf). Retrieved December 28, 2022.

## External links

- [City of Harrison official website](https://cityofharrison-mi.gov/)
- [Harrison Area Chamber of Commerce](https://harrisonareachamber.com/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Harrison, Michigan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison%2C_Michigan) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison%2C_Michigan?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.