The area, now called Harrison, was settled during the 1800s, primarily by Revolutionary War veterans. Officially incorporated as a village in 1850, the village was named after President William Henry Harrison. It became a city in 1981 when the population crossed 5,500. Harrison was the home of the fifth governor of Ohio, Othneil Looker.
Several attractions are near Harrison such as the Cox Arboretum & Gardens Metropark and the Newport Aquarium. There are also numerous historical sites nearby like Harriet Beecher Stowe House, Whitewater Canal State Historic Site and the William Howard Taft National Historic Site. Some of the parks in the vicinity are Devou Park, Harrison State Park, and Miami Whitewater Forest. Behringer-Crawford Museum, Butler County Historical Society Museum, and Cincinnati Art Museum are also located near Harrison.
