Harrison, Tennessee
Harrison is a community of 8,011 people in Hamilton County, Tennessee.
Why visit Harrison
Townapedia lists 5 parks and trails and 5 places to eat in and around town.
Highlights include Booker T Washington State Park.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 90°F; January lows average 32°F.
Weather in Harrison
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Harrison
Harrison is a census-designated place (CDP) in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 7,902 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Chattanooga metropolitan area. Harrison Bay State Park, the Hamilton County Landfill, Bear Trace Golf Course, a course designed by Jack Nicklaus, and Skull Island, a recreational area owned by TVA, are all located in Harrison.
From the Wikipedia article Harrison, Tennessee (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Parks, trails and playgrounds5
Booker T. Washington Park Beach
Beach · 1.8 mi
Beach area for sun bathing and fishing.
Restaurants and cafes5
Churches and places of worship9
Cornerstone Baptist Church of Chattanooga
Church · Baptist · 1.3 mi
5479 Highway 58
Gas and EV charging2
History
The town developed southeast of Vann's Ferry (Vann Town), a ferry crossing established by James Vann, a prominent Cherokee trader and planter. It was later named Harrison after President William Henry Harrison and became the seat of Hamilton County in 1840. The county seat was later moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee, after the Civil War. The first post office was opened on June 16, 1841. In 1870 the Hamilton County Courthouse was moved from Harrison to Chattanooga.
Harrison's borders were once larger than today. When the Chickamauga Dam was completed on the Tennessee River by the Tennessee Valley Authority in 1940, much of the city was flooded, as portrayed in the 1960 movie Wild River. Some parts of the old city, such as old building foundations, roads, and guard rails, can still be seen, especially in and around Harrison Bay, named for the submerged town. Harrison Bay State Park is a TVA-built park in the area now.
From the History section of Harrison, Tennessee on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Schools, colleges and libraries21
Chattanooga School For The Liberal Arts
School · 2.9 mi
4850 Jersey Pike, Chattanooga
Hamilton County Collegiate High At Chattanooga State
School · 5.2 mi
4501 Amnicola Hwy, Chattanooga
Hamilton County Virtual School
School · 3.6 mi
3074 Hickory Valley Rd, Chattanooga
Healthcare1
Map of Harrison
43 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51°F | 32°F | 5.0 in | 1.0 in |
| Feb | 56°F | 36°F | 5.0 in | 1.2 in |
| Mar | 64°F | 42°F | 5.3 in | 1.1 in |
| Apr | 74°F | 50°F | 4.9 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 81°F | 59°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 88°F | 67°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 90°F | 71°F | 5.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 90°F | 70°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 84°F | 64°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 74°F | 51°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 62°F | 40°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 53°F | 35°F | 5.2 in | 0.3 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Chattanooga Lovell Ap Gsn 72324 (7 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Hamilton County has had 17 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-02-06: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2025-04-02: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2024-06-17: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2023-05-17: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado (Severe Storm)
- 2020-04-24: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 7 miles away.
- Middle Valley 5 mi northwest, about 9 min by car
- Chattanooga 7 mi southwest, about 11 min by car
- Collegedale 7 mi southeast, about 12 min by car
- Red Bank 8 mi west, about 14 min by car
- Falling Water 8 mi northwest, about 13 min by car
- Soddy-Daisy 10 mi north, about 15 min by car
- East Ridge 10 mi southwest, about 16 min by car
- Apison 11 mi southeast, about 18 min by car
- Fairmount 11 mi west, about 18 min by car
- Lakeview 12 mi southwest, about 19 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.