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The City of Harrisonburg is located in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. It is surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains on the east and the Allegheny Mountains on the west.
Thomas Harrison settled in the area during the mid-1700s. In 1778, Harrison had 12,090 acres of land comprising Rockingham County. By 1779, two and one-half acres were deeded to public use, which was the impetus for the Virginia House of Delegates to name Harrisonburg the county seat of Rockingham County in 1780.
The town of Harrisonburg was a thriving and growing area. By 1797, the charter was extended to include 23 and one-half acres of land, generously contributed by Harrison's sons.
Harrisonburg attracted a wide variety of settlers. Those of English, German, Irish and Scotch-Irish decent moved into the area and began successful businesses. The tax records for 1798 indicate there were 71 structures in the town at that time.
Up until 1849, trustees had governed the town of Harrisonburg. However, a new charter that year instituted the mayor-council form of government. Isaac Hardesty was elected the first mayor. Hardesty and his seven-member council governed the town, which had a population of nearly 700 people.
During the Civil War, Harrisonburg played a pivotal role. Prior to war, Harrisonburg was a thriving town. During the war, the city was a route for both the northern and southern troops. The schools and homes served as hospitals to care for the wounded and dying. Even the fence surrounding the courthouse served as a stockade for Union prisoners taken at the Battle of Cross Keys. With Harrisonburg being right in the middle of the conflict, there was great strain because of divided sympathies. The area's representatives to the convention on secession were opposed to Virginia leaving the Union.
Even after the war, the town of Harrisonburg continued to prosper. In 1916, the town was incorporated as an independent city and grew by leaps and bounds. By 1920, the US Census Bureau estimated that 5,875 people resided in the area. By the 1950s, it was known as the "City with a Planned Future" and in 1990 Governor Douglas Wilder declared Harrisonburg a "city of the first class."
Today, the city is a commerce and travel center and is known for its poultry industry. In 1996, the population was approximately 33,800. Harrisonburg also offers wonderful educational opportunities with four institutions of learning (James Madison University, Eastern Mennonite University, Bridgewater College and the Blue Ridge Community College) located in the vicinity.
Harrisonburg Website
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