The town of Harrison sits just above the southern swell of the Passaic River, which feeds into Newark Bay and separates this bustling town from downtown Newark. Established in 1840, Harrison initially included the town of Kearny to the north, but the two became individual towns in 1867. It is said that the town was named for President William Henry Harrison, who was elected as the country's ninth president in 1840 and made a notable campaign stop in the town, but no one is quite sure if this is true or just a local legend.
Industrial manufacturing brought the town of Harrison to life in the 19th century, with Otis Elevator and Edison Lamp Works calling the area home. President William Howard Taft referred to the town as a “hive of industry” in a campaign speech in 1912, and the phrase stuck. This title remained accurate well into the 1970s, when New Jersey saw a decline in industrial manufacturing, limiting jobs and closing factories on large tracts of land south of Interstate 280. An intense revitalization project, which began in the late 1990s and continues today, has helped turn the town of Harrison into a bustling center of activity once again. The area south of I-280 is now filled with residential properties and the Red Bull Arena, the home stadium for the Major League Soccer team, the New York Red Bulls.
A monument to 'the beautiful game' [soccer] in Harrison.
Walking path around the lake at West Hudson Park in Harrison.
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Eclectic mix of housing with a median in the $400,000s
Small apartment buildings and larger complexes outnumber homes in the town of Harrison. Still, homebuyers will find an eclectic mix of styles to choose from, with about half of the properties built after 1970. The market is less competitive than surrounding New Jersey and New York areas, and the median home price is around $435,000, which is on par with the national median. With renters making up a more significant percentage of occupants than homeowners, folks who buy in the town of Harrison can expect a decent amount of turnover among their neighbors.
New single family homes next to a Victorian style in Harrison.
New apartments are available in Harrison.
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Red Bulls games and art
With its proximity to downtown Newark, Harrison offers its residents many options for recreation, dining, watching sports and seeing art. Visit The Newark Museum of Art or catch a show at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. For sports fans, Red Bull Arena hosts Major League Soccer games with the New York Red Bulls and Prudential Center is the home arena for the National Hockey League’s New Jersey Devils. Staying closer to home, residents can spend a relaxing afternoon at West Hudson Park to the north or explore the Newark Riverfront Park on the south side of the Passaic River.
Residents of the town of Harrison can attend lots of festivals in Newark, such as the Cherry Blossom Festival, Portugal Day, the three-day Lincoln Park Music Festival, the Brazilian Day Festival, the Newark Arts Festival and more. Various hyperlocal events usually revolve around food, with food truck fundraising rallies becoming a popular new trend.
The VIP entrance and 'front' of red bull arena soccer stadium in Harrison.
Red Bull Arena in Harrison is home to New York's pro soccer team - New York Redbulls.
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Harrison's indoor and outdoor recreation
Harrison shares the 46-acre West Hudson Park with the town of Kearny to the north. The park offers an active green space with scenic bridges, winding pathways and the popular 2-acre Fairy Lake, where kids can splash in the water.
The Harrison Community Center offers an exercise and weight room, game room, basketball court and gymnasium that residents can take advantage of, especially on rainy days. There are a few other accessible parks in town, most of which have playgrounds, basketball courts or soccer fields.
Harrison Soccer Court is perfect for friendly match.
Come for basketball game with friends in Veterans Plaza in Harrison, NJ.
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Free preschool in the Harrison Public School District
The Harrison Public School District is a smaller zone serving about 2,000 students annually. Niche rates it an overall C-plus. Through the school district's Early Childhood Program, free prekindergarten is offered to all residents. Although the district is small, children will appreciate learning and growing with the same friendly faces in their classes from kindergarten to high school graduation.
Franklin Elementary School is committed to social and intellectual growth.
East Newark Public School is a Public Pre-K, Elementary & Middle School in Harrison, NJ.
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Steel work and commutes into Newark
With over 100 local businesses and eateries, residents can find employment opportunities in the service industry all over town. Since a large portion of residents in Harrison are renters or students of nearby universities, many of them take part-time jobs close to home. Harrison still employs many residents in its manufacturing facilities, despite the sharp decline in these industrial centers in the 1970s. Within the town, residents can find work at the Fedco Steel Corporation, Honeyware Inc. and Campbell Foundry, among others.
It only takes about 10 minutes to drive from Harrison to downtown Newark. It's about a 30-minute drive east to Lower Manhattan, accessible via the Holland Tunnel or the Newark-Jersey City Turnpike. Commuters love that Harrison is just one PATH train stop away from Journal Square Station, with direct access to Jersey City and Manhattan. Amtrak trains are also accessible at the local Harrison station on Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard. The community's CAP Index crime score is 4 out of 10, which is the same as the nationwide average.
Hi! I'm Amanda, your trusted real estate guide in the heart of Downtown Jersey City. With a deep love for this vibrant community and a passion for helping people find their perfect homes, I've made it my mission to provide a seamless real estate experience.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
