The majority of Harlan’s households are owned by their owners. The average commuting time is 13.7 minutes, which is less than the national average of 26.4 minutes.
Residents enjoy the close-knit community and many of its recreational activities. Residents can enjoy the parks and trails, as well as the local music scene.
History
Harlan TX is the county seat for Shelby County. It’s a vibrant and prosperous city. It is situated a little south of the geographical center of the county, on the west side of the Nishnabotany river.
The sidewalks and streets are made of good bricks. A number of handsome dwellings have been erected in the past year. The oldest building is E. Bergstresser’s 1858 dwelling.
Frank and Albert Reynolds, photographers, formerly of Keokuk county, Ia., learned their trade at Des Moines; came to this place in the spring of 1879, and established their present business in Sept., 1880; occupy four rooms in Coenen’s block; make a specialty of copying and enlarging.
The city is served by a branch of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad; daily trips are made between Harlan and Kirkman; semi-weekly between Harlan and Denison, and tri-weekly between the latter town and intermediate points. The city has a large number of railway stations.
Economy
Harlan East is a neighborhood in Iowa with a household income that is higher than the average. This is good news for the local economy and will help to attract new people and jobs. The average household’s out-of pocket health care and insurance costs are slightly higher than the national median.
Harlan residents enjoy the close-knit communities and low cost of living. The city offers many parks, trails and outdoor spaces to enjoy as well as a revitalized historic downtown square with a farm-to-table restaurant, a 4-screen movie theatre and multiple antique and boutique shops. The cost of living is much lower for single adults than the average state and national. The primary employment sectors in the area include Health Care & Social Assistance, Retail Trade and Manufacturing. People in this industry are often able to find work near home. Some may commute to the larger cities of the region in search of better-paying jobs.
Education
Harlan Community Schools is the district that serves the community of Harlan. It is one of the leaders in the state for combining high-quality academics with an array of extracurricular activities. More than 110 teachers and 100 support staff provide education to 1,689 students in the district’s 279 square miles, which includes the communities Corley, Defiance Earling, Harlan Jacksonville, Panama Portsmouth and Westphalia.
As of the 2020 census, the median household income in Harlan was $50,379. The city’s racial composition was 92.22% white (non-hispanic) and 2.58% two or more races.
About 52% of the households in the city have their own owners, and many residents drive to work. CDS Global is a fulfillment company owned by Hearst and one of the largest employers in town. Other major employers include the ethanol plant, the tannery and the county hospital. Harlan is home to several churches, including Abundant Life, Altamont Baptist Church, Bethel Baptist, First Christian, First United Methodist and Grace Baptist.
The Government
The city government is well run. The city is undergoing several improvements. A brick opera house is now being erected by one of the enterprising citizens, and will certainly be a splendid addition to the town.
Several banks are located here. Shelby County State Bank is the most popular one among them. Bank of the West, United Bank of Iowa and Bank of the West are also popular.
In general, the business men of Harlan are enterprising and progressive. The city of Harlan is very beautiful and the countryside surrounding it rolls for miles.
There is a daily line of mixed trains from Kirkman to Harlan, and it seems probable that the Chicago & Northwestern Railway will soon build an extension to this point. This will greatly advance the commerce of this country. There are also many good schools and institutions of higher learning in the vicinity of the city.