Wrightsville is the closest town to Harrison, about eight miles, or 15 minues, south. Wrightsville is also the county seat of Johnson County. This city was founded in 1866. Wrightsville features the historic Wrightsville and Tennille Railroad Depot. Built in the 1880s, the depot was one end of the Central Georgia Railroad. Annual events in Wrightsville include the Mothers Day Apron Display and Chamber Spring Barbecue.
The second-nearest town to Harrison is Tennille, which is approximately 12 miles, or 15 minutes, north. Tennille is in Washington County. This town was founded in 1875 and, during the 19th century, Tennille was a booming railroad town. Tennille served as the northern end of the Wrightsville and Tennille Railway. Other railways in Tennille included the Sandersville Railroad and the Sandersville and Tennille, which would eventually become the even longer Georgia and Florida Railroad. The Central Railroad Depot, built in 1869, is a museum.
One of the smallest towns in Washington County, Georgia, is Riddleville, a 12-mile, 15-minute drive from Harrison. As of 2011, Riddleville has approximately 125 citizens; it is less than one square mile. The city's major intersection is State Highways 231 and 242. This town is not incorporated.
At more than 6,100 citizens, Sandersville is the largest city and county seat of Washington County. Sandersville is 15 miles north, about a 20-minute drive. According to the City of Sandersville website, this city is the "Kaolin Capital of the World"; kaolin is a soft clay material used for making porcelain china. Sandersville hosts the annual Kaolin Festival in October; this event features arts and crafts, live music entertainment, a golf tournament and a parade.
Harrison is a 30-minute drive from Bartow, which is 20 miles to the east in Jefferson County, Georgia. This town was originally named Spier's Turnout, due to the town's rail depot on the Central of Georgia Railroad. However, Bartow received its current name in the 1860s; the town was named after Francis Bartow, a Confederate soldier from Savannah. The Bartow Museum, located in downtown Bartow, features 18th- and 19th-century artifacts. This museum also offers exhibits based on the town history of Bartow.