Harrison County, Ohio

HARR I SON COUNTY , OHIO to flourish. A lot of folks look at the energy resilience in America and, really, 85 percent of that has come from our region. It just goes to show you how important a place like Harrison County is, not only to itself but to the state and country as well.” Historically, the county has been a major coal producer of the eastern Ohio coal fields. Geographically, it lies in the Appalachian Plateau in the northwest part of the mountains, an area consisting mainly of sandstones, shales, limestones, and coal beds. “Harrison County’s natural resources helped build the country during the Industrial Revolution: powered America, by its abundant coal resources,” remarks Nick Homrighausen, Executive Director of the Harrison County Community Improvement Corporation. “Sixty-eight percent of the county has been mined for coal. That coal powered the steel mills that built our skyscrapers. It helped fight wars in the early part of the century.” The economic situation is even more favorable now than it was back in coal’s heyday, with Harrison County pivoting to accommodate an enormous influx of oil and gas enterprises since 2010. “The oil and gas industry has endowed the landowners and businesses of this region with incredible wealth,” says Saucier. “That wealth has ensured a reinvestment in the community and schools. We’ve retained the beauty of the county and its natural landscape while protecting the environment. It’s been an amazing opportunity to have both effectively merging in a symbiotic way.” Harrison County offers more than 4,200 acres of public recreational water, with Tappan Lake, Clendening Lake, and a portion of Piedmont Lake located within its borders. Collectively, these lakes form part of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, which offers 15,000 acres of public land, 600 campsites, boat launch ramps, rental cabins, and two full-service marinas. Nick Homrighausen, Executive Director of Community & Economic Development