Settlers first began entering into what was to become Harrison County
during the last 1830s. Land was surveyed and officially opened for entry in 1842. The
county was named after Albert C. Harrison, a 19th Century politician. Many of the early
settlers congregated along Sugar Creek. Three commissioners deliberated for days to
determine a site for the county seat, finally placing it in southern Harrison County.Bethany
was founded by John S. Allen in 1841. It was platted in June 1845 at Big Creek as
Dallas, named after powerful Democrat and U.S. Vice President George Dallas under James
Madison. The original town plat consisted of 19 acres total. The name
"Dallas" was not popular, prompting a special election with the names
"Bethany" and "Carthage" proposed. The city was officially
incorporated as Bethany by an act of the General Assembly on Jan. 6, 1860. The first mayor
was T.H. Templeman.
John S. Allen constructed the first home in the community. Although it was built as a
residence, it was primarily used to store the first stock of goods brought into the area.
Like many original landmarks, it was completely destryed by fire in 1864.
The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad reached Bethany in October, 1880, and
firmly established the town as a trade center. The railroad pushed Harrison County
to its peak around the turn of the century when 24,000 people lived in the county. Trains
continued to roll through Bethany until the early 1980s.
After Bethany lost its central location when the Missouri-Iowa boundary line was moved
about 10 mlies south in 1851, Bethany successfully defeated five attemtps (1870-1912) to
relocate the county seat. Today's Harrison County Courthouse is the fourth to be
used. This 87'x83' limestone building, set on a slight elevation, has broad templestyle
steps and marble corridors. It was constructed for a cost of $124,000.
A number of improvements impacted Bethany. The construction of a lake in 1935 served
the needs of the community. In 1960 a second lake was added, and Harrison County
Lake was completed in 1994. The municipal swimming pool was built in 1954.
Numerous utility upgrades from 1930 to 1970 included water towers in 1956 and 1989,
natural gas service in 1960 and wastewater treatment plants in 1974 and in the 1980s.
Industry played a vital role in Bethany's growth starting with Colonel C.L. Jennings
who erected the first steam mill around 1854 in the NW part of town. Today, Bethany's
development is built on a foundation which includes an industrial park established in the
1960s. Bethany Memorial Airport was opened in 1968. The construction of
Interstate 35 -- connecting Canada with Mexico -- runs through the east side of town and
assures Bethany's place in the future.
