[5] Harrisville is located at the junction of State Routes 31 and 16, five miles south of U.S. 50.

Within the community are an elementary school, the county board of education, many businesses, three banks, a library, offices of the Ritchie Gazette and The Pennsboro News, a municipal park, and North Bend Golf Course.

The town was chartered in 1832, and the first post office opened in 1833, under the name Solus.

The Pennsboro & Harrisville Railroad was built in 1875, operating between the two communities of its name.

[9] Harrisville High School was established on the west end of town in 1894.

That structure now houses the General Thomas M. Harris School Museum.

A small portion of the original school building remains and is the headquarters of “Ritchie Regional Health Center.” The Harrisville High School gym still remains and is now a community workout center using the name "The Gym," restored by the Harrisville First Assembly of God using funds generated from grants, memberships and donations.

A medical doctor, Union officer and state adjutant general (1869–1871), he served on the military commission that tried the conspirators responsible for the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

His son, John T. Harris, long-time clerk of the state Senate, founded the West Virginia Blue Book in 1916.

32.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.