Harrison County is named for Benjamin Harrison, who was the co-author of the Kentucky Constitution, and who lived from 1726 to 1791.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Grant County and Pendleton County
E – Bracken County and Robertson County
S – Nicholas County and Bourbon County
W – Scott County
Created: December 21, 1793 
County Seat:
Cynthiana 1793 – present
County Courthouse – Cynthiana
Location: 111 Main Street / Joe B Hall Court
Built: 1851 – 1853
Style: Greek Revival
Architect: John Huddleston
Contractor: John Huddleston and later, R M Calhoun and William B Calhoun
Description: The building faces east and is a two story white colored stucco structure. The east front has a large portico supported by four large white colored columns rising to the pediment at the roof. The entrance has a white wood frame and arch. The second story windows are long and narrow. On the roof above the entrance is a octagonal white cupola with clock. The clock and bell tower were added in 1856. In 1877, north and south wings were added and two wings were added in 1914. The architect was John T Gillig. The building was renovated in 2019. The architect was Brandstetter Carroll Inc. of Lexington and the contractor was Trace Creek Company of Vanceburg.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Harrison County Courthouse
County Justice Center – Cynthiana
Location: 115 Court Street / Joe B Hall Court
Built: 2000 – 2002
Style: Modern
Architect: CMW Inc. of Lexington
Contractor: Codell Construction Company of Winchester
Description: The building faces north and is a two story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Cynthiana on the south side of the courthouse. The north front of the rectangular shaped building has a large portico supported by four large white colored columns rising to a pediment at the roof line. There are three entrance doors with small pediments above. On either side of the portico are small projects with double white colored columns on the second story and pediments at the roof line.
See: The contractor was Codell Construction Company of Winchester which company constructed many courthouse in Kentucky ( see Louisville ).
See: The 18th Judicial Circuit includes Harrison County, Nicholas County, Pendleton County and Robertson County.
History: The county was created in 1793 and Cynthiana was selected as the county seat. The first county courthouse was a two story log structure erected in 1795. The building was sold to pay for the second courthouse which was built in 1816 at a cost of $12,000. The courthouse was destroyed by fire on January 24, 1851. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1851 to 1853. The County Justice Center was constructed in 2000 to 2002 at a cost of $6,075,000.
County Courthouse - Cynthiana
County Justice Center - Cynthiana
Photos taken 2007 and 2018