Harrisburg (Washington) is 16 miles (25.74km) northeast of St. George along I-15. Just 3 miles (km) up the road is Leeds. The town was founded by Moses Harris in 1859. Enitially the town was known as Cottonwood for the creek which flows into nearby Quail Creek Reservoir. As the community grew, it eventually became Harrisburg.

Flooding, grasshopper infestations and indian raids drove the residents away and by 1895 Harrisburg had become a ghost town. Today I-15 splits the town with a trailor park development on the east side. Ruins of the old town can be found on both sides of the freeway.

G. William Wiersdorf