Harlan is located at 41°39′17″N 95°19′19″W / 41.65472°N 95.32194°W / 41.65472; -95.32194 (41.654609, -95.322019).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.4 square miles (11.3 km²), all of it land.

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,282 people, 2,204 households, and 1,498 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,209.8 people per square mile (466.7/km²). There were 2,306 housing units at an average density of 528.2/sq mi (203.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.30% White, 0.08% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.17% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.62% of the population.

There were 2,204 households of which 31.1% included children under the age of 18; 56.6% were married couples living together, 8.9% consisted of a female householder with no husband present, and 32.0% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35, and the average family size was 2.88.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 22.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,899, and the median income for a family was $45,888. Males had a median income of $31,365 versus $19,671 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,514. About 5.3% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.

The Harlan School District also serves residents of Jacksonville, Corley, Defiance, Panama, Portsmouth, Earling, and Westphalia.

Harlan has won 12 Class 3-A state championships in football: 1972, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2009. Harlan also is home to Shelby County Speedway which holds the Tiny Lund Memorial races held in September.

Defiance | Earling | Elk Horn | Harlan | Irwin | Kirkman | Panama | Portsmouth | Shelby‡ | Tennant | Westphalia

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties