HARBURG, a seaport town in the Prussian province of Han over, on the left bank of the southern arm of the Elbe, 6 m. by rail S. of Hamburg. Pop. (1933) 78,588.
Harburg belonged originally to the bishopric of Bremen, and received municipal rights in 1297. In 1376 it was united to the principality of Luneburg, along with which it fell in 1705 to Hanover, and in 1806 to Prussia. It is situated at the junction of the main lines of railway from Bremen and Hanover to Ham burg. It possesses a palace, which from 1524 to 1642 was the residence of the Harburg line of the house of Brunswick. The leading industries are the crushing of palm-kernels, for which it is famous, and linseed and the manufacture of india-rubber, gutta-percha, phosphates, nitrate and jute. Machines are manu factured here ; beer is brewed, and shipbuilding is carried on.