The Hartshorne City Hall is a one-story building with a flat roof. The administrative offices, court, council chambers and fire department are located in this building. City Hall offices are open Monday-Friday from 8:00-3:00. The sides are metal and along the front at the entrance the wall is concrete block with several block projections. The entrance is a double glass door with sidelights.
Hartshorne has a Mayor/City Council form of government. There are eight Council members, including seven from the four Wards, plus the mayor. They meet the second Monday of each month at 6:30, and have occasional special meetings throughout the year. The Municipal Court is in session on the first Monday of each month.
The town of Hartshorne was first settled in 1850 and was a company town for a coal mining operation. The town was incorporated in 1900, and currently has a population of about 2,000. It is the second largest town in Pittsburg County.