Harbine was established in 1886 when the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad reached the site, and was named for its founder, Thomas Harbine. It remains one of the smallest incorporated communities in the county, its history closely tied to that single rail-era founding moment.

Harbine had a 2020 Census population of 54, a slight uptick from 49 in 2010 though still below 56 in 2000. Its ZIP code is 68377, shared with neighboring Jansen — the two villages sit about a mile apart on the same rural postal route. The local economy is agricultural.