Willard, Utah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Willard, Utah
|
|
|---|---|
City of Willard, with Willard Bay and the Promontory Mountains in the background
|
|
Location in Box Elder County and the state of Utah
|
|
Location of Utah in the United States
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Utah |
| County | Box Elder |
| Settled | 1851 |
| Incorporated | 1870 |
| Named for | Willard Richards |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7.08 sq mi (18.35 km2) |
| • Land | 5.62 sq mi (14.55 km2) |
| • Water | 1.47 sq mi (3.80 km2) |
| Elevation | 4,288 ft (1,307 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 1,978 |
| • Density | 348.58/sq mi (134.58/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
84340
|
| Area code(s) | 435 |
| FIPS code | 49-84710 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2412265 |
Willard is a city in Box Elder County, Utah, United States. In 2020, about 1,978 people lived there. The Shoshoni people call it Sogo-timp-bow ya.
Contents
Where is Willard Located?
Willard is in the southeastern part of Box Elder County. To its north is the city of Perry, and to its south is the community of South Willard.
The eastern side of Willard touches the Cache National Forest, which is part of the Wasatch Range mountains. On the western side, the city reaches into Willard Bay. This bay is a freshwater lake that was created from the Great Salt Lake. You can find Willard Bay State Park within the city limits, right along the shore of Willard Bay.
Major highways, I-15 and I-84, run through the western part of the city. You can get to Willard from Exit 357. Also, U.S. Route 89 is the main street in the city.
The city covers about 7.2 square miles (18.6 square kilometers) in total. About 5.7 square miles (14.7 square kilometers) of this is land, and 1.5 square miles (3.9 square kilometers) is water.
Willard's History: How it Began
Early Settlers and the Fort
In 1851, groups of Mormon settlers were sent north from Salt Lake City. They went to an area called Bear River Bay, which was part of the Great Salt Lake. In 1957, the U.S. Corps of Engineers built a freshwater lake there, which is now Willard Bay.
One group of 19 settlers made their home near North Willow Creek. Two years later, they moved about two miles south. They built a fort wall to protect themselves from possible attacks by the Shoshone people and their friends.
Who Were the First Settlers?
Most of Willard's first settlers came from Wales, England, Scotland, and the Netherlands. Many of them were farmers, but some were also merchants, carpenters, blacksmiths, and school teachers. For a long time, Willard's economy was mostly based on farming, especially growing fruit. Digging for gravel and working with stone were also important ways people made money.
How Willard Got its Name
Henry G. Sherwood first surveyed the North Willow Creek area in 1851. In 1859, the community was renamed Willard. This was done to honor Willard Richards (1804-1854). He was an important leader in the LDS Church and an advisor to Brigham Young. Willard officially became a city in 1870.
Building with Stone
A skilled stonemason named Shadrack Jones used the local rock cliffs and stone left behind by ancient Lake Bonneville. Between 1862 and 1883, he used this local stone to build many homes. More than thirty of these homes are still standing today. Many of them are part of the Willard Historic District and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Other early buildings included a brick yard, the first grist mill (for grinding grain) in Box Elder County, and several molasses mills.
Willard's Population Over Time
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 552 | — | |
| 1880 | 412 | −25.4% | |
| 1890 | 492 | 19.4% | |
| 1900 | 580 | 17.9% | |
| 1910 | 577 | −0.5% | |
| 1920 | 651 | 12.8% | |
| 1930 | 561 | −13.8% | |
| 1940 | 541 | −3.6% | |
| 1950 | 548 | 1.3% | |
| 1960 | 814 | 48.5% | |
| 1970 | 1,045 | 28.4% | |
| 1980 | 1,241 | 18.8% | |
| 1990 | 1,298 | 4.6% | |
| 2000 | 1,630 | 25.6% | |
| 2010 | 1,772 | 8.7% | |
| 2020 | 1,978 | 11.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were 1,772 people living in Willard. There were 600 households, and 485 of these were families. The city had about 311 people per square mile.
Most of the people in Willard were White (95.4%). A small number were Asian (0.8%), Native American (0.3%), or African American (0.1%). About 3.9% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino background.
Many households (35.2%) had children under 18 living with them. Most households (68.3%) were married couples living together. The average household had about 2.95 people.
The population was spread out by age:
- 28.9% were under 18 years old.
- 8.1% were between 18 and 24.
- 23.8% were between 25 and 44.
- 27.2% were between 45 and 64.
- 12% were 65 years or older.
The average age in the city was 34.3 years.
In 2000, the average income for a household in Willard was $52,150. For families, the average income was $57,841. About 7.2% of the people in Willard lived below the poverty line. This included 7.9% of those under 18 and 4.7% of those 65 or older.
Famous People from Willard
- Anson Vasco Call II: He was the first mayor of Afton, Wyoming and served nine times!
- William E. Cole: A Major General who served in both World War I and World War II.
- Melba Rae: An actress.
- Evan Stephens: He directed the famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
See also
In Spanish: Willard (Utah) para niños
