Willard, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Willard, Illinois
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 Willard, Illinois
Location in Illinois
Willard, Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Alexander |
| Elevation | 322 ft (98 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 618 |
| GNIS feature ID | 425639 |
Willard is a small place in Alexander County, Illinois, in the United States. It is known as an unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes or buildings that doesn't have its own local government, like a town or city would. Instead, it's managed by the larger county government.
Willard is located in the southwest part of Alexander County. It sits right next to the famous Mississippi River.
Willard's Special Location
Willard has a very interesting location because of the Mississippi River. It is found at the "neck" of something called Dogtooth Bend. Imagine a river flowing along, and then it makes a big, U-shaped curve. That curve is a bend.
What is Dogtooth Bend?
Dogtooth Bend is a special kind of river bend. It's an "oxbow bend," which means it looks like the U-shaped part of an ox's yoke. Over a very long time, rivers can change their paths. They might cut across a narrow piece of land, leaving the old bend behind.
Dogtooth Island
When a river cuts off a bend, the old part of the river can become a lake or a swamp. Sometimes, if the river completely cuts off the bend, the land inside that bend becomes an island. This is how Dogtooth Island was formed. It's a piece of land that used to be inside a big curve of the Mississippi River.
So, Willard is right near this unique area where the mighty Mississippi River has shaped the land over many years, creating Dogtooth Bend and Dogtooth Island.
