Willard, Missouri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Willard
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Location of Willard, Missouri
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| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
| County | Greene |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.05 sq mi (15.67 km2) |
| • Land | 6.05 sq mi (15.67 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,237 ft (377 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,344 |
| • Density | 1,048.94/sq mi (404.97/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
65781
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| Area code(s) | 417 |
| FIPS code | 29-79882 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0735917 |
| Website | cityofwillard.org |
Willard is a city located in Greene County, Missouri, in the United States. It is part of the larger Springfield Metropolitan Area. In 2020, about 6,344 people lived in Willard.
Contents
Willard's History
Willard was founded in 1884. It officially became a city in 1949. One of Willard's main roads, U.S. 160, is called Olympian Boulevard. This special name is because two students who graduated from Willard High School have competed in the Olympics! Even though Willard is still a smaller city, it has been growing quite a lot recently.
Where is Willard Located?
Willard is located at coordinates 37°17′40″N 93°25′24″W / 37.29444°N 93.42333°W. This means it is in a specific spot on the map.
The city covers a total area of about 5.92 square miles (15.33 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no large bodies of water inside the city limits.
How Many People Live in Willard?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 357 | — | |
| 1970 | 1,018 | 185.2% | |
| 1980 | 1,799 | 76.7% | |
| 1990 | 2,177 | 21.0% | |
| 2000 | 3,193 | 46.7% | |
| 2010 | 5,288 | 65.6% | |
| 2020 | 6,344 | 20.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population in 2010
According to the census from 2010, there were 5,288 people living in Willard. These people lived in 1,901 households, and 1,455 of these were families.
Most of the people living in Willard in 2010 were White (96.4%). There were also smaller numbers of African American, Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander residents. About 1.8% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Many households (45.9%) had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.75 people, and the average family had 3.13 people. The median age in the city was 32.2 years old. This means half the people were younger than 32.2 and half were older.
Education in Willard
Willard is served by the Willard R-2 School District. This school district is quite large and includes several schools for different age groups.
- Five elementary schools
- Two intermediate schools
- One middle school
- One high school
The schools in Willard are part of the Central Ozark Conference-Large division.
Willard High School Achievements
Willard High School has received national recognition for its fine arts programs. In 2016, it was named one of the best schools in the country for music education.
The Naval Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (NJROTC) unit at Willard High School has also done very well. They have achieved national success in many competitions, including drill, athletic, and academic events. In April 2022, their unit placed 26th out of 620 units nationwide!
Willard's sports teams, known as the Tigers, have also had a lot of success.
- The baseball team won three district titles in a row from 2012 to 2014. They also made it to the state Final Four in 2012 and 2013.
- The boys' basketball team won district titles in 2013–2014 and reached the state Final Four in 2005 and 2007.
- The football team had one of their best seasons in 2013, finishing with an 8-3 record.
Willard Schools List
The elementary schools in Willard are:
- Willard East
- Willard North
- Willard South
- Willard Central
- Willard Orchard Hills (built in 2011)
The other schools are:
- Willard Intermediate-North
- Willard Intermediate-South (built in 2019)
- Willard Middle
- Willard High
Famous People from Willard
Several notable people have connections to Willard:
- John Ashcroft - A politician
- Lori Endicott - An Olympic volleyball player who won a bronze medal in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics
- B.J. Flores - A professional boxer
- Tom Greenwade - A baseball scout
- Forrest Merrill - A professional football player for the Los Angeles Chargers
- Jason Pyrah - An Olympic track and field athlete who competed in the 1996 and 2000 Games
- Chappell Roan - A singer and songwriter
See also
In Spanish: Willard (Misuri) para niños
