Willis, Texas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Willis, Texas
City
City Hall of Willis, Texas
Location within Montgomery county
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Montgomery
Incorporated	1937 (Home Rule: 2008)
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
Area
• Total	4.73 sq mi (12.26 km2)
• Land	4.73 sq mi (12.26 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation	381 ft (116 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	6,431
• Density	1,484.89/sq mi (573.38/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	77318, 77378
Area code(s)	936
FIPS code	48-79408
GNIS feature ID	1371602

Willis is a city in Montgomery County, Texas, United States, located eight miles north of Conroe in north central Montgomery County. The city began to develop in 1870 after what is now the Union Pacific Railroad built track through the area. As a part of the Piney Woods, the Willis economy has historically been driven by lumber, agriculture, and the manufacture of lumber and agriculture equipment. From the late nineteenth to early twentieth century, it produced tobacco as a commodity crop. Competition from Cuba reduced its contribution to the economy.

As of 2020, the population of Willis was tabulated as 6,431. In 2008, after Willis's population passed 5,000, the city established a home rule city charter.

Geography

Willis is located at 30°25′22″N 95°28′44″W / 30.42278°N 95.47889°W / 30.42278; -95.47889 (30.422640, -95.478829).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²), all of it land.

History

Willis became a community when the Houston and Great Northern Railroad decided to run a track from Houston to Chicago, and the Willis brothers donated their land in 1870 to the railroad. Willis grew in population after the trains began to travel through the town. There were hotels, dry good stores, and many other successful businesses in the 1870s and 1880s. The tobacco industry played a vital role in Willis' growth and development during that time. Other cash crops of cotton, watermelons, and tomatoes were an important part of the economy through the years. The timber industry, which still plays a role in Willis' economic growth, has been its most stable economic engine for over one hundred years. Since the 1980s, Willis has seen its economic base change from agriculture to services, retail, and manufacturing. It is the gateway to Lake Conroe. Interstate 45 bisects the community. One mile east, U.S. Highway 75 and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe rail services run parallel to Interstate 45. The George Bush Intercontinental Airport is 35 miles south of Willis. The Montgomery County Airport is 10 miles east of Willis.

Willis has a highly rated school district which has about 400 high school graduates each year. The school district currently has an enrollment of approximately 4000 students. For more information, please visit the Willis Independent School District site at http://wisd.willis.k12.tx.us.

Willis is also a central location for many places of recreational interest in Southeast Texas. Lake Conroe, the Sam Houston National Forest, Huntsville State Park, and golf courses are only some of the attractions.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 6,431 people, 2,183 households, and 1,688 families residing in the city.

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 5,662 people, 1,782 households, and 1,340 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 56.7% White, 18.2% African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 20.1% from other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 38.0% of the population.

There were 1,782 households, out of which 42.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 25.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 19.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.10 and the average family size was 3.55.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 33.3% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.3 males.

According to the 2015 American Community Survey, The median income for a household in the city was $36,640, and the median income for a family was $38,244. Males had a median income of $26,320 versus $18,036 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,122. About 15.6% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 42.6% of those age 65 or over.

Infrastructure

Transportation

In the 1960s, Interstate 45 was built through the western portion of Willis, connecting Willis with Houston to the south and Dallas to the north. The previous Houston-Dallas route through Willis, U.S. route 75, is now Texas State Highway 75, running parallel to Interstate 45 through downtown Willis.

Farm to Market Road 1097 connects Willis to Lake Conroe and Montgomery to the west. Its eastern terminus is Texas State Highway 150 to the east of New Waverly.

Union Pacific operates a railroad that travels north-south through Willis.

Parks and recreation

The central portion of Lake Conroe is located a few miles west of Willis.

Sam Houston National Forest is located several miles west, north, and east of Willis.

Education

Willis High School

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

Willis' public schools are operated by the Willis Independent School District and Responsive Education Solutions.

Five elementary schools, all of which are in Willis, serve portions of Willis:

• Edward B. Cannan Elementary School (Grades Pre-K–5th)
• C. C. Hardy Elementary School (Grades Pre-K–5th)
• Mel Parmley Elementary School (Grades Pre-K–5th)
• A.R. Turner Elementary School (Grades Pre-K–5th)
• William Lloyd Meador Elementary School (Grades Pre-K–5th)
• Lagway Elementary School (Grades Pre-K-5th)
• Vista Academy of Willis (Grades K–8)

Two middle schools serve portions of Willis:

• Robert P. Brabham Middle School (Grades 6–8) (Unincorporated Montgomery County)
• Lynn Lucas Middle School (Grades 6–8) (Willis)
• Vista Academy of Willis (Grades K–8)

All of the city is zoned to Willis High School in Unincorporated Montgomery County.

Portions of the city used to be zoned to Turner Elementary School until the attendance zoned changed for the 2006–2007 school year, rezoning the portion to Hardy Elementary School.

Area private schools

• Covenant Christian School

Colleges and universities

Lone Star College (originally the North Harris Montgomery Community College District) serves the community. The territory in Willis ISD joined the community college district in 1996. The nearest campus is Lone Star College-Montgomery, which operates the Conroe Center in northern Conroe.

Public libraries

Montgomery County Memorial Library System operates the R. F. Meador Branch at 709 West Montgomery Street.

Notable people

• Michael Bishop, former professional football player
• Tina Chandler, IFBB professional bodybuilder
• Jessie Hollins (1970–2009), professional baseball right-handed pitcher
• Marcus Luttrell, Navy SEAL
• D.D. Terry, professional football player
• Cliff Young (1964–1993), professional baseball left-handed pitcher

See also

In Spanish: Willis (Texas) para niños