Willard, Missouri

Willard, Missouri
City
Location of Willard, Missouri
Country	United States
State	Missouri
County	Greene
Area
• Total	5.6 sq mi (14.4 km2)
• Land	5.6 sq mi (14.4 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	1,237 ft (377 m)
Population  (2000)
• Total	3,193
• Density	575.2/sq mi (222.1/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	65781
Area code	417
FIPS code	29-79882Template:GR
GNIS feature ID	0735917Template:GR

Willard is a city in Greene County, Missouri, United States. The population was 3,193 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Willard's main east-west road, U.S. 160, is known as Olympian Boulevard because two graduates of Willard High School have participated in the Olympics.

Geography

Willard is located at 37°17′40″N 93°25′24″W (37.294429, -93.423218).Template:GR

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.6 square miles (14.4 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 3,193 people, 1,154 households, and 909 families residing in the city. The population density was 575.2 people per square mile (222.1/km²). There were 1,226 housing units at an average density of 220.9/sq mi (85.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.75% White, 0.16% African American, 0.66% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.22% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.53% of the population.

There were 1,154 households out of which 45.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.8% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.2% were non-families. 18.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the city the population was spread out with 32.5% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 17.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,565, and the median income for a family was $43,646. Males had a median income of $29,420 versus $20,370 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,253. About 9.3% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.

Famous Residents

• John Ashcroft - Politician
• Lori Endicott - Olympian - Volleyball (Bronze Medalist, 1992 Barcelona Olympics)
• B.J. Flores - Professional Boxer
• Jason Pyrah - Olympian - Track & Field (1996 and 2000 games)
• Cpt. Joel Myers - One of the first American Willardians to move east to the big city of St. Louis. He then traveled many miles and climbed the ranks of the fire service to become a Captain with the University City Fire Department. He also loves his mother.

Notable visitors

The infamous Bonnie and Clyde stayed briefly at the Willard Hotel during their crime-riddled run in which they kidnapped a Missouri police officer.

School System

Willard's school system is a 4-A school containing five elementary schools, one intermediate school, one middle school, and one high school and is in the Central Ozark Big School conference.

Willard East, Willard North, Willard South, Willard Central, and Willard Orchard Hills (built this year) make up the elementary schools. Willard Intermediate, Willard Middle, and Willard High make up the rest of the schools.