Editing Willard, Kansas

{{Short description|City in Shawnee and Wabaunsee Counties of Kansas}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Willard, Kansas
|settlement_type          = [[City]]

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            =
|image_caption            =
|image_flag               =
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Shawnee_County_Kansas_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Willard_Highlighted.svg
|map_caption              = Location within [[Shawnee County, Kansas|Shawnee County]] and [[Kansas]]
|image_map1               = Map of Wabaunsee Co, Ks, USA.png
|map_caption1             = [[Kansas Department of Transportation|KDOT]] map of [[Wabaunsee County, Kansas|Wabaunsee County]] ([[:File:Kansas official transportation map legend.png|legend]])

<!-- Location -->
|coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|coordinates              = {{coord|39|05|39|N|95|56|35|W|region:US-KS_type:city_source:GNIS|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Kansas]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Kansas|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Shawnee County, Kansas|Shawnee]], [[Wabaunsee County, Kansas|Wabaunsee]]
|subdivision_type3        = [[List of townships in Kansas|Township]]
|subdivision_name3        =

<!-- Established -->
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1880s
|established_title1       = [[Platted]]
|established_date1        =
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2        = 1912 <ref name="gov1"/>
|named_for                =

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = <ref name="gov1">{{cite web |title=City of Willard |url=https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41261116 |website=The League of Kansas Municipalities |date=May 28, 2019}}</ref>
|government_type          = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–Council]]
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              =

<!-- Area -->
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_20.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=July 24, 2020}}</ref>
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.11
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.11
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
|area_total_km2           = 0.28
|area_land_km2            = 0.28
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|unit_pref                = Imperial

<!-- Elevation -->
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|elevation_ft             = 915

<!-- Population -->
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census-2020-Profile"/>
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_total         = 74
|pop_est_footnotes        =
|pop_est_as_of            =
|population_est           =
|population_density_sq_mi = auto
|population_density_km2   = auto

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|CST]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              =
|area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
|area_code                = [[Area code 785|785]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 20-79250
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS ID]]
|blank1_info              = 2397313<ref name="GNIS">{{GNIS|2397313}}</ref>
|website                  =
}}

'''Willard''' is a city in [[Shawnee County, Kansas|Shawnee]] and [[Wabaunsee County, Kansas|Wabaunsee]] counties in the [[U.S. state|State]] of [[Kansas]],  United States.<ref name="GNIS"/>  As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population of the city was 74.<ref name="Census-2020-Profile">{{cite web |title=Profile of Willard, Kansas in 2020 |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2079250 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514101934/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2079250 |archive-date=May 14, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==
Before 1883, Willard was a tiny community but when the [[Rock Island Railroad]] laid tracks through it, Willard became a typical railroad town.

In 1887, the [[Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway]] built a main line from [[Topeka, Kansas|Topeka]] through Willard to [[Herington, Kansas|Herington]].<ref name="Rock Island Rail History">[http://home.covad.net/~scicoatnsew/rihist4.htm Rock Island Rail History]</ref>  The [[Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway]] was foreclosed in 1891 and taken over by [[Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway]], which shut down in 1980 and reorganized as [[Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad]], merged in 1988 with [[Missouri Pacific Railroad]], merged in 1997 with [[Union Pacific Railroad]].  Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Rock Island".

In the early 1920s, Willard boasted a population of over 300 and was a major cattle shipping point for this region.  During the [[Great Depression in the United States|Great Depression]] of the 1930s, many businesses closed and the railroad declined in importance.  The [[Great Flood of 1951]] destroyed much of the community and caused the roadway bridge over the [[Kansas River]] to collapse, isolating it from [[Rossville, Kansas|Rossville]] until a new roadway bridge was built in 1955.<ref name="Bridgehunter.com">[http://bridgehunter.com/ks/shawnee/willard/ Bridgehunter: Willard Bridge]</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|0.11|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all  land.<ref name ="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2012-07-06}}</ref>

===Climate===
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.  According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Willard has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=688841&cityname=Willard%2C+Kansas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Willard, Kansas]</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1920= 134
|1930= 142
|1940= 106
|1950= 95
|1960= 94
|1970= 124
|1980= 128
|1990= 110
|2000= 86
|2010= 92
|2020= 74
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=[https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census]
}}
Willard is part of the [[Topeka, Kansas]] [[Topeka metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2012-07-06}}</ref> of 2010, there were 92 people, 34 households, and 26 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|836.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 50 housing units at an average density of {{convert|454.5|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 92.4% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], and 5.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 6.5% of the population.

There were 34 households, of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 8.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 23.5% were non-families. 17.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.04.

The median age in the city was 35 years. 28.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26% were from 25 to 44; 26% were from 45 to 64; and 10.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.7% male and 53.3% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 86 people, 38 households, and 22 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|806.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 50 housing units at an average density of {{convert|468.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.67% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.16% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.16% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]]. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 8.14% of the population.

There were 38 households, out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.1% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.9% under the age of 18, 2.3% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,500, and the median income for a family was $35,000. Males had a median income of $22,813 versus $19,375 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,513. There were no families and 5.7% of the population living below the [[poverty line]], including no under eighteens and 9.1% of those over 64.

==Education==
The community is served by [[Kaw Valley USD 321]] public school district.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{See also|Shawnee County, Kansas#Further reading|l1=List of books about Shawnee County, Kansas}}
{{See also|Wabaunsee County, Kansas#Further reading|l1=List of books about Wabaunsee County, Kansas}}
* ''Faded Dreams:  More Ghost Towns of Kansas'' by Daniel Fitzgerald.  University Press of Kansas, 1994.

==External links==
* [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41261116 Willard - Directory of Public Officials]
* [https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/city-pdf/willard.pdf Willard city map], KDOT

{{Shawnee County, Kansas|state=collapsed}}
{{Wabaunsee County, Kansas|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Kansas]]
[[Category:Cities in Shawnee County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Cities in Wabaunsee County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Topeka metropolitan area, Kansas]]