Editing Willard, Ohio

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Willard, Ohio
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|etymology                = [[Daniel Willard]]
|nickname                 = "The City of Blossoms"
|motto                    =
<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Willard Ohio aerial.jpg
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = Aerial view of Willard, September 2012
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =
<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Map of Huron County Ohio Highlighting Willard City.png
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Willard in Huron County
|pushpin_map              = Ohio#USA
|pushpin_relief           = yes
|pushpin_label            = Willard
<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Ohio]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[County (United States)|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Huron County, Ohio|Huron]]
|established_title        = Town founded
|established_date         = 1874 (as Chicago)
|established_title1       = Town incorporated
|established_date1        = 1882 (as Chicago Junction)
|established_title2       = City incorporated
|established_date2        = 1960 (as Willard)
<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = Council/Manager
|leader_title             = Council President
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = City Manager
|leader_name1             = Bryson Hamons{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}
<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 20, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 9.33
|area_land_km2            = 9.27
|area_water_km2           = 0.06
|area_total_sq_mi         = 3.60
|area_land_sq_mi          = 3.58
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.02
<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 6197
|population_density_km2   = 668.27
|population_density_sq_mi = 1731.01
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset              = -5
|timezone_DST            = EDT
|utc_offset_DST          = -4
|elevation_footnotes     = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft            = 938
|coordinates             = {{coord|41|03|06|N|82|43|24|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type        = [[ZIP code]]s
|postal_code             = 44888, 44890
|area_code               = [[Area code 419|419]]
|blank_name              = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info              = 39-85232<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
|blank1_name             = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info             = 1086362<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|1086362}}</ref>
|website                 = {{URL|http://www.willardohio.us/}}
|footnotes               = 
}}

'''Willard''' is a city in southwestern [[Huron County, Ohio]], United States, approximately {{convert|14|mi|km}} southwest of [[Norwalk, Ohio|Norwalk]]. The population was 6,197 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].

==History==
[[File:Daniel Willard c1920s.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Daniel Willard]], the [[namesake]] of the city of Willard, ''c.'' 1920s]]
The original name of Willard was '''Chicago''',<ref name="city">{{cite web|url=http://www.willardohio.us/about.html|title=City of Willard, Ohio|website=willardohio.us|publisher=City of Willard|access-date=2019-09-13}}</ref><ref name="chamber">{{cite web|url=http://willardareachamberofcommerce.com/history/|title=The History of Willard, Ohio|website=willardareachamberofcommerce.com|publisher=Willard Area Chamber of Commerce|access-date=2019-09-13|quote=1874 Town founded – Named Chicago, OH. Chicago Junction was used by B&O railroad and later was used to incorporate the village to ease confusion with Chicago, Ill, for the mail service.}}</ref> named for the junction of the [[Baltimore and Ohio Railroad]]'s line to [[Sandusky, Ohio|Sandusky]] (the [[Sandusky, Mansfield and Newark Railroad]]) and the branch west to [[Chicago]] (the [[Baltimore and Ohio and Chicago Railroad]]). Later the [[Akron and Chicago Junction Railroad]] was built east from the junction, providing a more direct route between the [[Northeastern United States]] and [[Chicago]].

With the name "Chicago", passengers would mistake the community for Chicago, [[Illinois]], so they changed the name to '''Chicago Junction''',<ref name="chamber"/> however, the word "junction" did not fit on boards at the time so it did not fix the problem. In 1917, to finally rectify the confusion, the town changed its name to '''Willard''', after the then president of the B&O, [[Daniel Willard]]. Willard officially became a city in the year of 1960<ref name="city"/>

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|3.57|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|3.55|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.02|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<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]]|access-date=2013-01-06}}</ref>

To the south of Willard are located the [[unincorporated area|unincorporated communities]] of [[Celeryville, Ohio|Celeryville]] and [[New Haven, Huron County, Ohio|New Haven]], plus the planned development of Holiday Lakes to the north.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=right
|1880= 662
|1890= 1299
|1900= 2348
|1910= 2950
|1920= 3889
|1930= 4514
|1940= 4261
|1950= 4744
|1960= 5457
|1970= 5510
|1980= 5720
|1990= 6210
|2000= 6806
|2010= 6236
|2020= 6197
|estyear=2021
|estimate=6183
|estref=
|footnote=Sources:<ref name="GR2" /><ref name=Census1930>{{cite web|title=Population: Ohio|url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/03815512v1ch08.pdf|work=1930 US Census|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=28 November 2013}}</ref><ref name="Census1960">{{cite web|title=Number of Inhabitants: Ohio|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/37749282v1p37_ch02.pdf|date=1960|work=18th Census of the United States|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=17 May 2020}}</ref><ref name="Census1990">{{cite web|title=Ohio: Population and Housing Unit Counts|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-37.pdf|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=22 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/willardcityohio,US/PST045221 |title=Willard city, Ohio |website=census.gov |accessdate=March 16, 2023}}</ref>
}}

===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]]|access-date=2013-01-06}}</ref> of 2010, there were 6,236 people, 2,365 households, and 1,585 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1756.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 2,687 housing units at an average density of {{convert|756.9|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 90.0% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.8% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.2% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 5.6% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.1% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 18.9% of the population.

There were 2,365 households, of which 37.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 17.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.0% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.15.

The median age in the city was 34.6 years. 28.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.8% were from 25 to 44; 23.7% were from 45 to 64; and 13.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48% male, 52% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 6,806 people, 2,545 households, and 1,738 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,963.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,715 housing units at an average density of {{convert|783.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 90.32% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.54% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.19% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.31% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 6.11% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.51% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 12.47% of the population.

There were 2,545 households, out of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the city the population was spread out, with 30.8% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,911, and the median income for a family was $35,271. Males had a median income of $30,377 versus $22,702 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $13,942. About 12.7% of families and 16.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 20.9% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
Several key businesses have a presence in Willard, including the Willard Rail Yard of [[CSX Transportation]], [{Stanley Black & Decker}] (formerly Midwest Industries), [[LSC Communications]] (formerly known as RR Donnelley), [[Pepperidge Farm]], and [[Mercy Hospital of Willard]].  Farmland surrounds the community, with the primary crops being soybeans, wheat, onions, radishes, lettuce, and sweet corn. The well known farms are Wiers and Buurma farms. {{Citation needed|date=August 2013}}

==Education==
[[Willard City Schools]] operates [[Willard High School (Ohio)|Willard High School]] in the city.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.willard.k12.oh.us | title=Homepage | publisher=Willard City Schools | access-date=26 February 2018}}</ref> Willard High School students are able to choose between the local school and Pioneer Career and Technology Center (located in Shelby, Ohio) in order to learn a trade skill.

Willard is served by the [[Huron County, Ohio#Government|Willard Memorial Library]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.holmeslibrary.org/hours-locations/ | title=Homepage | date=17 May 2016 | publisher=Huron County Community Library | access-date=26 February 2018}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Charlie Frye]], [[NFL]] quarterback
* [[Harry Jump]], Ohio State Senator
* [[Pam Postema]], first woman to umpire a [[Major League Baseball]] spring training game

==See also==
{{stack|{{portal|Ohio}}}}
* [[List of cities in Ohio]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Source: <Dush, F. Joseph, ''History of Willard, Ohio with Pioneer Sketches of New Haven, Greenfield, Norwich and Richmond Townships''>
* Source: <Baughman, A.J. "History of Huron County, vol I and II>
* History of Willard. Willard City Official Website. http://www.willardohio.us/

==External links==
{{Commons category|Willard, Ohio}}
* {{official website|http://www.willardohio.gov}}

{{Huron County, Ohio}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Ohio]]
[[Category:Cities in Huron County, Ohio]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1917]]
[[Category:1917 establishments in Ohio]]