Editing Willits, California

{{Short description|City in California, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
 | name                     = Willits, California
 | official_name            = 
 | settlement_type          = [[List of municipalities in California|City]]
 | image_skyline            = {{Photomontage
| photo1a                         = Masonic Temple - Willits, California.jpg
| photo1b                         = Willits Sign Gateway to the Redwoods 2016 (cropped).jpg
| photo2a                         = Willits Carnegie Library - Willits California.JPG
| photo2b                         = Mendocino County Museum-front.jpg
| spacing                         = 2
| position                        = center
| color_border                    = white
| color                           = white
| size                            = 260
| foot_montage                 = Top: Masonic Temple (left) and Gateway to the Redwoods (right); Carnegie Library (left) and Mendocino County Museum (right)
}}
 | image_seal               = 
 | image_map                = Mendocino_County_California_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Willits_Highlighted.svg
 | mapsize                  = 250x200px
 | map_caption              = Location in Mendocino County and California
 | image_map1               = 
 | mapsize1                 = 
 | map_caption1             = 
 | pushpin_map              = USA
 | pushpin_label            = Willits
 | pushpin_map_caption      = Location in the United States
 | pushpin_relief           = 1
 | subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
 | subdivision_name         = {{USA}}
 | subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
 | subdivision_name1        = {{flag|California}}
 | subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in California|County]]
 | subdivision_name2        = [[Mendocino County, California|Mendocino]]
 | government_type          = [[Council–manager government|Council–manager]]
 | leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
 | leader_name              = Saprina Rodriguez
 | established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
 | established_date         = November 19, 1888<ref>{{cite web
 | url = http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc
 | title = California Cities by Incorporation Date
 | format = Word
 | publisher = California Association of [[Local Agency Formation Commission]]s
 | access-date = August 25, 2014
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130221091414/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc
 | archive-date = February 21, 2013
| url-status = dead
 }}</ref>
<!-- Area------------------>
 | unit_pref                = Imperial
 | area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021">{{cite web |title=2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files: California |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2021_Gazetteer/2021_gaz_place_06.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=July 28, 2022}}</ref>
 | area_total_sq_mi         = 2.82
 | area_land_sq_mi          = 2.82
 | area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
 | area_total_km2           = 
 | area_land_km2            = 
 | area_water_km2           = 
 | area_water_percent       = 0.17
 | elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
 | elevation_ft             = 1391
 | coordinates              = {{coord|39|24|35|N|123|21|20|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
 | population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
 | population_total         = 4988
 | population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=1600000US0685600&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=P1. Race – Willits city, California: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=July 28, 2022}}</ref>
 | population_density_km2   = 
 | population_density_sq_mi = 1770.7
 | pop_est_as_of            = 
 | pop_est_footnotes        = 
 | population_est           = 
 | timezone                 = [[Pacific Standard Time|PST]]
 | utc_offset               = −8
 | timezone_DST             = [[Pacific Daylight Time|PDT]]
 | utc_offset_DST           = −7
 | postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
 | postal_code              = 95490
 | area_code                = [[Area code 707|707]]
 | blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
 | blank_info               = {{FIPS|06|85600}}
 | blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
 | blank1_info              = 1652654<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS 4|1652654}}</ref>
 | website                  = {{URL|cityofwillits.org}}
 | footnotes                = 
}}

'''Willits''' (formerly '''Little Lake''' and '''Willitsville''') is a city in [[Mendocino County, California|Mendocino County]], [[California]], United States.<ref name=gnis /> It is located about {{convert|20|mi}} north-northwest of [[Ukiah, California|Ukiah]],<ref name=CGN>{{California's Geographic Names|168}}</ref> at an elevation of {{convert|1391|ft|m}}.<ref name=gnis /> The population was 4,988 at the 2020 census.<ref name="Census 2020"/> Willits is at the center of Mendocino County and at the beginning of the county's extensive [[Coast Redwood|redwood]] forests as approached by [[U.S. Route 101 in California|Highway 101]] from the south.

An arch stands in the center of Willits featuring the slogans "Gateway to the Redwoods" and "Heart of Mendocino County".<ref name="thecityofwillits.com 2005">{{cite web | title=City History Archives | website=thecityofwillits.com | date=June 30, 2005 | url=http://thecityofwillits.com/category/city-history/|access-date=October 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161215045133/http://thecityofwillits.com/category/city-history/|archive-date=December 15, 2016}}</ref> The arch is the repurposed second version of the [[Reno Arch]]. Reno donated the arch to Willits in 1995.<ref name=newtoreno>{{cite web |title=Reno Arch history downtown |url=http://www.newtoreno.com/renoarch.htm |work=newtoreno.com |access-date=July 3, 2011}}</ref>

==History==
Hiram Willits arrived from [[Indiana]] in 1857 to settle in the Little Lake Valley.<ref>Hogle, Gene. ''NAC Green Book of Pacific Coast Touring'' (1931), National Automobile Club, p.45</ref> Kirk Brier founded the settlement on Willits' land.<ref name=CGN /> Willits was originally called "Willitsville".<ref name=CGN /> Later, when the post office opened in 1861, it was called "Little Lake".<ref name=CGN /> The name changed to Willits in 1874.<ref name=CGN /> The community incorporated in 1888.<ref name=CGN />

[[File:Willits hotel rare.jpeg|thumb|left|Willits Hotel, 1903]]
[[File:CWR 46 and 45 at Willits June 1974xRP - Flickr - drewj1946.jpg|thumb|[[California Western Railroad]] excursion train at [[Willits Depot]], 1974]]

Little Lake was the scene of a legendary feud between the Frost and Coates families. The Frost family supported the [[Confederate States of America|Confederacy]] during the [[American Civil War]], and the Coates family supported the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]]. Both families were passionate in their beliefs. On October 16, 1867, Election Day, the long-running feud came to a head. A brawl turned into a shootout in front of Baechtel's store, leaving Abraham Coates, Henry Coates, Albert Coates, Thomas Coates and Elisha Frost dead on the street. Three others were wounded.<ref>Secrest, William B. (2005). ''California Feuds: Vengeance, Vendettas and Violence on the Old West Coast''. Word Dancer Press. P.121 {{ISBN|1-884995-42-X}}</ref>

In 1879, three men were charged with [[petty larceny]], having been accused of stealing a saddle and harness. The three, it was later reported, had for years been involved in stealing, robbing smokehouses, drinking, and reckless discharging of their firearms. They were taken to Brown's Little Lake Hotel to await the arrival of the circuit court judge. Following a meeting at Willits' [[Masonic Temple]], 30 masked temple members seized the prisoners, and they were hanged from a nearby bridge. A newspaper reported there was no proof the murdered men were guilty of the charges.<ref>''Badge and Buckshot: Lawlessness in Old California'' By John Boessenecker.  {{ISBN|978-0806125107}}</ref><ref>Kulczyk, David. (2008). ''California Justice – Shootouts, Lynchings and Assassinations in the Golden State''. Word Dancer Press, p.37 {{ISBN|1-884995-54-3}}</ref><ref>San Francisco Call - August 6, 1899</ref>

Willits became a boomtown due to the [[tanbark]] industry.<ref name="visitwillits.com">{{cite web |title=Willits History – Visit Willits, California |url=https://visitwillits.com/willits-history/ |website=visitwillits.com |access-date=May 29, 2022}}</ref> The 1970s "[[Back-to-the-land movement#The movement in North America|back to the land]]" [[homesteading]] movement paved the way for Willits' reputation as the [[Solar energy|solar]] capital of the world in the 1980s.<ref name="visitwillits.com"/>

The Willits area is the final home of the racehorse [[Seabiscuit]]. [[Ridgewood Ranch]], where Seabiscuit trained, recuperated, lived out his retirement and was buried, is located a few miles south of the city.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-sep-19-me-ranch19-story.html |title=Efforts to Preserve Seabiscuit's Home Enter the Final Stretch |last=Hollis |first=Robert |date=September 19, 2004 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=November 11, 2018 |language=en-US |issn=0458-3035}}</ref>

===Hexavalent chromium pollution and cleanup===
Beginning in 1996, the city and many residents became embroiled in lawsuits against the [[Whitman Corporation]] (later acquired by [[PepsiCo, Inc.]]), alleging that [[hexavalent chromium]] pollution left by a chrome plating plant, which operated in Willits from 1964 to 1995, was responsible for several local health problems.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/A-Town-Diseased-and-Torn-Willits-split-on-3239206.php | work=The San Francisco Chronicle | title=A Town Diseased and Torn / Willits split on whether illnesses are due to chemicals left by shuttered plant | first=David | last=Lazarus | date=March 31, 2000}}</ref> Activist [[Erin Brockovich]], known for the eponymous movie about her work in a similar case, participated in a lawsuit on behalf of the plaintiffs. By 2003, plans were put into place to inject a solution into strategic wells at the site to neutralize the chromium and remediate the pollution on site. These plans successfully reduced the pollution, and further injections and a monitoring plan were implemented in 2005 and 2008.<ref>{{cite report |url=http://willitstrust.org/key_documents/fact_sheets/fact_sheet_14.pdf |publisher=Jacobson James and Associates, manager of Willits Environmental Remediation Trust |title=Interim Remedial Action for Chromium Contaminated Ground Water |date=March 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.willitstrust.org/key_documents/Remco_IRA_Work_Plan_for_Supplemental_Injections_Hex_Chrome.pdf |title=Work Plans for Supplemental Injections |date=October 23, 2009 |publisher=Jacobson James and Associates, manager of Willits Environmental Remediation Trust}}</ref> In 2011, various lawsuits were combined into a single suit involving paying for the site cleanup and payouts to affected individuals; most lawsuits were resolved in 2012.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.willitsnews.com/news/ci_21759040/remco-lawsuit-nearing-an-end | work=The Willits News | title=Remco lawsuit nearing an end | first=Linda | last=Williams | date=October 12, 2012}}</ref>

==Geography==
Located at the center of Mendocino County in the Little Lake Valley, Willits is {{convert|23|mi}} north of [[Ukiah, California|Ukiah]] and the same distance south of [[Laytonville, California|Laytonville]] on [[U.S. Route 101 in California|U.S. Route 101]] (otherwise known as the [[Redwood Highway]]). It is on the west side of the Little Lake Valley, a {{convert|6|by|3|mi|adj=on|0}} area surrounded by the [[California Coast Ranges]].

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the city had a total area of {{convert|2.8|sqmi}}, 99.96% of it land.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021"/> Willits is located about halfway on the future [[Great Redwood Trail]], a multi-use [[rail trail]] project.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trail Map |url=http://www.thegreatredwoodtrail.org/trail-map/ |website=The Great Redwood Trail |access-date=May 29, 2022}}</ref>

===Climate===
Under the [[Köppen climate classification]] Willits has a dry-summer subtropical or [[mediterranean climate]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=486940&cityname=Willits%2C+California%2C+United+States+of+America|title=Climate Willits - California and Weather averages Willits|last=Data|first=US Climate|website=www.usclimatedata.com|language=en|access-date=November 11, 2018}}</ref>

The mountains to the west along with a significant influence of mild [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]] air cause Willits to have a cool winter and hot day/cool night summer climate. Average January temperatures range from {{convert|32|to|55|°F|°C|abbr=on}}. Average July temperatures range from {{convert|47|to|85|°F|°C|abbr=on}}. There are an average of 26.9 days with highs of {{convert|90|F|C}} or higher, and an average of 95.1 days with lows of {{convert|32|F|C}} or lower. The record maximum temperature was {{convert|112|°F|°C|abbr=on}} on July 24, 1902, and the record minimum temperature was {{convert|5|°F|°C|abbr=on}} on December 9, 1972.<ref name = NOWData/>

Annual precipitation averages {{convert|49.23|in|mm}}.<ref name = NOAA/> The wettest "rain year" on record was from July 1903 to June 1904 with {{convert|86.60|in|mm|1}} and the driest from July 1990 to June 1991 with {{convert|28.08|in|mm|1}}.<ref name = NOWData/> The most precipitation in one month was {{convert|31.41|in|mm|1}} in December 1964. The most precipitation in 24 hours was {{convert|8.80|in|mm|1}} on December 22, 1964. There are an average of 94.8 days with measurable precipitation.<ref name = NOWData/><ref name = NOAA/>

There are occasional snowfalls in Willits each year, with an average of {{convert|3.6|in|cm|sigfig=2}} of snow annually. The most snow in one month was {{convert|20.0|in|cm|sigfig=2}} in December 1964.<ref name = NOWData/>

{{Weather box
|location = Willits, California, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1902–2012
|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 77
|Feb record high F = 84
|Mar record high F = 90
|Apr record high F = 98
|May record high F = 100
|Jun record high F = 105
|Jul record high F = 112
|Aug record high F = 107
|Sep record high F = 105
|Oct record high F = 102
|Nov record high F = 90
|Dec record high F = 85

|Jan avg record high F = 66.8
|Feb avg record high F = 71.4
|Mar avg record high F = 75.1
|Apr avg record high F = 82.0
|May avg record high F = 88.0
|Jun avg record high F = 93.5
|Jul avg record high F = 97.2
|Aug avg record high F = 97.3
|Sep avg record high F = 96.0
|Oct avg record high F = 89.0
|Nov avg record high F = 75.5
|Dec avg record high F = 65.1
|year avg record high F = 100.4

|Jan high F = 53.7
|Feb high F = 56.3
|Mar high F = 59.0
|Apr high F = 61.8
|May high F = 68.9
|Jun high F = 75.5
|Jul high F = 83.5
|Aug high F = 83.3
|Sep high F = 81.9
|Oct high F = 72.4
|Nov high F = 59.9
|Dec high F = 53.0
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 43.5
|Feb mean F = 45.2
|Mar mean F = 47.3
|Apr mean F = 49.5
|May mean F = 54.6
|Jun mean F = 59.9
|Jul mean F = 65.8
|Aug mean F = 64.5
|Sep mean F = 62.0
|Oct mean F = 54.6
|Nov mean F = 47.6
|Dec mean F = 42.6
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 33.3
|Feb low F = 34.1
|Mar low F = 35.5
|Apr low F = 37.3
|May low F = 40.2
|Jun low F = 44.2
|Jul low F = 48.0
|Aug low F = 45.6
|Sep low F = 42.1
|Oct low F = 36.9
|Nov low F = 35.3
|Dec low F = 32.3
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = 22.8
|Feb avg record low F = 23.7
|Mar avg record low F = 26.3
|Apr avg record low F = 27.1
|May avg record low F = 30.8
|Jun avg record low F = 35.3
|Jul avg record low F = 39.2
|Aug avg record low F = 38.1
|Sep avg record low F = 33.2
|Oct avg record low F = 27.4
|Nov avg record low F = 23.9
|Dec avg record low F = 20.8
|year avg record low F = 18.8

|Jan record low F = 12
|Feb record low F = 13
|Mar record low F = 19
|Apr record low F = 20
|May record low F = 21
|Jun record low F = 20
|Jul record low F = 25
|Aug record low F = 29
|Sep record low F = 20
|Oct record low F = 17
|Nov record low F = 13
|Dec record low F = 5

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 9.17
|Feb precipitation inch = 8.63
|Mar precipitation inch = 7.07
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.44
|May precipitation inch = 1.78
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.50
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.04
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.05
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.37
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.57
|Nov precipitation inch = 5.77
|Dec precipitation inch = 9.84
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 15.9
|Feb precipitation days = 12.8
|Mar precipitation days = 13.4
|Apr precipitation days = 10.6
|May precipitation days = 6.2
|Jun precipitation days = 1.9
|Jul precipitation days = 0.3
|Aug precipitation days = 0.3
|Sep precipitation days = 1.1
|Oct precipitation days = 6.1
|Nov precipitation days = 12.2
|Dec precipitation days = 14.0

|Jan snow inch = 0.1
|Feb snow inch = 0.4
|Mar snow inch = 0.3
|Apr snow inch = 0.0
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 0.0
|Dec snow inch = trace
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 0.1
|Feb snow days = 0.1
|Mar snow days = 0.2
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.0
|Dec snow days = 0.1

|source 1 = NOAA (snow/snow days 1981&ndash;2010)<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00049684&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Willits 1 NE, CA (1991&ndash;2020)
|access-date = May 6, 2023
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly&stations=USC00049684&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Willits 1 NE, CA (1981&ndash;2010)
|access-date = May 6, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service (mean maxima/minima 1981&ndash;2010)<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=eka
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Eureka
|access-date = May 6, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 431
|1870= 946
|1880= 153
|1890= 815
|1900= 791
|1910= 1153
|1920= 1468
|1930= 1424
|1940= 1625
|1950= 2691
|1960= 3410
|1970= 3091
|1980= 4008
|1990= 5027
|2000= 5073
|2010= 4888
|2020= 4988
|estyear= 2023
|estimate= 4945
|estref= <ref name="census2023">{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Willits%20city,%20California&y=2023 | title=Census.gov: American Community Survey 2023}}</ref>
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref><br />
1870 Census<ref name="1870Census">{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-12.pdf?|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov}}</ref>
}}
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="font-size: 90%;"   
|+ Race and Ethnicity
! Racial and ethnic composition
! 2000<ref name=datacensus2000p2>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=1600000US0685600&y=2000&d=DEC+Redistricting+Data+(PL+94-171)&tid=DECENNIALPL2000.PL002|publisher=US Census Bureau|title=2000: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)}}</ref>
! 2010<ref name=datacensus2010p2>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=1600000US0685600&y=2010&d=DEC+Redistricting+Data+(PL+94-171)&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=US Census Bureau|title=2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)}}</ref>
! 2020<ref name=datacensus2020p2>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=1600000US0685600&y=2020&d=DEC+Redistricting+Data+(PL+94-171)&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=US Census Bureau|title=2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)}}</ref>
|-
! [[Non-Hispanic whites|White (non-Hispanic)]]
| 78.14%
| 71.36%
| 62.35%
|-
! [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino (of any race)]]
| 14.69%
| 20.62%
| 24.42%
|-
! [[Multiracial American|Two or more races (non-Hispanic)]]
| 2.72%
| 2.86%
| 6.4%
|-
! [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American (non-Hispanic)]]
| 2.68%
| 3.01%
| 3.49%
|-
! [[Asian American|Asian (non-Hispanic)]]
| 1.12%
| 1.29%
| 1.8%
|-
! [[African American|Black or African American (non-Hispanic)]]
| 0.47%
| 0.65%
| 0.8%
|-
! Other (non-Hispanic)
| 0.14%
| 0.1%
| 0.62%
|-
! [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic)]]
| 0.04%
| 0.1%
| 0.12%
|}

===2010 Census data===
The [[2010 United States Census]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0685600|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715033934/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0685600|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Willits city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref> reported that Willits had a population of 4,888. The population density was {{convert|1,743.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Willits was 3,862 (79.0%) [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 34 (0.7%) [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 216 (4.4%) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 68 (1.4%) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 5 (0.1%) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 479 (9.8%) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 224 (4.6%) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1,008 persons (20.6%).<ref name=fact/>

The Census reported that 4,794 people (98.1% of the population) lived in households, 52 (1.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 42 (0.9%) were institutionalized.<ref name=fact>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US0685600|title=American Fact Finder - Results|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 16, 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212162811/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US0685600|archive-date=February 12, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>

There were 1,914 households, out of which 667 (34.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 693 (36.2%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 320 (16.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 143 (7.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 163 (8.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 11 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 609 households (31.8%) were made up of individuals, and 281 (14.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50. There were 1,156 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (60.4% of all households); the average family size was 3.13.<ref name=fact/>

The population dispersal was 1,270 people (26.0%) under the age of 18, 412 people (8.4%) aged 18 to 24, 1,191 people (24.4%) aged 25 to 44, 1,273 people (26.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 742 people (15.2%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males. There were 2,073 housing units at an average density of {{convert|739.5|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}, of which 843 (44.0%) were owner-occupied, and 1,071 (56.0%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.5%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.3%. 2,215 people (45.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,579 people (52.8%) lived in rental housing units.<ref name=fact/>

===2000 Census data===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 5,073 people, 1,935 households, and 1,230 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,813.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,013 housing units at an average density of {{convert|719.7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 4,247 (83.72%) [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 32 (0.63%) [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 179 (3.53%) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 59 (1.2%) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 2 (0.04%) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 359 (7.08%) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 195 (3.84%) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race numbered 745, or 14.69% of the population.{{citation needed|date=April 2015}}

There were 1,935 households, out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.2% were married couples living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.15.{{citation needed|date=April 2015}}

In the city, the population dispersal was 29.2% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males. The median [[income]] for a household in the city was $26,283, and the median income for a family was $36,193. Males had a median income of $30,983 versus $22,089 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,642. About 11.6% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.{{citation needed|date=April 2015}}
[[File:Willits City Hall and Community Center - February 2023 - Sarah Stierch 01.jpg|thumb|Willits City Hall and Community Center]]

==Economy==
Major employers in Willits include the [[Adventist Health Howard Memorial Hospital]] and METALfx.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/lists-online/?djoPage=products&djoYr=2023index.htm|title=Who's the leader in your market? NBBJ Book of Lists provides you with listings of the hottest area companies in their fields, by ranking. You'll also receive the names of key decision makers, along with their titles and complete contact information.|website=The North Bay Business Journal}}</ref>

==Arts and culture==
[[File:Noyo Theatre - Stierch 2018.jpg|thumb|upright|Noyo Theatre in Willits]]

[[Willits High School]] is located on the north end of Willits. The North County Center of [[Mendocino College]] is also in Willits.

Every July, Willits hosts the [[Frontier Days (rodeo)|Frontier Days & Rodeo]], the oldest continuous [[rodeo]] and [[Independence Day (United States)|Independence Day]] celebration in California. It is also home to the Roots of Motive Power Locomotive Museum,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rootsofmotivepower.com/|title=Roots of Motive Power {{!}} Railroad & Logging Museum - Willits, CA|website=Roots Of Motive Power|language=en-US|access-date=November 11, 2018}}</ref> the Mendocino County Museum, and the Willits Center for the Arts.

==Government==
Willits uses a council–manager form of government with a city council consisting of five council members. As of December 2022, the current mayor of Willits is Saprina Rodriguez.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cityofwillits.org/162/City-Council|title=City Council - Willits, CA - Official Website|website=City of Willits|access-date=December 23, 2021}}</ref>

In the state legislature, Willits is in {{Representative|casd|2|fmt=sdistrict}},<ref>{{cite web |url=http://senate.ca.gov/senators |title=Senators |access-date=March 10, 2013 |publisher=State of California}}</ref> and {{Representative|caad|2|fmt=adistrict}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers |title=Members Assembly |access-date=March 2, 2013 |publisher=State of California}}</ref>

Federally, Willits is in {{Representative|cacd|2|fmt=district}}.<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|2|access-date=March 1, 2013}}</ref>

==Media==

Willits is served by local and regional newspapers as well as a low-power community radio station. The community radio station is KLLG, operated out of the Little Lake [[National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry|Grange]]. Local papers include ''[[The Mendocino Voice]]'',<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.mendovoice.com | title=The Mendocino Voice &#124; Useful news, for all of Mendocino}}</ref> ''[[Willits News]]'',<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.willitsnews.com/ | title=The Willits News}}</ref> and ''[[Willits Weekly]]''.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.willitsweekly.com/ | title=Willits Weekly}}</ref>

==Infrastructure==
[[File:Willits Fire Station 54 - February 2023 - Sarah Stierch 03.jpg |thumb|Willits Fire Station 54 built in 2022]]

===Transportation===
Willits is the eastern terminus of the [[California Western Railroad]] (otherwise known as the "Skunk Train"), running through the [[Coast Redwood]] forests to coastal [[Fort Bragg, California|Fort Bragg]]. The old redwood [[Willits Depot]] was built in 1915 by the [[Northwestern Pacific Railroad]], a subsidiary of the [[Southern Pacific Transportation Company|Southern Pacific]]. It is registered as a National Historic Place.<ref>[http://www.hpdb.org/70663 Willits Depot<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natregsearchresult.do?fullresult=true&recordid=0 People, Parks & Fire exhibit at the National Association for Interpretation Conference in Virginia Beach, Virginia in November, 2002] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130220204509/http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natregsearchresult.do?fullresult=true&recordid=0 |date=February 20, 2013 }}</ref>

The [[Amtrak Thruway#7|Amtrak Thruway 7]] bus provides daily connections to/from Willits (with a curbside stop at 298 East Commercial Street), [[Martinez station|Martinez]] to the south, and [[Arcata, California|Arcata]] to the north. Additional [[Amtrak]] connections are available from Martinez station.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://amtraksanjoaquins.com/route-7/|title=Route 7|website=Amtrak San Joaquins}}</ref>

[[Willits Municipal Airport]] (also known as Ells Field) is a public [[general aviation]] airport with one runway, located {{convert|3|mi}} northwest of the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nfdc.faa.gov/nfdcApps/airportLookup/airportDisplay.jsp?airportId=O28|title=Ells Field-Willits Muni|publisher=[[Federal Aviation Administration]]|access-date=April 16, 2015}}</ref>

[[U.S. Route 101 in California|U.S. Route 101]] is the major highway through the Little Lake Valley, passing just east of the Willits city limits, connecting [[Eureka, California|Eureka]] to the north and [[San Francisco]] to the south. [[California State Route 20|State Route 20]] forks off of US 101 at a point just south of Willits, enters the city on South Main Street, and then heads west, running parallel to and several miles south of the Skunk Train's route, to [[Fort Bragg, California|Fort Bragg]]. In an effort to reduce traffic congestion in the city, especially on all of Main Street, the Willits Bypass project opened to traffic on November 3, 2016, despite the controversy related to its route through protected wetlands.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://abc7news.com/traffic/caltrans-ordered-to-stop-work-on-willits-bypass/127879/ | title=Caltrans Ordered to Stop Work on Willits Bypass | publisher=[[KGO-TV]] | date=June 20, 2014 | access-date=July 30, 2014}}</ref>

==Notable people==
Some notable names from Willits include [[Judi Bari]], labor leader and environmental activist, who fought to save the redwoods. Over 1,000 people attended her Willits funeral in 1997. [[Tré Cool]], drummer for [[Green Day]], lived in Willits during his teen years in the 1980s. Mona Gnader, the bass player for [[Sammy Hagar]], also resided in Willits. Stagecoach bandit Charles Bolles (a.k.a. [[Black Bart (outlaw)|Black Bart]]) stole multiple Wells Fargo boxes and mail from stagecoaches traveling through Willits.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blackbart.com/robberies.html |title= Robberies - Dates and Places|website=www.blackbart.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070607220024/http://www.blackbart.com/robberies.html |archive-date=June 7, 2007}}</ref>

[[Phil Jordon]], the first National Basketball Association player ever to have played prep basketball in the Redwood Empire area (coastal Northern California & coastal Southern Oregon), did so while at Willits High School.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barber |first=Phil |date=August 14, 2013 |title=Redwood Empire's forgotten NBA big man |url=https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/2213479-181/redwood-empires-forgotten-nba-big |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220322/https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/2213479-181/redwood-empires-forgotten-nba-big |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |access-date=October 5, 2020 |website=Santa Rosa Press Democrat |language=en}}</ref>

[[Edith Ceccarelli]], once the oldest person in the United States, was born in Willits.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 21, 2021 |title=At 113, she's California's oldest native. She got through a tough 2020 and is still going strong |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-02-21/californias-oldest-native-still-going-strong |access-date=November 24, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|California}}
* [[California wine]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Willits, California}}
{{wikivoyage|Willits}}
* {{Official website|cityofwillits.org}}
* [http://www.willits.org/ Willits Chamber of Commerce]

{{Cities of Mendocino County, California}}
{{Eel River}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:1888 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Cities in Mendocino County, California]]
[[Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1888]]