| Official Name: | Willard, Ohio |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Etymology: | Daniel Willard |
| Nickname: | "The City of Blossoms" |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Image Map1: | Map of Huron County Ohio Highlighting Willard City.png |
| Mapsize1: | 250px |
| Map Caption1: | Location of Willard in Huron County |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Ohio |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | 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 Type: | Council/Manager |
| Leader Title: | Council President |
| Leader Title1: | City Manager |
| Leader Name1: | Bryson Hamons |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| 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 As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 6197 |
| Population Density Km2: | 668.27 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 1731.01 |
| Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
| Utc Offset: | -5 |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
| Elevation Ft: | 938 |
| Coordinates: | 41.0517°N -82.7233°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP codes |
| Postal Code: | 44888, 44890 |
| Area Code: | 419 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 39-85232[2] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 1086362 |
Willard is a city in southwestern Huron County, Ohio, United States, approximately 14miles southwest of Norwalk. The population was 6,197 at the 2020 census.
The original name of Willard was Chicago,[3] [4] named for the junction of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's line to 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,[4] 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[3]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.57sqmi, of which 3.55sqmi is land and 0.02sqmi is water.[5]
To the south of Willard are located the unincorporated communities of Celeryville and New Haven, plus the planned development of Holiday Lakes to the north.
As of the census[6] of 2010, there were 6,236 people, 2,365 households, and 1,585 families living in the city. The population density was 1756.6PD/sqmi. There were 2,687 housing units at an average density of 756.9/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 90.0% White, 1.8% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 5.6% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or 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 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.
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,806 people, 2,545 households, and 1,738 families living in the city. The population density was 1963sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 2,715 housing units at an average density of 783.1sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 90.32% White, 1.54% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 6.11% from other races, and 1.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or 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 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.
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.
Willard City Schools operates Willard High School in the city.[7] 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 Willard Memorial Library.[8]