Willard

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 through Willard to Herington. 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 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 until a new roadway bridge was built in 1955.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. 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.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  5,531
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,769
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  4,502
• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  4,349
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,940
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,881
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  3,588
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  3,363

Largest nearby schools

• Wanamaker Elem
  Elementary · Topeka · 484 students · 13.4:1 ratio
• Indian Hills Elementary
  Elementary · Topeka · 474 students · 14.4:1 ratio
• Silver Lake Elem
  Elementary · Silver Lake · 362 students · 12.9:1 ratio
• Rossville Elem
  Elementary · Rossville · 330 students · 13.2:1 ratio
• Silver Lake Jr-Sr High
  High · Silver Lake · 330 students · 10.3:1 ratio
• Rossville Jr.-Sr. High School
  High · Rossville · 270 students · 9.6:1 ratio