Willis, Texas

Willis is a city in Montgomery County, Texas, United States, located eight miles north of Conroe in north central Montgomery County.

Geography
The United States Census Bureau says that the city has a total area of , which is all land.

History

Before the founding of Willis, most people in the area lived in a place known as Danville, formed in the 1830s four miles west of today's New Waverly.Danville Heritage Museum of Montgomery County. Accessed on July 5, 2017. A few Danville residents in the 1850s went south, creating the new community of what is now Willis.Foerster, Larry L. Historical Timeline of Willis, Texas. Montgomery County Historical Commission: June 2013. Accessed on July 5, 2017.

Many of the early Danville population were large planters, who held many enslaved African Americans to work the tobacco crops on their plantations. In the 1850s, there were more enslaved African Americans than whites in Danville: there were 600 slaves and 400 whites. After the Civil War, many freedmen and their families moved away from the plantations to the Willis area. There in 1867 they established Thomas Chapel United Methodist Church, which is the oldest church in Willis.

In 1870, the Houston and Great Northern Railroad (now the Union Pacific Railroad) wanted to build a railroad through Montgomery County. After the people of Danville didn't want to allow the railroad through their town, Peter J. and Richard S. Willis give away a parcel of their landholdings in Montgomery County so the railroad and station could be built there. They created the town of Willis in the process.Jackson, Charles Christopher. Willis, Texas. Handbook of Texas Online: June 15, 2010. Accessed on July 5, 2017. Upon the railroad's completion in 1872, many people of Danville, Old Waverly, and Montgomery moved to the new town of Willis.

In 1874, a county election was done to figure out if the county seat of Montgomery County should be transferred from Montgomery to Willis. Although Willis got more votes (788 to 646), it did not have the needed two-thirds majority, so the county seat stayed in Montgomery. A legal battle ended in 1878 when the Supreme Court of Texas decided in favor of Montgomery. Another county seat election was held in 1880. That year Montgomery won the vote over Willis, 1308 to 1243. The fight between the two towns ended in 1889, when Conroe was chosen as the county seat.Harley Gandy,
 William.Excerpts from "A History of Montgomery County, Texas" Chapter V, Cities, Towns, and Communities. County GenWeb: October 18, 2016. Accessed on July 5, 2017.

In the 1870s, most jobs were farming, shipping, and the manufacture of lumber and agricultural products. In 1891, some Willis residents started growing Cuban tobacco, and Willis became a center for the production of cigars and other tobacco products. During the early years of the Great Depression, Willis suffered from lowering demand in lumber products and even lower in the demand for tobacco products. A man named Tom Payne was lynched in Willis in 1927.

The economy began to grow again in 1931 during the Texas oil boom, when oil was found in the area. In the 1930s and 40s, the creation of U.S. Route 75, and with the lumber industry growing again during World War II, fully fixed the local economy.

In the mid to late 20th century through the present, agriculture and lumber are still important parts of the Willis economy, in addition to the retail, service, and manufacturing industries.Willis Visitors Guide. City of Willis, Texas. Accessed on July 5, 2017.

Demographics

As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 2,788 households in Willis with an average of 2.37 persons per household. The city has a average household income of $53,182. Around 12.5% of the city's population lives at or below the poverty line. Willis has an estimated 64.3% employment rate, with 16.9% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 83.2% holding a high school diploma.

The average age in the city was 42.3 years.

+Willis, Texas – racial and ethnic composition Race / ethnicity (NH = non-Hispanic) Pop. 2000 Pop. 2010  % 2000 % 2010  White alone (NH) 1,988 2,3812,529 49.89% 42.05%39.33% Black or African American alone (NH) 831 1,0071,076 20.85% 17.79%16.73% Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 21 1316 0.53% 0.23%0.25% Asian alone (NH) 12 2128 0.30% 0.37%0.44% Pacific Islander alone (NH) 0 52 0.00% 0.09%0.03% Other race alone (NH) 12 229 0.30% 0.04%0.45% Mixed race or multiracial (NH) 36 81246 0.90% 1.43%3.83% Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1,085 2,1522,505 27.23% 38.01%38.95%Total3,9855,6626,431100.00%100.00%100.00%

Government
Local government
The city became official in 1937. At first, Willis followed Texas’s general laws. In 2008, when the population grew past 5,000 people, Willis created its own Home Rule city charter. This means the city can make its own rules as long as they don’t break the Texas Constitution.Texas Constitution, Article XI, Section 4. Home Rule also lets the city have more control over taxes and debts.Texas Constitution, Article XI, Section 5. On May 10, 2008, the people of Willis voted to approve this new city charter.Home Rule Charter. City of Willis: Adopted May 10, 2008. Last Amended: May 10, 2014. Accessed on July 5, 2017.

Willis has a council-manager form of government. There is a six-person city council, made up of a mayor chosen by everyone and five council members each elected from different parts of the city. As of June 2022, Leonard Reed is the mayor. The council members are Ashley Nixon, Barney Stone, Tamara Young-Hector, Thomas Luster, and William Brown.Mayor and City Council. City of Willis, Texas. Accessed on June 10, 2022. The council hires a city manager who runs the day-to-day work and has a lot of responsibility. As of June 2022, the city manager is Sheyi Ipaye.City Manager. City of Willis, Texas. Accessed on June 10, 2022.

State government
Willis is part of District 3, Texas Senate, and represented by Republican Robert Nichols. In the Texas House of Representatives, Willis is part of District 16, represented by Republican Will Metcalf.Who Represents Me: Willis. Texas Legislative Council. Accessed on September 26, 2023.

Federal government
In the United States Senate, Republicans John Cornyn and Ted Cruz represent the whole state of Texas. In the United States House of Representatives, Willis is part of Texas's 8th congressional district, represented by Republican Morgan Luttrell.

The United States Postal Service Willis Post Office is located at 609 North Campbell Street.

Infrastructure
Transportation
In the 1960s, Interstate 45 was built on the west side of Willis. It connects Willis to Houston in the south and Dallas in the north. The old Houston-Dallas road through Willis, called U.S. Route 75, is now Texas State Highway 75 and runs next to Interstate 45 through downtown Willis.

Farm to Market Road 1097 connects Willis to Lake Conroe and Montgomery to the west. Its eastern terminus is Texas State Highway 150 to the east of New Waverly.

Union Pacific controls a railroad that goes north-south through Willis.

Parks and recreation
The central part of Lake Conroe is located a few miles west of Willis.Fishing Lake Conroe Texas Parks and Wildlife. Accessed on July 5, 2017.

Sam Houston National Forest is located a few miles west, north, and east of Willis.Sam Houston National Forest. USDA Forest Service. Accessed on July 5, 2017.

Education

Primary and secondary schools
Public schools
Willis' public schools are controlled by the Willis Independent School District and Responsive Education Solutions.

Six elementary schools, all of which are in Willis, serve parts of Willis:
 Edward B. Cannan Elementary School (Grades Pre-K–5th)
 C. C. Hardy Elementary School (Grades Pre-K–5th)
 Mel Parmley Elementary School (Grades Pre-K–5th)
 A.R. Turner Elementary School (Grades Pre-K–5th)
 William Lloyd Meador Elementary School (Grades Pre-K–5th)
 Lagway Elementary School (Grades Pre-K-5th)
 Vista Academy of Willis (Grades K–8)

Three middle schools serve parts of Willis:
 Robert P. Brabham Middle School (Grades 6–8) (Unincorporated Montgomery County)
 Lynn Lucas Middle School (Grades 6–8) (Willis)
 Calfee Middle School (Grades 6-8) (Conroe)
 Vista Academy of Willis (Grades K–8)

All of the city is zoned to Willis High School in Unincorporated Montgomery County.

Private schools
 Covenant Christian School

Colleges and universities
Lone Star College, which used to be called the North Harris Montgomery Community College District, serves the area. The part of Willis ISD joined the college district in 1996."History." North Harris Montgomery Community College District. December 22, 2002. Retrieved on April 5, 2010. The closest campus is Lone Star College-Montgomery, which also runs the Conroe Center in northern Conroe.LSC-Conroe Center. Lone Star College. Accessed on July 5, 2017.

Public libraries
Montgomery County Memorial Library System runs the R. F. Meador Branch at 709 West Montgomery Street."R. F. Meador Branch Library ." Montgomery County Memorial Library System. Retrieved on December 8, 2008.

Notable people
 Michael Bishop, former professional football playerMichael Bishop Stats. Fox Sports. Accessed on July 5, 2017.
 Tina Chandler, IFBB professional bodybuilder
 Jessie Hollins (1970–2009), professional baseball right-handed pitcherSolomon, Jerome. Solomon: Hollins' tale goes far beyond cup of coffee. Houston Chronicle: July 19, 2009. Accessed on July 5, 2017.
 Marcus Luttrell, Navy SEALIsensee, Laura. Willis resident reflects on surviving Afghanistan battle. Houston Chronicle:July 3, 2007. Accessed on July 5, 2017.
 D.D. Terry, professional football playerD.D. Terry. CBS Sports. Accessed on July 5, 2017.
 Cliff Young (1964–1993), professional baseball left-handed pitcherCliff Young. Baseball Reference. Accessed on July 5, 2017.
 Bernard S. Garrett Sr. (September 19, 1925 – September 9, 1999)[1] was an American businessman, investor and banker.[2]

References

Other websites
 City of Willis – official website
 Willis Independent School District.
 inWillis.com - The City Guide for Willis, Texas Locals

Category:1870 establishments in Texas
Category:Cities in Montgomery County, Texas