Williamsville, Missouri

Williamsville is a city in southern Wayne County, Missouri. It had a population of 342 at the 2010 census.

History

Williamsville was named for either William Williams, who became a prominent farmer in the area in the 1860s, or for his son, Asa E. Williams, who likewise owned a considerable amount of land and helped lay out the town in 1871. Development of Williamsville came from the construction of a branch line of the Missouri Pacific Railroad through the area in 1871; a post office was added the following year, and the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad was extended to the community in 1886. Williamsville was incorporated in 1887, with James F. Powers as the first mayor.

The town's population has fluctuated considerably over the years; after a peak of 511 in 1940, however, it has for the most part seen a gradual decline.

Geography

Williamsville is located on Missouri State Highway 49 in southern Wayne County, about 12 miles southwest of Greenville and 15 miles southeast of Piedmont. Its exact coordinates are 36°58’22”N 90°32’53”W.

The city lies just north of the Black River, and is entirely within the Mark Twain National Forest, which takes up much of the eastern Ozarks. The Markham Spring Recreational Area is two miles to the west. Williamsville has a total land area of 0.32 square miles, and an average elevation of 410 feet.

Demographics

At the 2010 census, Williamsville had a total of 342 inhabitants, grouped into 148 households, with a population density of 1,068.8 people per square mile. This figure marked a significant decrease from the 2000 census, when Williamsville had a population of 379. 98.25% of the inhabitants were White, 0.30% were African-American, 0.30% were Native American, and 1.19% were from two or more races. Hispanics of any race were 0.89% of the population.

The median age in Williamsville was 44.5 years, with 19.6% of inhabitants under the age of 18, 7.9% between 18 and 24 years old, 23.1% between 25 and 44, 29.2% between 45 and 64, and 20.2% 65 years old or older. The sex ratio was 50.6% male, 49.4% female.

According to the 2017 American Community Survey, Williamsville had a median household income of $34,318, and a median family income of $35,208. The unemployment rate was 16.2%. The per capita income was $15,608. About 23.2% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 33.8% of people under the age of 18 and 10.7% of people 65 years old or older.

Education

Williamsville is part of the Greenville R-II School District. Most of the school facilities are located in Greenville; however, Williamsville and the southern part of the district are served by the Williamsville Elementary School (PK-06).