Willow Springs, Missouri

Willow Springs, Missouri
Country	United States
State	Missouri
Settled	1868
Population	2,184 (2010 census)
Area (sq mi)	3.54 mi²
Current mayor	Brooke Fair

Willow Springs is a 4th-class city in northwestern Howell County, Missouri. It had a population of 2,184 at the 2010 census.

History

Willow Springs derived its name from a natural spring some nine miles east of the current town, one of several across northern Howell County, with many willow trees growing nearby. Multiple settlers established homesteads around it in the years following the Civil War, including James Gaston and George Rowe, a former Union soldier, in whose honor the landmark was also sometimes called "Rowe Spring." A post office bearing the "Willow Springs" name was opened during this time, but in 1868 it was moved west to a location near a store operated by Benjamin Carter. During the 1880s, this site was chosen as a junction point for the Kansas City, Fort Scott, and Memphis Railroad that ran southeast to West Plains and the Current River branch of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway. It was after this point especially that Willow Springs developed as a thriving community.

By 1890, soon after its incorporation, the city already had a population of over 1,500, due to the commerce provided by the railroads that passed through it, as well as various local enterprises, such as some short-lived attempts to establish health resorts at the various springs nearby. It fluctuated around that level until the mid-20th century, and since then has seen a slow but fairly steady increase, thanks in part to growing tourism throughout the Ozarks. The town today boasts its proximity to various patches of natural wilderness and state historic sites.

Geography

Willow Springs is located in northwestern Howell County, along U.S. Routes 60 and 63, which run concurrently through the city before dividing just southeast of it. Missouri State Highway 137 enters from the northeast and runs through the downtown section as Harris Street, before becoming State Highway 76 and continuing west towards Branson. Willow Springs is about 15 miles west of Mountain View, 18 miles northwest of West Plains, and about 80 miles east of Springfield. Its exact coordinates are 36°59’28”N 91°58’02”W.

The city lies in open, gently rolling terrain, like much of Howell County, though somewhat more rugged countryside lies just to the north, dividing the watersheds of the White and Current Rivers. It has a total area of 3.54 square miles, and an average elevation of 1,270 feet.

Demographics

At the 2010 census, Willow Springs had a total of 2,184 inhabitants, grouped into 925 households, with a population density of 618.7 people per square mile. This figure represented a slight increase from the 2000 census, when Willow Springs had a population of 2,147. 96.11% of the inhabitants were White, 0.14% were African-American, 0.41% were Native American, 0.73% were Asian, 0.46% were from some other race, and 2.15% were from two or more races. Hispanics of any race were 2.06% of the population.

The median age in Willow Springs was 38.6 years, with 26.6% of inhabitants under the age of 18, 8.1% between 18 and 24 years old, 23.2% between 25 and 44, 21.1% between 45 and 64, and 21.1% 65 years old or older. The sex ratio was 47.1% male, 52.9% female.

According to the 2018 American Community Survey, Willow Springs had a median household income of $40,000, and a median family income of $43,800. The unemployment rate was 7.4%. The per capita income was $22,065. About 24.4% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 34.9% of people under the age of 18 and 18.7% of people 65 years old or older.

Education

The Willow Springs R-IV School District serves the city and the surrounding area, including neighboring portions of Douglas and Texas Counties. The school system has been in existence since 1894, with the first high school class graduating the following year. It is a PK-12 public institution, with a total enrollment of over 1,300 students. Its mascot is the Bears, and the school colors are maroon and white. The district prides itself on its high levels of educational achievement, noting that its teachers have at least a Master's Degree in a majority of cases, and an average of 14 years' teaching experience.

Community Life

Much of the town's economy is based on its being a stopover point for tourists visiting the Ozarks, especially such nearby locations as Alley Spring, Big Spring, Hodgson Mill, and Rockbridge Mill. There is one hotel, a Comfort Inn, and numerous locations for camping throughout the year.

Local recreation in Willow Springs itself includes several parks, a seasonal Farmers' Market, a city pool/water park, and the 9-hole Thomas F. Benyo Municipal Golf Course.

Notable People

• A. Claude Ferguson (1923-2006), American conservationist and environmentalist
• Robert "Bob" Ferguson (1927-2001), younger brother of Claude Ferguson, country music songwriter and record producer
• Rowe Findley (1925-2003), newspaper journalist, writer and assistant editor for National Geographic magazine