Willow City, Texas

Willow City is an unincorporated community in Gillespie County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had an estimated population of 75 in 2000.[3] The 1905 Willow City School was added to the National Register of Historic Places in Texas on May 6, 2005.[4]

Willow City, Texas
Unincorporated community
Willow City
Location within the state of Texas
Willow City
Willow City (the United States)
Coordinates: 30°24′03″N 98°42′05″W
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyGillespie
Elevation
1,713 ft (522 m)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
78675
Area code(s)830
FIPS code48-79432[1]
GNIS feature ID1380785[2]

Geography

Willow City is located at 30°24′03″N 98°42′05″W (30.4007508, -98.7014248). It is situated along FM 1323 in northeastern Gillespie County, approximately 12 miles northeast of Fredericksburg.[5]

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Willow City has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[6]

History

The area was first settled before the American Civil War, and it became a gathering point for English-speaking settlers in Gillespie County, mostly inhabited by German speaking settlers around and after the War. Named simply "Willow" in 1877 when the post office was established, the growing community became "Willow City" ten years later. At the turn of the century, Willow City was home to 132 inhabitants, but this number dropped steadily since then, going as low as 17 in 1964 before settling around 75 since the 1970s.[3][5][7]

Willow City was home to the Alfred Pfeil Gin, in which a boiler exploded September 2, 1924, killing two people. The walls of one end of the building were blown out, and one end of the boiler was found more than a hundred yards away. Farmer Edgar P. Smith was killed instantly and hurled about 50 yards. His nude body, missing its legs, was found in the creek. Walter M. Icke[8] was found near the original site of the boiler and died shortly after medical assistance arrived.[9]

Although it is unincorporated, Willow has a post office, with the ZIP code of 78675.[10]

On December 15, 1847, a petition was submitted to create Gillespie County. In 1848, the legislature formed Gillespie County from Bexar and Travis counties. While the signers were overwhelmingly German immigrants, names also on the petition were Castillo, Pena, Munos, and a handful of non-German Anglo names.

Further reading
  • Baker, T. Lindsay (1991). Ghost Towns of Texas. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 978-0-8061-2189-5.
  • Baker, T. Lindsay (2005). More Ghost Towns of Texas. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 978-0-8061-3724-7.

See also

References
  1. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. "Willow City, Texas". The Handbook of Texas online. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
  4. "THC-Willow City School". Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
  5. "Willow City, Texas". Texas Escapes Online Magazine. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
  6. Climate Summary for Willow City, Texas
  7. "Willow City". On the Loop Again. Tourin' Texas Monthly Newsletter. July 2003. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
  8. "Walter M. Icke resting place". Fredericksburg Genealogical Society. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
  9. "Death Toil in Explosion". Fredericksburg Standard. 6 September 1924.
  10. Zip Code Lookup
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