Willow City, Texas
Encyclopedia
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. The school was added to the National Register of Historic Places in Texas
on May 6, 2005, NRHP Reference #:05000385.
.
, 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 ta 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.
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 his legs, was found in the creek. Walter M. Icke was found near the original site of the boiler and died shortly after medical assistance arrived.
Although it is unincorporated, Willow has a post office, with the ZIP code of 78675
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.
The current Willow City school is a two-story granite building erected in 1905 on land donated by J.W. Lindeman and J. C. Hardin. There was no water supply until 1920. Classes were taught here until 1957.
Willow City Independent School District was consolidated with Fredericksburg Independent School District
in 1961.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Gillespie County
Gillespie County, Texas
Gillespie County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2010, its population was 24,837. It is located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Gillespie is named for Robert Addison Gillespie, who came to Texas in 1837. He was a Texas Ranger, an Indian fighter, a...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. According to the Handbook of Texas
Handbook of Texas
The Handbook of Texas is a comprehensive encyclopedia of Texas geography, history, and historical persons published by the Texas State Historical Association .-History:...
, the community had an estimated population of 75 in 2000. The school was added to the National Register of Historic Places in Texas
National Register of Historic Places listings in Texas
The following is a list of historic properties and districts in the state of Texas that are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. There are properties and/or districts listed in most of Texas's 254 counties....
on May 6, 2005, NRHP Reference #:05000385.
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 FredericksburgFredericksburg, Texas
Fredericksburg is the seat of Gillespie County, in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 Census estimate, the city had a population of 10, 530...
.
History
The area was first settled before the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, 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 ta 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.
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 his legs, was found in the creek. Walter M. Icke was found near the original site of the boiler and died shortly after medical assistance arrived.
Although it is unincorporated, Willow has a post office, with the ZIP code of 78675
On December 15, 1847, a petition was submitted to create Gillespie County. In 1848, the legislature formed Gillespie County from Bexar
Bexar County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,392,931 people, 488,942 households, and 345,681 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,117 people per square mile . There were 521,359 housing units at an average density of 418 per square mile...
and Travis
Travis County, Texas
As of 2009, the U.S. census estimates there were 1,026,158 people, 320,766 households, and 183,798 families residing in the county. The population density was 821 people per square mile . There were 335,881 housing units at an average density of 340 per square mile...
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.
Willow City School
The first school was a one-room log cabin with no floor, which doubled as a church. After being destroyed by a flood in 1890, a two-story frame house was erected.The current Willow City school is a two-story granite building erected in 1905 on land donated by J.W. Lindeman and J. C. Hardin. There was no water supply until 1920. Classes were taught here until 1957.
Willow City Independent School District was consolidated with Fredericksburg Independent School District
Fredericksburg Independent School District
Fredericksburg Independent School District is a public school district based in Fredericksburg, Texas .In addition to Fredericksburg, the district serves the unincorporated communities of Stonewall, Luckenbach, Willow City, and Albert...
in 1961.
See also
- CrabappleCrabapple, TexasCrabapple, Texas is an unincorporated farming and ranching community north of Fredericksburg in Gillespie County, Texas located on Crabapple Creek, about halfway between Fredericksburg and Enchanted Rock State Park at an elevation of 1,775 feet....
- Loyal ValleyLoyal Valley, TexasLoyal Valley is an unincorporated farming and ranching community, established in 1858, and is north of Cherry Spring in the southeastern corner of Mason County, in the U.S. state of Texas. The community is located near Cold Spring Creek, which runs east for to its mouth on Marschall Creek in...
- Cherry SpringCherry Spring, TexasCherry Spring is an unincorporated farming and ranching community established in 1852 in Gillespie County, in the U.S. state of Texas. It is located on Cherry Spring Creek, which runs from north of Fredericksburg to Llano. The creek was also sometimes known as Cherry Springs Creek by residents...
- SisterdaleSisterdale, TexasSisterdale, Texas, is an unincorporated farming and ranching community, established in 1847 and located north of Boerne in Kendall County, in the U.S. state of Texas. The community is located in the valley of Sister Creek. The current 2010 population is 25...