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 1905 Willow City School was added to the National Register of Historic Places in Texas on May 6, 2005.
Geography Willow City is located along FM 1323 in northeastern Gillespie County, about northeast of Fredericksburg.
Climate The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, Willow City has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.Climate Summary for Willow City, Texas
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" 10 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 100 yards away. Farmer Edgar P. Smith was killed instantly and hurled about . His nude body, missing its 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.
See also Crabapple Loyal Valley Cherry Spring Sisterdale
References
External links
Friends of Gillespie County Schools, Willow City