Wills Point, Texas
City in the United States in Van Zandt County
About Wills Point
Wills Point is a city in Van Zandt County, Texas, United States. Its population was 3,747 at the 2020 census.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How Wills Point is governed
Form of government not yet listed.
0 of 14 positions listed. Gray dashed boxes are placeholders waiting for a name.
Residents of Wills Point
Registered voters elect the officials below.
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Mayor
Executive
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The city's chief elected official. Presides over the executive branch, proposes the budget and represents the city.
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City Manager / Administrator
Executive
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The professional administrator who runs day-to-day operations (in some cities appointed by the council instead of the mayor).
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Police Chief
Administration & departments
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Leads the police department.
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Fire Chief
Administration & departments
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Leads the fire and emergency services department.
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Public Works Director
Administration & departments
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Streets, water, sewer, and city buildings.
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Finance Director
Administration & departments
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The budget, taxes, and city accounts.
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Planning & Zoning Director
Administration & departments
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Land use, zoning, building permits.
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Parks & Recreation Director
Administration & departments
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Parks, programs, and public facilities.
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City Council
Legislative
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The elected body that passes ordinances, sets the tax rate and approves the budget.
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City Clerk
Administration & departments
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Keeps the official records, runs meeting agendas and, often, local elections.
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City Attorney
Administration & departments
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The city's lawyer; advises officials and prosecutes ordinance violations.
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Boards & Commissions
Legislative
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Citizen advisory bodies, such as planning, zoning appeals and library boards.
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Municipal Court
Judicial
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Hears traffic, ordinance and other minor cases.
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Municipal Judge
Judicial
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Presides over the municipal court.
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- Website
- cityofwillspoint.com
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Population over time
From 3,496 in 2000 to 3,747 in 2020 (+7.2%).
Show the numbers
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 3,747 |
| 2010 | 3,524 |
| 2000 | 3,496 |
History
Founded in 1873, Wills Point derives its name from an early American settler, William Wills, who arrived in the area circa 1848. He purchased a cabin from Adam Sullivan in 1852. The name "point" may also derive from the shape of the original timberline near the cabin, though unsubstantiated arguments have indicated that the name relates to the area's elevation. The layout of the city was the work of engineer General Grenville M. Dodge of the California Construction Company. The downtown streets laid with red bricks upon packed sand in the 1920s by locals remain in use. Downtown Wills Point has many of its original buildings that are over 100 years old, including the Wills cabin, a drug store, a dry good store, and a law office.
Governor George W. Bush officially named Wills Point the Bluebird Capital of Texas in 1995.
The Majestic Movie theater was the oldest continuously operated movie theater in Texas run by a single family, operated by Karl C. Lybrand, Karl C. Lybrand Jr., and Karl C. Lybrand III from 1926 until its closure in 2010.
The Bruce and Human Drug Company, built in 1879, was the oldest family-owned drug store in Texas; it closed in 2023.
Wills Point is also the final resting place for Trailblazer, the first commercially operated monorail system in the United States.
GFA World, a Christian missionary organization, is located seven miles outside the city.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.