This place is not anything special... or even clos
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7/23/2006
Sure, there are the people who've lived here their entire life who insist this is perfect, small-town America. It's not. They only think it is because they've never been able to move anywhere else. It's not aesthetically pleasing at all. It's full of people living in small, poorly built homes. The school is large for the area and takes in some of North Springfield. The town is really backward concerning planning and development. They haven't allowed fast food or other chain establishments for years so as not to hurt the "small town charm" Willard supposedly has. Too bad there wasn't any of that to begin with. Nothing but a very depressing little strip that used to be downtown. There are some dirty old buildings that house a few low class restuarants, etc. There is no shopping except for a terrible grocery store where you're lucky if they carry staples like bananas and milk. It's just far enough to drive to Springfield for it to be a pain in your butt. Then you have to drive even farther since Willard is on the Northwest side of Springfield... the part of town that is old and houses nothing but more depressing old run down buildings, a lot like Willard. The South side of Spfld is where everything is and it takes you a good 30 minutes to get there. My advice is that if you really want to live in the Springfield area (and if you do, you really need to think it over again) move to one of the suburbs that are actually growing and can offer you more than a depressing view as you drive to work every morning. Try Ozark, Republic, or Nixa. Even Rogersville is better than Willard. Still depressing, but at least the town isn't run by people that won't even allow a McDonald's to be put in. I mean, they're at least willing to try and grow a little, right? If you want beautiful, very small-town America with few people and not much hustle and bustle, choose farther North and West of Willard in Greenfield or Ash Grove. These towns are prettier, and, although they also don't offer a lot along the lines of restaurants and stores, they still have old homes that have been kept up, and that gorgeous atmosphere that people look for who don't want to live close to a city. Springfield is a longer drive from these towns, but it's worth it not to have to look at new, two bedroom, cheap homes slapped up in odd clusters that all look the same in a flat, almost desolate looking area. These other towns have character. If you move here after reading this, it's y
Allison | Willard, MO