Willits, California

Willits, California
City
Top: Masonic Temple (left) and Gateway to the Redwoods (right); Carnegie Library (left) and Mendocino County Museum (right)
Location in Mendocino County and California
Location in Mendocino County and California
Willits is located in the United States
Willits
Willits
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 39°24′35″N 123°21′20″W / 39.40972°N 123.35556°W / 39.40972; -123.35556
Country United States
State California
CountyMendocino
IncorporatedNovember 19, 1888[1]
Government
 • TypeCouncil–manager
 • MayorSaprina Rodriguez
Area
[2]
 • Total
2.82 sq mi (7.3 km2)
 • Land2.82 sq mi (7.3 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.0 km2)  0.17%
Elevation
[3]
1,391 ft (424 m)
Population
 (2020)[4]
 • Total
4,988
 • Density1,770.7/sq mi (683.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP Code
95490
Area code707
FIPS code06-85600
GNIS feature ID1652654[3]
Websitecityofwillits.org

Willits (formerly Little Lake and Willitsville) is a city in Mendocino County, California, United States.[3] It is located about 20 miles (32 km) north-northwest of Ukiah,[5] at an elevation of 1,391 feet (424 m).[3] The population was 4,988 at the 2020 census.[4] Willits is at the center of Mendocino County and at the beginning of the county's extensive redwood forests as approached by Highway 101 from the south.

An arch stands in the center of Willits featuring the slogans "Gateway to the Redwoods" and "Heart of Mendocino County".[6] The arch is the repurposed second version of the Reno Arch. Reno donated the arch to Willits in 1995.[7]

  1. ^ "California Cities by Incorporation Date". California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Archived from the original (Word) on February 21, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  2. ^ "2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files: California". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d 1652654
  4. ^ a b "P1. Race – Willits city, California: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  5. ^ Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, Calif.: Word Dancer Press. p. 168. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
  6. ^ "City History Archives". thecityofwillits.com. June 30, 2005. Archived from the original on December 15, 2016. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  7. ^ "Reno Arch history downtown". newtoreno.com. Retrieved July 3, 2011.