Decades ago, if a passerby inquired at the local Post Office, "Is your town called Willow or is it called Willows?" The answer would have depended upon when the question was posed. Prior to 1916, the answer would have been "Willow". In 1916 and after, the answer would be "Willows." That's right ... someone added an "s" to the name in 1916. Then, the name was almost changed again (to Zumwalt -- the surname of an early Willows VIP). Folks vetoed that, though. (They were probably tired of ordering new letterhead.)
Willows is the county seat of Glenn County, Calif. It has an area of just under 2.9 square miles. Within that space, 6,166 individuals resided at last census count. Willows is about 23 miles southwest of Chico, Calif. and 75 miles northwest of Sacramento as the crow flies.
Moving to Willows
Willows is a "Friday Night Lights"- type of town, where the majority of town shows up to root for the high school football team. If you are looking for a rental apartment, the process isn't too tough. Simply hop onto Wood Street (the main thoroughfare) and you'll find options galore. From Willows all bills paid apartments to rental houses and duplexes, the options are plentiful and the landlords are, for the most part, friendly and easy to work with.
That's not to say that they're naive. Be sure to bring first and last month's rent, security deposit and a pet deposit (if you have one). It's also not unheard of to be asked for a credit report or proof of income. Once you jump through the predictable hoops, though, you'll find renting an apartment quick and easy.
Willows Neighborhoods
There aren't that many neighborhoods within Willow itself, as it's essentially a small town itself. However, you do have some choices when it comes to finding that dream home.
Elk Creek/Artois: If you're looking for a nice-sized house to rent, check this amazing neighborhood on the outskirts of Willow. Many of the homes here are on multiple acres and features stunning unspoiled views. If you crave solitude, this is a must-see neighborhood.
Apartment Complexes in Willows
Cedar Hills Manor: This diverse apartment community offers an abundance of tidy 1 bedroom apartments for rent, as well as two and three bedroom homes. There's a pool, playground and community laundry as well as washer/dryer hookups. What there is not is pets - if you want to live here, Fido or Fluffy will need to stay behind. This apartment community is a short walk or drive to top Willows restaurants (Black Bear Diner, Casa Ramos Mexican, Hunan Villa Chinese, etc.) Cedar Hills Manor is convenient to the city's Amtrak station.
Living in Willows
Whether you love nature, history, or simply a life well-lived, you'll love Willows. So what if it's not anywhere near a famous California beach? That just means to folks around here is that they don't need to contend with beach traffic. The biggest traffic jams around here occur during the Wal-Mart's Black Friday sale and post-homecoming parade.
Looking for a little more culture than the local Wal-Mart? Check out the Willows Museum. This proud remnant of rare period architecture is housed in a former circa-1911 Carnegie Library. Many other buildings from the period were razed to make room for new construction, but this building is a survivor. The library (now museum) survived intact with the exception of its former domed roof, which was removed decades ago. Outside the museum is an amazing rose garden that is a must-see when it's in bloom.
Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge is another top destination for residents looking to enjoy nature for the day. Bird lovers will delight in the cacophony of migratory birds such as tundra geese, northern shovelers, and white-front geese. Rabbits run rampant, too.
If you've got a need for speed rather than bird-watching, you are in luck. Willows is home to Thunderhill Raceway Park. There are open test days when anyone with a race-ready car can test its mettle. There also are clinics to teach teen drivers how to control their cars in sticky situations. And of course there also are plenty of car races you can watch zooming by on the 3-mile track.
If you're a plane rather than car junkie, Willows puts you in close proximity of the Willows-Glenn County Airport (located at the junction of State Hwy. 162 and Interstate 5. Car or plane junkie, you'll likely become well acquainted with Nancy's Airport Cafe -- it's open 24 hours a day and serves pilots, racers, truckers, and locals.
Whether you love nature or the smell of burning rubber, you'll likely not miss the annual Willows town parade -- the Lamb Derby. Launched in 1933, this week of fun usually is held the week before Mother's Day. It includes things like a 5K run, parade, music, food, food, and shopping. Each year there's a theme. In a recent year, the theme was "Mutton But Fun." Oh yeah -- if you're moving to Willows, bring your tongue-in-cheek sense of humor with you!
