City of Williamsville

Williamsville City Hall

     Williamsville, a community of 379 according to the 2000 census, is nestled in the Mark Twain National Forest in Wayne County. Average temperatures range from 19 degrees Fahrenheit in January to 91 degrees Fahrenheit in July. The Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission works with the city to foster economic development for Williamsville.

     Mayor Clifford Smith and the local council work from the city hall at 114 E. Main Street. Citizens are protected by a part-time police officer and nine volunteer firemen. The per capita income for Wayne County, in 1999, was $15,137.

     From a 3,610-person workforce in Wayne County, 3,200 are employed. The unemployment rate is 11.4 percent, with 410 out of work. The average hourly wage for the county is $8.02 per hour in the manufacturing sector, and $7.46 in non-manufacturing. The county's major employers include Speciality Brands; Corlair, Corp.; Nu-Dell Plastics; McAllister Software; Hickory Specialties, Inc.; 4 A Enterprises; Gross & Janes Tie Company; and the public school systems.

     Ozark Border Electric Cooperative, headquartered in Poplar Bluff, provides electric power for Williamsville. The city offers water for its residents from its two wells. The water plant has a storage capacity of 80,000 gallons. Their sewage lagoon has a capacity of 100,000 gallons a day. Williamsville's telephone service is provided by Alltel. Residents and businesses obtain internet service from a local internet service provider in Poplar Bluff.

     Citizens of Williamsville travel only 23 miles to receive medical services. The nearest healthcare facilities are in Poplar Bluff at Pershing Veterans Administration Medical Center, Kneibert Clinic, and Three Rivers Health Care. It is 15 miles to the nearest four-lane thoroughfare, US Highway 67, and 65miles to Interstate 55. The nearest airport is in Piedmont.

     Williamsville children attend the public elementary school in town. The nearest public community college, Three Rivers Community College, is located in Poplar Bluff and boasts an enrollment of 2,824 (fall, 2001). Southeast Missouri State University, a public four-year college located in Cape Girardeau, MO, is the nearest higher learning facility. Fall, 2001, enrollment for the university was 9,352 students.

     Williamsville residents get their news from a daily and a weekly newspaper, three different radio stations and 17 cable television stations. There are four Protestant churches and a Catholic church serving the community's spiritual needs.

     Many Williamsville families enjoy the public park in town. Clearwater Lake and Wappapello Lake are both within a 20-mile radius of Williamsville. Young and old can enjoy camping, fishing, hiking/fitness/nature trails, motor boating, swimming, and water skiing. Markham Springs Park, another popular site among outdoor enthusiasts, is also nearby.

     The city is represented by 153rd District State Representative Mike Dethrow (R) and 25th District State Senator Robert (Rob) Mayer (R).  U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (R) represents Williamsville in the Eighth Congressional District.