Willis is an

unincorporated community An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...

in Marshall County,

Oklahoma Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...

, United States. Willis is located in the far southern portion of the county near

Lake Texoma Lake Texoma is one of the largest reservoirs in the United States, the 12th largest US Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE) lake, and the largest in USACE Tulsa District. Lake Texoma is formed by Denison Dam on the Red River in Bryan County, Oklaho ...

and is south-southwest of Madill.

U.S. Route 377 U.S. Route 377 (US 377) is a north–south United States highway. Originally formed as a short spur to connect Denton, Texas with Fort Worth, Texas, it has since been extended to Oklahoma and Mexico. Route description Texas The south ...

passes near the community to the west.

History

The community of Willis, Oklahoma was settled in 1843 when James Hamilton Willis and his wife, Amanda, a Chickasaw family, emigrated to Indian Territory. They built their house and a store east of what later became the site of Willis Bridge. The community that grew up around them became known as Willis. Their son, Raleigh "Brit" Willis, is credited with persuading the Federal Government to open a post office at Willis on March 15, 1856. According to the Marshall County Genealogical and Historical Society, the post office was established on March 15, 1866 and was discontinued on February 8, 1974.Marshall County, Oklahoma: One Hundred Years of Celebration. Marshall County Genealogical and Historical Society, 2007 Willis became a successful farming community. The principal crops were:corn, cotton, sugar cane, peanuts and peas. Cattle, hogs, chickens and turkeys were also raised in the area. The community soon had a grist mill, a cotton gin and a blacksmith shop. A ferry was established to cross the Red River, enabling the people of the Willis area to trade in Denison and Sherman, Texas."Red River History - Willis, Oklahoma (Indian Territory).
Accessed August 20, 2015. The decision to construct

meant that the site of Willis would be inundated, along with over of farmland in the Willis Valley. Houses and barns belonging to more than 40 families were moved or destroyed between 1941 and 1945. By 1945, only one store remained, which included the local post office. The post office moved north and resumed business until it was closed in May, 1946.

References

Unincorporated communities in Marshall County, Oklahoma Unincorporated communities in Oklahoma Populated places established in 1843 {{Oklahoma-geo-stub