The town of Willards was established by Ebenezer Davis in 1895. At that time, there was a railroad station, and soon there was a steam saw mill, a basket factory, and a church. The town grew slowly over the years. Eventually, along came a school, a fire station, and a bank.

In 1976, growth took on a faster pace when a new water and sewer system was completed to serve the town’s residents. By the end of the 20th century, Willards found it necessary to start upgrading the utility system to accommodate the burgeoning population, which by that time had reached about 900.

Willards’ economy is centered around agriculture and the poultry industry. There is a modern lumber factory, two banks, a post office, an insurance office complex, and a community center.

Willards can be found just off U.S. Route 50, 15 minutes east of Salisbury and 20 minutes west of Ocean City. It is surrounded by the farmland and woods that have made Maryland’s Eastern Shore famous as a sportsman’s paradise.