[3] In 1886, the Great Northern Railway laid tracks through Willow City on the way to Bottineau.

[5] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.46 square miles (1.19 km2), all land.

40.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

35.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

About 6.7% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under the age of eighteen and 22.5% of those 65 or over.

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters.