Willits, California

Willits, California
Top: Masonic Temple (left) and Gateway to the Redwoods (right); Carnegie Library (left) and Mendocino County Museum (right)
Location in Mendocino County and California
Willits
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 39°24′35″N 123°21′20″W / 39.40972°N 123.35556°W / 39.40972; -123.35556
Country United States
State California
CountyMendocino
IncorporatedNovember 19, 1888
Government
  TypeCouncil–manager
  MayorSaprina Rodriguez
Area
  Total
2.82 sq mi (7.3 km2)
  Land2.82 sq mi (7.3 km2)
  Water0.00 sq mi (0.0 km2)  0.17%
Elevation
1,391 ft (424 m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total
4,988
  Density1,770.7/sq mi (683.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (PST)
  Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP Code
95490
Area code707
FIPS code06-85600
GNIS feature ID1652654
Websitecityofwillits.org

Willits (formerly Little Lake and Willitsville) is a city in Mendocino County, California, United States. It is located about 20 miles (32 km) north-northwest of Ukiah, at an elevation of 1,391 feet (424 m). The population was 4,988 at the 2020 census. Willits is at the center of Mendocino County and at the beginning of the county's extensive redwood forests as approached by Highway 101 from the south.

An arch stands in the center of Willits featuring the slogans "Gateway to the Redwoods" and "Heart of Mendocino County". The arch is the repurposed second version of the Reno Arch. Reno donated the arch to Willits in 1995.