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Willard is a rural community in northern Pender County within southeastern North Carolina's Coastal Plain. The region has a long history of human settlement that began well before European colonization. Indigenous peoples relied on the area's rivers, creeks, forests, wetlands, and abundant wildlife, developing communities and travel networks throughout what is now southeastern North Carolina. European-American settlement expanded during the colonial and early national periods as farms and small rural communities became established. When Pender County was created in 1875 from part of New Hanover County, Willard became part of a county whose identity was deeply connected to agriculture, forestry, transportation, and the coastal economy.

Agriculture has been one of the most enduring influences on Willard's development. Farms throughout northern Pender County produced tobacco, corn, vegetables, soybeans, livestock, and other commodities suited to the region's long growing season. Pender County also became known for blueberries and other specialty crops, contributing to the agricultural diversity of southeastern North Carolina. Family farms shaped both the economy and the physical landscape, with fields, farmhouses, barns, and wooded tracts defining much of the surrounding countryside.

Forestry provided another important source of economic activity. Pine forests throughout the region once supported North Carolina's extensive naval-stores industry, producing tar, pitch, rosin, and turpentine. As that industry declined, timber harvesting and lumber production remained economically significant. The combination of agriculture and forestry created a rural economy closely tied to natural resources and regional transportation networks. Local businesses and service providers developed to support farms, families, and workers across northern Pender County.

Transportation improvements strengthened Willard's connections with nearby Wallace, Burgaw, Wilmington, and communities across southeastern North Carolina. Railroads historically played an important role in transporting agricultural products, timber, and passengers throughout the region. Modern highways later became the dominant transportation system, making it easier for residents to reach employment centers, schools, healthcare facilities, and commercial services. Interstate 40, accessible nearby, provides an important regional connection toward Wilmington and inland North Carolina.

Willard's community character remains distinctly rural despite growth elsewhere in Pender County. Churches, family farms, schools, local businesses, and longstanding residential properties have traditionally anchored community life. Unlike Hampstead and other areas closer to Wilmington and the coast, Willard has experienced development at a slower pace. As a result, forests, agricultural fields, and open land continue to dominate much of the surrounding landscape and preserve the community's connection to its farming heritage.

Today, Willard offers homeowners a quiet setting within reach of several important southeastern North Carolina communities. Nearby Wallace provides shopping and services, while Burgaw serves as the Pender County seat. Wilmington and the Atlantic coast are also accessible for employment, healthcare, entertainment, and recreation. Housing includes established rural homes, farm properties, residences with acreage, manufactured homes, and newer construction. Willard's agricultural landscapes, lower-density development, and regional accessibility continue to make it representative of the rural heritage that remains an important part of Pender County.