History: Willisburg, a northern Washington County town, was chartered in 1838. Named for Captain Henry Willis, a member of the Kentucky Militia. His son, Joseph, was the first postmaster of the Willisburg Post Office. The Willisburg Post Office opened in 1844, but a post office operated in the area from 1838 to 1839 as Paeola. William Phelps was the Postmaster of the Paeola Post Office. The 2010 US Census population was 282. The US Census 2019 estimate was 285.