kids encyclopedia robot

Watertown, Connecticut facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Watertown, Connecticut
Official seal of Watertown, Connecticut
Seal
Location in Litchfield County, Connecticut
Location in Litchfield County, Connecticut
Country United States
State Connecticut
NECTA Waterbury
Region Central Naugatuck Valley
Incorporated 1780
Government
 • Type Council-manager
Area
 • Total 29.5 sq mi (76.4 km2)
 • Land 29.0 sq mi (75.1 km2)
 • Water 0.5 sq mi (1.3 km2)
Elevation
583 ft (178 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 22,105
 • Density 762/sq mi (294.3/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP codes
06779, 06795
Area code(s) 860
FIPS code 09-80490
GNIS feature ID 0213527

Watertown is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 22,105 at the 2020 census. The ZIP codes for Watertown are 06795 (for most of the town) and 06779 (for the Oakville section). It is a suburb of Waterbury. The urban center of the town is the Watertown census-designated place, with a population of 3,938 at the 2020 census.

Founding

More than 310 years ago the area that is now Watertown belonged to the local Paugasuck Indians. But in 1684, Thomas Judd and 35 other proprietors bought the land from the Indians and town history began.

Geography

It is in the Eastern Standard time zone. Elevation is 620 feet.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 29.6 square miles (76.6 km²), of which, 29.1 square miles (75.5 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.1 km²) of it (1.45%) is water. Watertown also includes the section known as Oakville, which is often mistaken for a separate town. Although Oakville has its own post office and ZIP code, it does not have a charter or town government of its own. Oakville also receives all of its city services (Police, fire, water and so on) from Watertown.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1820 1,439
1850 1,533
1860 1,587 3.5%
1870 1,698 7.0%
1880 1,897 11.7%
1890 2,323 22.5%
1900 3,100 33.4%
1910 3,850 24.2%
1920 6,050 57.1%
1930 8,192 35.4%
1940 8,787 7.3%
1950 10,699 21.8%
1960 14,837 38.7%
1970 18,610 25.4%
1980 19,489 4.7%
1990 20,456 5.0%
2000 21,661 5.9%
2010 22,514 3.9%
2020 22,105 −1.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 21,661 people, 8,046 households, and 5,994 families residing in the town. The population density was 743.0 people per square mile (286.9/km2). There were 8,298 housing units at an average density of 284.6 per square mile (109.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.46% White, 0.75% African American, 0.12% Native American, 1.27% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.87% of the population.

There were 8,046 households, out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.7% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.8% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $59,420, and the median income for a family was $68,761. Males had a median income of $47,097 versus $31,822 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,044. About 1.1% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.8% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

The Route 8 expressway runs through the eastern edge of town, with two exits inside the town. Route 8 leads north 14 miles (23 km) to Torrington and south through Waterbury 34 miles (55 km) to Bridgeport. The main routes through the center of Watertown are U.S. Route 6 running east–west and Connecticut Route 63 running north–south. Route 6 leads northeast 30 miles (48 km) to Hartford, the state capital, and southwest 30 miles (48 km) to Danbury, while Route 63 leads north 10 miles (16 km) to Litchfield and south the same distance to Naugatuck. Other important highways include Route 73 (a more direct route leading through Oakville to Waterbury) and Route 262, which runs north from Oakville through the eastern part of Watertown.

Public transportation is provided by buses of Northeast Transportation Company.

Notable people

  • Rico Brogna, MLB first baseman who played for the Detroit Tigers, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, and Atlanta Braves from 1992 to 2001
  • Joe Cipriano, television announcer CBS, Fox, radio personality WWCO, WRQX, and KIIS FM
  • Erastus L. De Forest (1834–1888), mathematician
  • Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne (1853–1937), 31st mayor of Chicago (1905–1907); governor of Illinois (1913–1917); born in Watertown
  • Benjamin B. Hotchkiss (1826–1885), for whom the Hotchkiss School was named by his widow, was one of the leading American ordnance engineers of his day; born in Watertown but in early childhood moved to Sharon
  • Leatherman (1839–1889), drifter within the Connecticut and Hudson River Valley areas, known for his leather clothing
  • Meredith Mallory, former US congressman
  • Chris McKenna, actor featured in State of Affairs, The Young and the Restless, and One Life to Live
  • Thomas Tessier, writer of horror novels and short stories
  • John Trumbull (1750–1831), political satirist and poet; born in Watertown
  • David Kenyon Webster (1922-1961), soldier, journalist and author
  • Allen B. Wilson and Nathaniel Wheeler, founders of Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company in Watertown, one of the first manufacturers of sewing machines

Terry Michaels, Born Waterbury, Long time Watertown resident, Radio Personality WWCO Waterbury, WNVR 14-NVR Waterbury/Naugatuck, KEIN Great Falls, MT, WTIC-FM Hartford, WDRC-FM Hartford, WWYZ Country 92.5 Hartford, (Clear Channel Communications) WICC Bridgeport, (Cumulus Broadcasting Corp) Kicks 105.5 /Danbury/Westchester County New York

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Watertown (Connecticut) para niños

kids search engine
Watertown, Connecticut Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.