Watertown, South Dakota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Watertown, South Dakota
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Redlin Art Center
Watertown station
Codington County Courthouse
Codington County Heritage Museum
Evangelical United Brethren Church
Mellette House
Old Post Office
Watertown Stadium
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| Nickname(s):
South Dakota's Rising Star
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Location in Codington County and the state of South Dakota
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| Country | United States | |
| State | South Dakota | |
| County | Codington | |
| Founded | 1879 | |
| Incorporated | 1885 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Mayor–council | |
| • Body | Watertown City Council | |
| Area | ||
| • City | 26.34 sq mi (68.23 km2) | |
| • Land | 18.37 sq mi (47.57 km2) | |
| • Water | 7.98 sq mi (20.66 km2) | |
| Elevation | 1,729 ft (527 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • City | 22,655 | |
| • Estimate
(2024)
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23,501 | |
| • Density | 1,233.46/sq mi (476.25/km2) | |
| • Metro | 28,325 (US: 451st) | |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | |
| ZIP code |
57201
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| Area code(s) | 605 | |
| FIPS code | 46-69300 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 1267627 | |
Watertown is a city in Codington County, South Dakota, United States. It is the main city of the Watertown Micropolitan Statistical Area. This area includes all of Codington County.
Watertown is famous for the Redlin Art Center. This center displays many works by Terry Redlin, a very popular wildlife artist. The city is located between Pelican Lake and Lake Kampeska. These lakes inspired much of Redlin's art.
In 2020, the population was 22,655. This makes Watertown the 5th-most populous city in South Dakota. It is also home to the Bramble Park Zoo. Homes in Watertown are considered quite expensive for a city of its size in South Dakota.
Contents
Geography and Nature
Watertown is located along the Big Sioux River. The city covers about 25 square miles (65 square kilometers). About 17.5 square miles (45 square kilometers) is land. The rest, about 7.6 square miles (20 square kilometers), is water.
Watertown sits near two large lakes: Pelican Lake and Lake Kampeska. Much of the city is also on a small plateau, which is a flat area of land higher than the land around it. The Watertown Regional Airport is about 1,745 feet (532 meters) above sea level.
History of Watertown
Watertown was started in 1879. It began as a train stop when the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad reopened a part of its line. This line went to Lake Kampeska. The city was named after Watertown, New York. This was the hometown of John E. and Oscar P. Kemp, two of the city's founders. The town was first going to be called Kampeska.
In the 1880s, Watertown grew quickly. It became an important place for transportation as railroads expanded west. Watertown was considered to be the capital of the new state of South Dakota. However, Pierre was chosen instead because it was more central. The city's newspaper, the Watertown Public Opinion, started in 1887.
In the mid-1900s, Interstate 29 was built through eastern South Dakota. The road was designed to pass close to Watertown. This highway greatly helped Watertown and nearby towns grow economically.
Climate and Weather
Watertown has a climate with hot summers. It is considered a humid city. However, it is fairly dry for its climate type. This is because it is located in the Great Plains. This area often has big changes in temperature.
| Climate data for Watertown Regional Airport, South Dakota (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1893−present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 65 (18) |
66 (19) |
82 (28) |
95 (35) |
106 (41) |
107 (42) |
110 (43) |
105 (41) |
104 (40) |
91 (33) |
78 (26) |
69 (21) |
110 (43) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 41.7 (5.4) |
46.0 (7.8) |
63.1 (17.3) |
78.6 (25.9) |
86.3 (30.2) |
90.8 (32.7) |
93.4 (34.1) |
91.3 (32.9) |
87.7 (30.9) |
79.0 (26.1) |
62.2 (16.8) |
44.8 (7.1) |
95.0 (35.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 21.4 (−5.9) |
25.9 (−3.4) |
38.6 (3.7) |
54.0 (12.2) |
66.9 (19.4) |
76.8 (24.9) |
82.0 (27.8) |
79.5 (26.4) |
71.6 (22.0) |
56.2 (13.4) |
39.8 (4.3) |
26.3 (−3.2) |
53.2 (11.8) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 12.2 (−11.0) |
16.3 (−8.7) |
29.1 (−1.6) |
42.8 (6.0) |
55.7 (13.2) |
66.1 (18.9) |
71.0 (21.7) |
68.5 (20.3) |
60.1 (15.6) |
45.7 (7.6) |
30.6 (−0.8) |
17.8 (−7.9) |
43.0 (6.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 3.1 (−16.1) |
6.7 (−14.1) |
19.6 (−6.9) |
31.5 (−0.3) |
44.5 (6.9) |
55.4 (13.0) |
60.0 (15.6) |
57.5 (14.2) |
48.6 (9.2) |
35.2 (1.8) |
21.3 (−5.9) |
9.3 (−12.6) |
32.7 (0.4) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −20.9 (−29.4) |
−17.2 (−27.3) |
−6.0 (−21.1) |
15.1 (−9.4) |
29.4 (−1.4) |
42.9 (6.1) |
47.3 (8.5) |
44.6 (7.0) |
32.1 (0.1) |
18.4 (−7.6) |
2.3 (−16.5) |
−13.8 (−25.4) |
−24.3 (−31.3) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −40 (−40) |
−38 (−39) |
−27 (−33) |
−10 (−23) |
16 (−9) |
25 (−4) |
35 (2) |
32 (0) |
9 (−13) |
−2 (−19) |
−20 (−29) |
−37 (−38) |
−40 (−40) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.58 (15) |
0.65 (17) |
1.00 (25) |
2.06 (52) |
2.87 (73) |
3.85 (98) |
3.05 (77) |
2.89 (73) |
2.45 (62) |
1.95 (50) |
0.68 (17) |
0.68 (17) |
22.71 (577) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 6.7 (17) |
8.9 (23) |
5.4 (14) |
5.2 (13) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
1.4 (3.6) |
4.5 (11) |
8.9 (23) |
41.1 (104) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 5.9 | 6.0 | 6.9 | 8.9 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 9.5 | 8.6 | 8.5 | 7.5 | 5.4 | 6.3 | 96.3 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 5.6 | 5.9 | 3.5 | 1.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 6.0 | 26.6 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 746 | — | |
| 1890 | 2,672 | 258.2% | |
| 1900 | 3,352 | 25.4% | |
| 1910 | 7,010 | 109.1% | |
| 1920 | 9,400 | 34.1% | |
| 1930 | 10,214 | 8.7% | |
| 1940 | 10,617 | 3.9% | |
| 1950 | 12,699 | 19.6% | |
| 1960 | 14,077 | 10.9% | |
| 1970 | 13,388 | −4.9% | |
| 1980 | 15,649 | 16.9% | |
| 1990 | 17,592 | 12.4% | |
| 2000 | 20,237 | 15.0% | |
| 2010 | 21,482 | 6.2% | |
| 2020 | 22,655 | 5.5% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 23,019 | 7.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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In 2010, Watertown had 21,482 people living there. There were 9,278 households and 5,563 families. The city had about 1,231 people per square mile (475 people per square kilometer).
Most people in Watertown are White (94.8%). There are also Native American (2.4%), African American (0.4%), and Asian (0.5%) residents. About 1.6% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
About 29.6% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.28 people. The average family had 2.90 people. The median age in the city was 36.6 years old.
Education and Schools
Watertown offers several options for education.
Colleges and Technical Schools
- Lake Area Technical College is a public technical school. It offers degrees in fields like nursing and welding.
- Mount Marty College has a campus in Watertown. It is a private Catholic school.
Lake Area Technical College won the 2017 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. This award recognizes top community colleges.
High Schools
- Watertown High School is the public high school.
- Great Plains Lutheran High School is a private boarding school. It is part of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
Middle and Elementary Schools
- Watertown Middle School serves 7th and 8th graders. It opened in 2015.
- The former middle school became the Intermediate School for 5th and 6th graders.
- There are five public elementary schools: Lincoln, Jefferson, Roosevelt, McKinnely, and Mellette.
- Private elementary schools include Immaculate Conception School (Catholic), St. Martin's Lutheran School (WELS), and Watertown Christian School.
Library
The Watertown Regional Library is the main library in town. It is open every day.
Fun Places to Visit
Watertown has many interesting places to see and things to do:
- Redlin Art Center: See amazing wildlife art.
- Bramble Park Zoo: Visit animals from around the world.
- Codington County Heritage Museum: Learn about local history.
- Mellette House: Explore the home of South Dakota's first governor.
- Watertown Family Aquatic Center: A great place for swimming and water fun.
- Watertown Stadium: Watch local sports events.
- Lake Kampeska and Pelican Lake: Enjoy boating, fishing, and other lake activities.
- Watertown Regional Library: A place to read and learn.
- The Goss Opera House: Enjoy performances and events.
Local News and Entertainment
Newspaper
- The Watertown Public Opinion is the city's daily newspaper.
Television Channels
| Channel (Digital) |
Callsign | Network | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | KDLO-DT (Satellite of KELO) |
CBS | Nexstar Media Group |
| 3.2 | KDLO-DT (Satellite of KELO) |
MyNetworkTV | Nexstar Media Group |
| 3.4 | KDLO-DT (Satellite of KELO) |
The CW Plus | Nexstar Media Group |
| 13.1 | K32DK-D (Translator of KSFY) |
ABC | Gray Television |
| 13.2 | K32DK-D (Translator of KSFY) |
Outlaw | Gray Television |
| 13.3 | K32DK-D (Translator of KSFY) |
MeTV | Gray Television |
| 13.4 | K32DK-D (Translator of KSFY) |
True Crime Network | Gray Television |
| 13.5 | K32DK-D (Translator of KSFY) |
TheGrio | Gray Television |
| 46.1 | K28OE-D (Translator of KDLT) |
NBC | Gray Television |
| 46.2 | K28OE-D (Translator of KDLT) |
FOX | Gray Television |
| 46.3 | K28OE-D (Translator of KDLT) |
The365 | Gray Television |
| 46.4 | K28OE-D (Translator of KDLT) |
Cozi TV | Gray Television |
| 46.5 | K28OE-D (Translator of KDLT) |
Court TV | Gray Television |
| 46.6 | K28OE-D (Translator of KDLT) |
Ion Mystery | Gray Television |
Radio Stations
Watertown has several AM and FM radio stations. They play different types of music and offer news and talk shows.
AM Radio Stations
| AM radio stations | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequency | Call sign | Name | Format | Owner | City |
| 950 AM | KWAT | Full-service radio | Alpha Media | Watertown | |
| 1480 AM | KSDR | The Talk of Watertown | Conservative talk radio | Alpha Media | Watertown |
FM Radio Stations
| FM radio stations | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequency | Call sign | Name | Format | Owner | Target city/market | City of license |
| 89.1 FM | KPGT | Religious | Church Planters of America | Watertown | Watertown | |
| 90.1 FM | K211EC | Christian WJFM-FM translator |
Jimmy Swaggart Ministries | Watertown | Watertown | |
| 90.3 FM | KJSD | South Dakota Public Broadcasting | NPR | South Dakota Bureau of Information and Telecommunication | Watertown | Watertown |
| 91.9 FM | K220IT | KNWC-FM | Contemporary Christian | University of Northwestern - St. Paul | Watertown | Watertown |
| 92.9 FM | KSDR-FM | New Country KS93 | Hot Country | Alpha Media | Watertown | Watertown |
| 96.1 FM | KIXX | The Best Mix Kicks 96 | Hot AC | Alpha Media | Watertown | Watertown |
| 96.9 FM | KDLO-FM | 96.9 KDLO Country | Classic Country | Alpha Media | Watertown | Watertown |
| 98.1 FM | KPHR | Star 98.1 | Soft Adult Contemporary | Prairie Winds Broadcasting | Watertown | Ortonville |
| 99.1 FM | KXLG | Soft Adult Contemporary, News/Talk | TMRG Broadcasting, LLC | Watertown | Milbank | |
| 103.5 FM | K278BK | Christian Radio | VCY America | Watertown | Watertown | |
| 104.3 FM | KKSD | 104.3 KKSD | Classic Hits | Alpha Media | Watertown | Milbank |
| 106.3 FM | KPHR | Power 106.3 | Classic Rock | Prairie Winds Broadcasting | Watertown | Ortonville |
Getting Around Watertown
Interstate 29 has exits at 177 and 180 for Watertown.
U.S. Highway 81
U.S. Highway 212
South Dakota Highway 20
Watertown also has a local airport, Watertown Regional Airport. It offers flights to Denver and Chicago O'Hare. The Watertown Area Transit Corporation provides local bus service. You can also find intercity bus service through Jefferson Lines.
Famous People from Watertown
- Cleveland Abbott (1892–1973): A Hall of Fame coach and educator.
- Sylvia Bacon (born 1931): A judge in Washington, D.C.
- Stephen Foster Briggs (1885–1976): He founded the Briggs & Stratton Corporation.
- John Hamre (born 1950): A former Deputy Secretary of Defense.
- Wendell "Bud" Hurlbut (1918–2011): A designer of amusement parks.
- J. A. Jance (born 1944): A well-known writer.
- Charles B. Kornmann (born 1937): A federal judge.
- Jake Krull (1938–2016): An Army Brigadier General and state senator.
- George R. Mather (1911–1993): A general in the U.S. Army.
- Arthur C. Mellette (1842–1896): The last governor of Dakota Territory and first governor of South Dakota.
- Kristi Noem (born 1971): The current governor of South Dakota.
- Lee Raymond (born 1938): Former CEO of ExxonMobil.
- Terry Redlin (1937–2016): A famous wildlife artist.
- Joseph Schull (1906–1980): A Canadian playwright and historian.
- Timmy Williams (born 1981): A comedian.
Notable Visitors
Former President Barack Obama has visited Watertown twice. He came in 2008 during his presidential campaign. He also visited in 2015 to speak at the graduation of Lake Area Technical College.
Major Employers in Watertown
These are some of the largest employers in Watertown:
| Employer | Sector | Number of Employees | As of | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watertown School District | Education | 776 | June 2018 | |
| Prairie Lakes Health System | Healthcare | 683 | June 2018 | |
| Terex Utilities | Manufacturing | 634 | June 2018 | |
| Hy-Vee | Retail | 450 | June 2018 | Mostly part-time |
| Premier Bankcard | Lending | 367 | June 2018 | |
| City of Watertown | Government | 336 | June 2018 | |
| Worthington Industries | Manufacturing | 309 | June 2018 | |
| Walmart | Retail | 300 | July 2017 | |
| Dakota Bodies | Manufacturing | 285 | June 2018 | |
| Jenkins Living Center | Healthcare | 274 | June 2018 | |
| OEM Worldwide/Sparton | Manufacturing | 272 | May 2017 | |
| Spartronics | Manufacturing | 253 | June 2018 | |
| Dakota Sioux Casino | Entertainment | 215 | November 2016 | |
| Lake Area Technical College | Education | 211 | May 2017 | |
| Target | Retail | 85 | July 2017 |
Images for kids
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An 1883 illustration of Watertown from a bird's eye view.
See also
In Spanish: Watertown (Dakota del Sur) para niños
