Watertown, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Watertown, Tennessee
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Watertown Town Hall
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Location of Watertown in Wilson County, Tennessee.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Wilson |
| Settled | 1780 |
| Incorporated | 1905 |
| Named for | Wilson L. Waters, founder |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.44 sq mi (3.72 km2) |
| • Land | 1.44 sq mi (3.72 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 653 ft (199 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,553 |
| • Density | 1,081.48/sq mi (417.52/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
37184
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| Area code(s) | 615 |
| FIPS code | 47-78320 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1304411 |
Watertown is a small town located in Wilson County, Tennessee. In 2020, about 1,553 people lived there. It is located southeast of Lebanon and northwest of Smithville.
Contents
History of Watertown
How Watertown Began
Before Watertown became a town, the land was given to Colonel Archibald Lytle and his brother William. This was a special grant after the Revolutionary War. Around 1790, the grandparents of Wilson L. Waters moved to this area. Wilson L. Waters later became the founder of Watertown.
In 1845, the local post office moved to Wilson's store. Wilson Waters then expanded his business. He added a sawmill, a gristmill, and a blacksmith shop. Eventually, Wilson Waters' 400-acre farm became the town of Watertown.
The Railroad Arrives
In 1885, the Nashville and Knoxville Railroad built a train station in Watertown. This made the town a very important business center. Because of the railroad, the village quickly doubled in size.
Rebuilding After the Fire
In 1903, a big fire swept through Watertown. Many wooden buildings and businesses were destroyed. After the fire, the town was rebuilt with brick buildings around a central town square. This new layout created the heart of Watertown as it looks today.
Where is Watertown Located?
Watertown is located at 36.100039 degrees North and 86.137102 degrees West. The town covers a total area of about 1.2 square miles (3.1 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Who Lives in Watertown?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 517 | — | |
| 1920 | 933 | 80.5% | |
| 1930 | 928 | −0.5% | |
| 1940 | 908 | −2.2% | |
| 1950 | 933 | 2.8% | |
| 1960 | 919 | −1.5% | |
| 1970 | 1,061 | 15.5% | |
| 1980 | 1,300 | 22.5% | |
| 1990 | 1,250 | −3.8% | |
| 2000 | 1,358 | 8.6% | |
| 2010 | 1,477 | 8.8% | |
| 2020 | 1,553 | 5.1% | |
| Sources: | |||
In 2000, there were 1,358 people living in Watertown. These people lived in 542 households, and 377 of these were families. The town had about 1,084 people per square mile. There were 605 homes in total.
Most of the people in Watertown were White (91.24%). About 6.11% were African American, and 0.37% were Native American. A small number were Asian (0.07%) or from other backgrounds. About 1.25% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Families and Ages
Out of the 542 households, 33.4% had children under 18 living with them. About 51.5% were married couples. Around 13.3% were single mothers. About 28.4% of all households were single people. Also, 14.6% of homes had someone 65 or older living alone.
The average household had 2.51 people. The average family had 3.06 people. The population was spread out by age. About 26.7% were under 18. Around 15.4% were 65 or older. The average age in Watertown was 37 years old.
Education in Watertown
Watertown's schools are part of Wilson County Schools. Students attend Watertown Elementary School, Watertown Middle School, and Watertown High School.
Fun Things to Do in Watertown
Watertown is known for several interesting things:
- The movie Old Henry (2021) was filmed in Watertown, Tennessee.
- It was also a filming location for Dark Harvest 3: Skarecrow.
- In 2003, the Stardust Drive-in theater opened in Watertown. This was special because most drive-in theaters had closed.
- The city is a popular stop for special train trips from nearby Nashville. These trips are run by the Tennessee Central Railway Museum.
- Watertown hosts an annual Jazz Festival, which is a big event for music lovers.
- The White Elephant Emporium in Watertown was featured on the TV show American Pickers.
- D.M. Barrett, a fiction novelist, is from Watertown.
Music Videos and Songs Filmed in Watertown
Watertown has been a popular spot for music artists!
- In 1997, songwriter Tom T. Hall wrote a song called "Watertown, Tennessee."
- Taylor Swift filmed her music video for "Safe & Sound" in a forest in Watertown.
- Country singer Garth Brooks filmed a Dr Pepper commercial and his "Wrapped Up In You" music video on the town square in 2001.
- Parts of the music video for "Red High Heels" by Kellie Pickler were shot at Robinson Stadium. This is the football field at Watertown High School.
- Singer Justin Bieber filmed his music video for "One Less Lonely Girl" at the Kleen O Matic laundromat.
- Darius Rucker filmed his music video for "Wagon Wheel" in Watertown, also at the Kleen O Matic laundromat.
- American actress and singer-songwriter Jennette McCurdy filmed her music video for "Not That Far Away" in Watertown in 2010.
- Tim McGraw filmed the video for his song "Southern Voice" on East Main Street in Watertown in 2009.
- In 2011, Chris Young filmed his video for the song "Young" on East Main Street. It was shot at an old gas station.
- Blanco Brown filmed the video for "The Git Up" in Watertown.
Images for kids
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First Baptist Church in Watertown
See also
In Spanish: Watertown (Tennessee) para niños
