Watertown (town), New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Watertown, New York
|
|
|---|---|
 Watertown (town), New York
Location in New York
Watertown (town), New York
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Jefferson |
| Government | |
| • Type | Town Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 35.8 sq mi (92.7 km2) |
| • Land | 35.7 sq mi (92.4 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2) |
| Elevation | 538 ft (164 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 5,913 |
| • Density | 165.7/sq mi (64.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
13601-13603
|
| Area code(s) | 315 |
| FIPS code | 36-78619 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0979605 |
Watertown is a town in Jefferson County, New York, United States. In 2020, about 5,913 people lived here. The town is in the middle of Jefferson County. It borders the city of Watertown on three sides.
The city of Watertown has about four times more people than the town. So, when people say "Watertown, New York," they usually mean the city.
Contents
History of Watertown Town
Early Settlements and Land Purchases
Long ago, many Native American groups lived in this area. Early explorers found signs of their homes. Later, this land became part of something called Macomb's Purchase. This was a large land deal.
Founding the Town
The town of Watertown was officially started on March 14, 1800. This happened before Jefferson County was even formed. At that time, it was part of Oneida County.
Later, other towns were created from parts of Watertown. These included Rutland in 1802 and Hounsfield in 1806.
First Settlers and Military Presence
The first settlers arrived in the town around 1800. This was also when the first US military base was set up nearby. This base was at Sackets Harbor. Its job was to protect the border with Canada. It also helped stop smuggling in the St. Lawrence River area.
From Village to City
In 1816, the main community in Watertown became a village. This meant it had its own local government. Later, in 1869, this village grew even more and became the city of Watertown.
Historic Places
The John Losee House is a special building in the town. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014. This means it's an important historical site.
Geography and Location
Size and Borders
The town of Watertown covers about 92.7 square kilometers (35.8 square miles). Most of this area, about 92.4 square kilometers (35.7 square miles), is land. A small part, about 0.3 square kilometers (0.1 square miles), is water.
The town is located in the center of Jefferson County. It shares borders with several other towns:
- To the north: the city of Watertown and the towns of Brownville, Pamelia, and Le Ray.
- To the east: the town of Rutland.
- To the south: the towns of Adams and Rodman.
- To the west: the town of Hounsfield.
The Black River also runs along the northern border of the town.
Roads and Transportation
Several important roads pass through Watertown. Interstate 81 goes through the western part of the town. U.S. Route 11 runs north and south, close to I-81.
Other state roads like New York State Route 3, New York State Route 12, New York State Route 12F, New York State Route 126, and New York State Route 232 also cross the town. Many of these roads meet up in the city of Watertown.
For air travel, the Watertown International Airport is located nearby. It's in the town of Hounsfield, to the west.
Television Services
The Watertown area gets television signals from three main stations:
- WPBS (which is part of PBS)
- WWNY (a CBS station)
- WWTI (an ABC station)
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 2,766 | — | |
| 1830 | 4,768 | 72.4% | |
| 1840 | 5,027 | 5.4% | |
| 1850 | 7,201 | 43.2% | |
| 1860 | 7,567 | 5.1% | |
| 1870 | 1,373 | −81.9% | |
| 1880 | 1,264 | −7.9% | |
| 1890 | 1,215 | −3.9% | |
| 1900 | 1,159 | −4.6% | |
| 1910 | 1,097 | −5.3% | |
| 1920 | 1,116 | 1.7% | |
| 1930 | 1,270 | 13.8% | |
| 1940 | 1,399 | 10.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,752 | 25.2% | |
| 1960 | 2,492 | 42.2% | |
| 1970 | 3,026 | 21.4% | |
| 1980 | 3,098 | 2.4% | |
| 1990 | 4,341 | 40.1% | |
| 2000 | 4,482 | 3.2% | |
| 2010 | 4,470 | −0.3% | |
| 2020 | 5,913 | 32.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 4,482 people living in the town. There were 1,407 households, which are groups of people living together. About 1,018 of these were families.
The population density was about 124.6 people per square mile. This means how many people live in a certain area.
Age Groups
The population in the town is spread out among different age groups:
- About 21.3% of people were under 18 years old.
- About 37.6% were between 25 and 44 years old.
- About 9.9% were 65 years old or older.
The average age in the town was 37 years old.
Communities and Locations
The Town of Watertown has several smaller communities and places within its borders:
- Burrville (also called "Burrs Mills") – This is a small community, or hamlet, near the eastern edge of the town. It's on New York State Route 12. The name comes from Captain John Burr and his family, who were early settlers. Burrville was once a competitor to the community that became the City of Watertown.
- Dry Hill – This is an area of high ground in the southern part of the town. It's known for a skiing area. The name "Dry Hill" comes from the fact that it's hard to find water underground here. This makes it tough to dig a successful water well.
- East Watertown – Another hamlet located near the eastern town line. It's found on New York State Route 126.
- Fields Settlement – This place is right on the western border of the town. You can find it on County Road 63.
- Huntingtonville – A hamlet in the northeastern corner of the town, close to the Black River. Today, it's like a neighborhood of the city of Watertown.
- Rices – This hamlet is in the southeastern part of the town. It's located on Route 232, near Interstate 81.
- Rices Junction – A location just northeast of Rices, also on Route 232.
- Watertown Center – This hamlet is on US 11 at County Road 116. Watertown Center is where the town government offices are located.
