Watkins, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Watkins, Minnesota
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Location in Meeker County and the state of Minnesota
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| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Meeker |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.69 sq mi (1.78 km2) |
| • Land | 0.69 sq mi (1.78 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,165 ft (355 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 991 |
| • Density | 1,440.41/sq mi (556.48/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
55389
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| Area code(s) | 320 |
| FIPS code | 27-68620 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2397216 |
Watkins is a small city located in Meeker County, Minnesota, in the United States. In 2020, about 991 people lived there. It's a friendly community in the heart of Minnesota.
Contents
History of Watkins
The city of Watkins has a history stretching back to the late 1800s. A post office, where people send and receive mail, first opened in Watkins in 1887. The city was given its name by officials from the railroad company.
Where is Watkins?
Watkins is located in the northeastern part of Meeker County. It is about 1 mile south and west of the Stearns County border. Minnesota State Highway 55 runs through the southern part of the city. This highway connects Watkins to nearby towns. If you go east on Highway 55 for about 5 miles, you'll reach Kimball. Going west for 7 miles takes you to Eden Valley. Litchfield, which is the main city of Meeker County, is about 16 miles to the southwest.
Land and Water
Watkins covers a total area of about 0.69 square miles (1.78 square kilometers). All of this area is land. The city is located at the very beginning of the Clearwater River. This river flows southeast, then northeast, until it reaches the mighty Mississippi River near the city of Clearwater.
People of Watkins
The number of people living in Watkins has changed over the years. Here's how the population has grown:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 250 | — | |
| 1910 | 366 | 46.4% | |
| 1920 | 454 | 24.0% | |
| 1930 | 518 | 14.1% | |
| 1940 | 584 | 12.7% | |
| 1950 | 659 | 12.8% | |
| 1960 | 744 | 12.9% | |
| 1970 | 785 | 5.5% | |
| 1980 | 757 | −3.6% | |
| 1990 | 849 | 12.2% | |
| 2000 | 880 | 3.7% | |
| 2010 | 962 | 9.3% | |
| 2020 | 991 | 3.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Watkins in 2010
In 2010, a census (a count of all people) showed that 962 people lived in Watkins. There were 398 households, which are groups of people living together in one home. About 236 of these were families. The city had about 1355 people per square mile. Most of the people living in Watkins were White (98.8%).
Many households (35.4%) had children under 18 years old living with them. The average household had 2.29 people. The average family had 2.97 people. The median age in the city was 36.9 years old. This means half the people were younger than 36.9, and half were older. About 28.1% of the residents were under 18 years old. Also, 19.6% of the people were 65 years or older.
Famous Person from Watkins
- Eugene McCarthy was born in Watkins. He became a very important person in American politics. He served as a U.S. senator and even ran to become president in 1968.
See also
In Spanish: Watkins (Minnesota) para niños
