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Watson, Illinois
Location of Watson in Effingham County, Illinois.
Location of Watson in Effingham County, Illinois.
Location of Illinois in the United States
Location of Illinois in the United States
Country United States
State Illinois
County Effingham
Area
 • Total 1.09 sq mi (2.83 km2)
 • Land 1.09 sq mi (2.83 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
558 ft (170 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 668
 • Density 611.72/sq mi (236.23/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code(s)
62473
Area code(s) 217
FIPS code 17-79241
GNIS ID 2400106
Wikimedia Commons Watson, Illinois

Watson is a small village located in Effingham County, Illinois, in the United States. In 2020, about 668 people lived there. Watson is part of the larger Effingham, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area. The village got its name from George Watson, who was an important person in the railroad business.

Exploring Watson's Location

Watson is found in the southern-central part of Effingham County. A road called Illinois Route 37 goes right through the village. If you travel east on Route 37 for about 1.5 miles, you'll reach U.S. Route 45. Going south for 3 miles on Route 37 will take you to Interstate 57 at Exit 151.

How Big is Watson?

The village of Watson covers an area of about 1.09 square miles (2.83 square kilometers). All of this area is land, meaning there are no lakes or large rivers within the village limits. The nearby city of Effingham, which is the main city of the county, is about 8 miles north of Watson if you take US 45.

Watson's Population Story

The number of people living in Watson has changed over many years. The U.S. Census counts everyone every ten years. Here's how Watson's population has grown and shrunk:

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 190
1890 326 71.6%
1900 341 4.6%
1910 330 −3.2%
1920 316 −4.2%
1930 286 −9.5%
1940 282 −1.4%
1950 288 2.1%
1960 247 −14.2%
1970 276 11.7%
1980 551 99.6%
1990 646 17.2%
2000 729 12.8%
2010 754 3.4%
2020 668 −11.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

Who Lives in Watson?

According to the 2020 census, there were 668 people living in Watson. Most people in the village are White. About 25.7% of the people living in Watson are under 18 years old, which means there are many kids and teenagers in the village! The average age of people in Watson is about 36.3 years old.

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Watson, Illinois Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.