Watson, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Watson
|
|
|---|---|
Location of Watson, Minnesota
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Chippewa |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.17 sq mi (0.45 km2) |
| • Land | 0.17 sq mi (0.45 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,030 ft (310 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 182 |
| • Density | 1,040.00/sq mi (401.47/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
56295
|
| Area code(s) | 320 |
| FIPS code | 27-68656 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2397218 |
Watson is a city in Chippewa County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 205 at the 2010 census. Lac qui Parle State Park is nearby.
Contents
History
Watson was platted in 1879 when the railroad was extended to that point. The city took its name from the Watson Farmers Elevator, a local grain elevator. A post office has been in operation in Watson since 1879.
In 2024, a Watson man named Joseph M. Rongstad was arrested for threatening to kill University of Minnesota students. Rongstad, who had previously served as mayor of Watson, said he only made the threats because he wanted to talk to the Secret Service.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.18 square miles (0.47 km2), all land.
U.S. Route 59 and Minnesota State Highway 7 (co-signed) serves as a main route in the community.
Watson is known as "The Goose Capitol of the USA" due to the large number of Canada geese which migrate through and inhabit nearby Lac Qui Parle every fall.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 167 | — | |
| 1910 | 152 | −9.0% | |
| 1920 | 215 | 41.4% | |
| 1930 | 246 | 14.4% | |
| 1940 | 290 | 17.9% | |
| 1950 | 284 | −2.1% | |
| 1960 | 267 | −6.0% | |
| 1970 | 228 | −14.6% | |
| 1980 | 238 | 4.4% | |
| 1990 | 211 | −11.3% | |
| 2000 | 209 | −0.9% | |
| 2010 | 205 | −1.9% | |
| 2020 | 182 | −11.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 205 people, 90 households, and 50 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,138.9 inhabitants per square mile (439.7/km2). There were 102 housing units at an average density of 566.7 per square mile (218.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.5% White, 1.0% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5% of the population.
There were 90 households, of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.3% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 44.4% were non-families. 37.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 3.08.
The median age in the city was 41.2 years. 28.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.5% were from 25 to 44; 30.8% were from 45 to 64; and 12.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 56.1% male and 43.9% female.
See also
In Spanish: Watson (Minnesota) para niños
