Watertown, South Dakota





City in South Dakota, United States







































































































Watertown, South Dakota
City

Intersection of Interstate 29 and Highway 212: The Redlin Art Center
Intersection of Interstate 29 and Highway 212: The Redlin Art Center

Nickname(s): 
South Dakota's Rising Star


Location in Codington County and the state of South Dakota
Location in Codington County and the state of South Dakota

Coordinates: 44°54′12″N 97°7′14″W / 44.90333°N 97.12056°W / 44.90333; -97.12056Coordinates: 44°54′12″N 97°7′14″W / 44.90333°N 97.12056°W / 44.90333; -97.12056
Country United States
State South Dakota
County Codington
Founded 1879[2]
Incorporated 1885[3]
Government

 • Type Mayor–council
 • Body Watertown City Council
 • Mayor
Sarah Caron[1]
Area
[4]

 • City
25.04 sq mi (64.85 km2)
 • Land 17.45 sq mi (45.20 km2)
 • Water 7.59 sq mi (19.66 km2)
Elevation

1,732 ft (528 m)
Population
(2010)[6]

 • City
21,482
 • Estimate 
(2017)[5]

22,222
 • Density 1,231.1/sq mi (475.3/km2)
 • Metro

28,099 (US: 443th)
Time zone
UTC−6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)
UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP code
57201
Area code(s) 605
FIPS code 46-69300

GNIS feature ID
1258841[7]
Website Watertown

Watertown is a city in and the county seat of Codington County, South Dakota, United States.[8] The population was 21,482 at the 2010 census. It is the fifth largest city in South Dakota. It is also the principal city of the Watertown Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Codington and Hamlin counties.


Watertown is home to the Redlin Art Center which houses many of the original art works produced by Terry Redlin, one of America's most popular wildlife artists. Watertown also is home to the Bramble Park Zoo and the Watertown Regional Library. The Watertown Public Opinion is a six-day daily newspaper published in Watertown.


Watertown's residential real estate is considered the most expensive in South Dakota for cities of its size; the median price for a home in Watertown is around $200,000.[9]




Contents






  • 1 Geography


  • 2 History


  • 3 Climate


  • 4 Demographics


    • 4.1 2010 census


    • 4.2 2000 census




  • 5 Education


  • 6 Points of interest


  • 7 Local media


    • 7.1 Television


    • 7.2 AM radio


    • 7.3 FM radio




  • 8 Transportation


  • 9 Notable people


  • 10 Notable visitors


  • 11 Major employers


  • 12 References


    • 12.1 Bibliography




  • 13 External links





Geography


Watertown is located at 44°54′12″N 97°7′14″W / 44.90333°N 97.12056°W / 44.90333; -97.12056 (44.903433, -97.120437),[10] along the Big Sioux River.[11]


According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 25.04 square miles (64.85 km2), of which, 17.45 square miles (45.20 km2) is land and 7.59 square miles (19.66 km2) is water.[4] Watertown sits on the Big Sioux River and two major lakes, Pelican Lake and Lake Kampeska. Most of Watertown also sits upon a short plateau. Elevation at Watertown Regional Airport is 1,745 feet.


Watertown has been assigned the ZIP code 57201 and the FIPS place code 69300.



History




An 1883 bird's eye illustration of Watertown


Watertown was founded in 1879 as a rail terminus when the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad reactivated part of a line it had constructed to Lake Kampeska.[2][12] Despite the prominence of rivers and lakes in the area, the city was named after Watertown, New York, the hometown of brothers John E. Kemp and Oscar P. Kemp, two of the city's founders. The town's name was originally planned to be named Kampeska.[2]


During the 1880s, Watertown prospered as a transportation hub after the railroads had been extended farther west. Along with several other cities, Watertown had been a candidate as capital of the new state of South Dakota,[2] although it lost out to the more centrally located Pierre. The city's current newspaper, the Watertown Public Opinion, began publishing in 1887.[2]


In the mid-20th century, Interstate 29 was constructed through eastern South Dakota.[13] The route included a slight bend to bring the interstate closer to Watertown.[13] The interstate's construction has been a major economic benefit to the larger communities along its route, including Watertown.[13]



Climate





















































































































Climate data for Watertown, SD
Month
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Year
Record high °F (°C)
65
(18)
66
(19)
82
(28)
95
(35)
106
(41)
107
(42)
110
(43)
105
(41)
104
(40)
91
(33)
77
(25)
69
(21)
110
(43)
Average high °F (°C)
21.0
(−6.1)
25.5
(−3.6)
38.3
(3.5)
55.3
(12.9)
67.8
(19.9)
77.1
(25.1)
83.4
(28.6)
81.6
(27.6)
71.7
(22.1)
58.6
(14.8)
40.2
(4.6)
26.1
(−3.3)
53.9
(12.2)
Average low °F (°C)
0.6
(−17.4)
4.8
(−15.1)
18.2
(−7.7)
31.8
(−0.1)
43.4
(6.3)
53.7
(12.1)
58.6
(14.8)
56.3
(13.5)
46.6
(8.1)
34.8
(1.6)
20.4
(−6.4)
7.3
(−13.7)
31.4
(−0.3)
Record low °F (°C)
−40
(−40)
−38
(−39)
−27
(−33)
−10
(−23)
16
(−9)
25
(−4)
35
(2)
32
(0)
9
(−13)
−2
(−19)
−20
(−29)
−37
(−38)
−40
(−40)
Average precipitation inches (mm)
0.55
(14)
0.59
(15)
1.05
(27)
2.09
(53)
2.86
(73)
3.69
(94)
2.88
(73)
2.28
(58)
2.05
(52)
1.54
(39)
0.78
(20)
0.51
(13)
20.87
(531)
Average snowfall inches (cm)
6.0
(15)
6.2
(16)
6.1
(15)
2.5
(6.4)
0.2
(0.51)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
1.2
(3.0)
4.0
(10)
5.1
(13)
31.3
(78.91)
Source: http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?sd8932


Demographics





































































































Historical population
Census Pop.

1880 746
1890 2,672 258.2%
1900 3,352 25.4%
1910 7,010 109.1%
1920 9,400 34.1%
1930 10,214 8.7%
1940 10,617 3.9%
1950 12,699 19.6%
1960 14,077 10.9%
1970 13,388 −4.9%
1980 15,649 16.9%
1990 17,592 12.4%
2000 20,237 15.0%
2010 21,482 6.2%
Est. 2017 22,222 [14] 3.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]
2017 Estimate[5]

The per capita income for the city was $18,994. About 5.7% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.[16]



2010 census


As of the census[6] of 2010, there were 21,482 people, 9,278 households, and 5,563 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,231.1 inhabitants per square mile (475.3/km2). There were 10,050 housing units at an average density of 575.9 per square mile (222.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.8% White, 0.4% African American, 2.4% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.


There were 9,278 households of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.0% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% 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 2.90.


The median age in the city was 36.6 years. 24.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.9% were from 25 to 44; 25.2% were from 45 to 64; and 15.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.2% male and 50.8% female.



2000 census


As of the census of 2000, there were 20,237 people, 8,385 households, and 5,290 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,328.9 people per square mile (513.0/km²). There were 9,193 housing units at an average density of 603.7 per square mile (233.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.25% White, 0.14% African American, 1.65% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.71% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.28% of the population. 47.1% were of German, 19.8% Norwegian and 5.9% Irish ancestry. 96.5% spoke English, 1.7% Spanish and 1.1% German as their first language.


There were 8,385 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.98.


In the city, the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.9 males.



Education


Watertown has two institutions providing post-secondary education. Lake Area Technical Institute is a public technical school classified as a community college, offering degrees in areas such as Agriculture, Nursing, and Welding. There is also a satellite campus of Mount Marty College,[17] a private Catholic school based in Yankton, South Dakota.


Watertown has one public high school, Watertown High School, and one private boarding school, Great Plains Lutheran High School, of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.[18] Watertown is considered one of the best cities for secondary education within the state and is considered above-average for post-secondary education within the state.[according to whom?]


Watertown Middle School is the only public middle school in Watertown. The Watertown School Board voted to build a new middle school a few blocks north of the current middle school, and the new school was completed in August 2015. A new recreation center is also located next to the new school.


There are multiple elementary schools in Watertown. The five public elementary schools include: Lincoln Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary, McKinnely Elementary, and Mellette Elementary. Immaculate Conception School is a private Catholic elementary school. St. Martin's Lutheran School is a private Lutheran elementary school of the WELS. Watertown Christian School is a private non-denominational Christian elementary school.


The Watertown Regional Library is the town's main library, located on 6th St. NE, and open every day of the week.


Harmony Hill High School was a catholic girls boarding school in Watertown from 1967 to 1974.



Points of interest




Sailboat on Lake Kampeska circa 1900.



  • Redlin Art Center

  • Bramble Park Zoo

  • Codington County Heritage Museum

  • Mellette House

  • Watertown Family Aquatic Center

  • Watertown Stadium

  • Lake Kampeska

  • Pelican Lake

  • Watertown Regional Library



Local media



  • Newspaper
    • The Watertown Public Opinion is the local daily newspaper.



Television





















































Channel
(Digital)


Callsign

Network

Owner

Web site
3.1
KDLO-DT
(Satellite of KELO)
CBS Nexstar Media Group
www.keloland.com
3.2
KDLO-DT
(Satellite of KELO)
MyNetworkTV Nexstar Media Group
www.keloland.com
7.1
K32DK-D
(Translator of KTTW)
Fox Independent Communications
www.kttw.com
7.2
K32DK-D
(Translator of KTTW)
This TV Independent Communications
www.kttw.com
46.1
K42FI-D
(Translator of KDLT)
NBC Red River Broadcasting
www.kdlt.com
46.2
K42FI-D
(Translator of KDLT)
Antenna TV Red River Broadcasting
www.kdlt.com


AM radio





























AM radio stations
Frequency Call sign Name Format Owner City
950 AM KWAT
News/Talk - Agriculture - Sports Radio
Alpha Media Watertown
1480 AM KSDR The Talk of Watertown News/Talk Alpha Media Watertown


FM radio

















































































































FM radio stations
Frequency Call sign Name Format Owner Target city/market

City of license
89.1 FM KPGT Religious Church Planters of America Watertown Watertown
90.1 FM K211EC
Christian
WJFM-FM translator
Jimmy Swaggart Ministries Watertown Watertown
90.3 FM KJSD South Dakota Public Broadcasting NPR South Dakota Bureau of Information and Telecommunication Watertown Watertown
91.9 FM K220IT The Refuge Contemporary Christian Refuge Media Group Watertown Watertown
92.9 FM KSDR-FM KS93 Hot Country Alpha Media Watertown Watertown
96.1 FM KIXX Kicks 96 Hot AC Alpha Media Watertown Watertown
96.9 FM KDLO-FM Big Country 96.9 Country Alpha Media Watertown Watertown
99.1 FM KXLG
Soft Adult Contemporary, News/Talk
TMRG Broadcasting, LLC Watertown Milbank
103.5 FM K220IT Christian Radio VCY America Watertown Watertown
104.3 FM KKSD Hippie Radio Classic Hits Alpha Media Watertown Milbank
106.3 FM KPHR Power 106.3 Classic Rock Armada Media Watertown Ortonville


Transportation


The City of Watertown is connected to three major thoroughfares: Highway 81, running north and south; Highway 212, running east and west; and Interstate 29, running north and south.


Watertown also has one airport, Watertown Regional Airport, served by one commercial airline, and local bus service provided by the Watertown Area Transit Corporation.



Notable people








  • Cleveland L. Abbott (1892-1955), Tuskegee Institute Multiple hall of fame coach and educator


  • Sylvia Bacon (born 1931), D.C. Superior judge


  • Nancy Turbak Berry, trial attorney and South Dakota state senator


  • Stephen Foster Briggs (1885-1976), founder Briggs & Stratton Corporation


  • John Hamre (born 1950), Deputy Secretary of Defense and international studies specialist


  • Fred H. Hildebrandt, U.S. Representative from South Dakota


  • Wendell Hurlbut (1918-2011), amusement park designer


  • J. A. Jance (born 1944), writer


  • Charles B. Kornmann (born 1937), federal judge on United States District Court for the District of South Dakota


  • Jake Krull (1938-2016), U.S. General and South Dakota state senator


  • George R. Mather, General in the U.S. Army, Commander in Chief, United States Southern Command (USCINCSO) from 1969 to 1971


  • Arthur C. Mellette, (1842-1896), last Dakota Territorial Governor and first Governor of the State of South Dakota.


  • Kristi Noem, (born 1971), current U.S. Representative of South Dakota's at-large district.


  • Hope A. Olson, author and professor in the field of information studies


  • Lee Raymond, (born 1938), chemical engineer and long-time Chairman and CEO, Exxon Corporation and ExxonMobil, born and attended primary and secondary school in Watertown


  • Terry Redlin (1937-2016), wildlife artist and Redlin Art Center


  • Bob Scholtz (born 1937), American football player


  • Joseph Schull (6 February 1906 – 19 May 1980), Canadian playwright and historian


  • Ramona Solberg (1921-2005), jeweler


  • Timmy Williams (born 1981), American comedian of The Whitest Kids U' Know

  • Scott Hardie (born 1955), NASA engineer the space shuttles Challenger and Columbia


  • Roger Zwieg (1942-2015), NASA test pilot and flight instructor




Notable visitors


Former President Barack Obama has visited the city twice, first in 2008 during his presidential campaign, and again on May 8, 2015, to address the graduating class of 2015 from Lake Area Technical Institute.



Major employers












































































































Employer
Sector
Number of Employees
As of
Notes
Watertown School District Education 910[19]
2016 November
Terex Utilities Manufacturing 567[20]
2017 May
Prairie Lakes Health System Healthcare 547[19]
2016 November
Hy-Vee Retail 485[19]
2016 November Mostly part-time
Premier Bankcard Lending 380[19]
2016 November
City of Watertown Government 336[19]
2016 November
Worthington Industries Manufacturing 320[19]
2016 November
Walmart Retail 300 (approx.) 2017 July
OEM Worldwide/Sparton Manufacturing 272[20]
2017 May
Jenkins Living Center Healthcare 270[20]
2017 May
Dakota Bodies Manufacturing 247[19]
2016 November
Dakota Sioux Casino Entertainment 215[19]
2016 November
Lake Area Technical Institute Education 211[21]
2017 May
Target Retail 85 2017 July


References





  1. ^ Crisler, Dan (3 July 2017). "Caron sworn in as Watertown mayor; four City Council members also seated". Watertown Public Opinion. Retrieved 4 July 2017..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}


  2. ^ abcde Hasselstrom, p. 29.


  3. ^ "SD Towns" (PDF). South Dakota State Historical Society. Retrieved 2010-02-17.


  4. ^ ab "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-07-14. Retrieved 2012-06-21.


  5. ^ ab "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 5, 2018.


  6. ^ ab "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-06-21.


  7. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.


  8. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.


  9. ^ "South Dakota Homes For Sale By City". South Dakota Real Estate Trends. RealEstate.com. Retrieved 28 January 2013.


  10. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.


  11. ^ DeLorme (2001). South Dakota Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme.
    ISBN 0-89933-330-3



  12. ^ Thompson (ed.), p. 173.


  13. ^ abc Schell, p. 333.


  14. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved October 5, 2018.


  15. ^ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved September 23, 2013.


  16. ^ Watertown, South Dakota: Now. Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau, 2006


  17. ^ "Watertown Campus". Retrieved 18 February 2011.


  18. ^ "Great Plains Lutheran High School".


  19. ^ abcdefgh Ebbers, Rochelle (2016). "2017 BUDGET". Watertown, SD. p. 10. Retrieved 14 May 2017.


  20. ^ abc "Top Employers". Watertown Works. 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2017.


  21. ^ "LATI Staff". Retrieved 1 June 2017.




Bibliography




  • Hasselstrom, Linda M. (1994). Roadside History of South Dakota. Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Publishing Company. ISBN 0-87842-262-5.


  • Schell, Herbert S. (2004). History of South Dakota. Pierre, SD: South Dakota State Historical Society Press. ISBN 0-9715171-3-4.


  • Thompson, Harry F. (ed.) (2009). A New South Dakota History (Second ed.). Sioux Falls, SD: Center for Western Studies - Augustana College. ISBN 978-0-931170-00-3.CS1 maint: Extra text: authors list (link)



External links



  • Watertown Government Website

  • Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce

  • Watertown Public Opinion - local newspaper

  • Watertown Regional Library Website

  • School District Website










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