Watertown, South Dakota | |
---|---|
Nickname: South Dakota's Rising Star | |
Coordinates: 44°54′12″N97°7′14″W / 44.90333°N 97.12056°W | |
Country | United States |
State | South Dakota |
County | Codington |
Founded | 1879 [1] |
Incorporated | 1885 [2] |
Government | |
• Type | Mayor–council |
• Body | Watertown City Council |
• Mayor | Ried Holien |
Area | |
• City | 26.34 sq mi (68.23 km2) |
• Land | 18.37 sq mi (47.57 km2) |
• Water | 7.98 sq mi (20.66 km2) |
Elevation | 1,729 ft (527 m) |
Population | |
• City | 22,655 |
• Estimate (2024) [6] | 23,501 |
• Density | 1,233.46/sq mi (476.25/km2) |
• Metro | 28,325 (US: 451st) |
Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
ZIP code | 57201 |
Area code | 605 |
FIPS code | 46-69300 |
GNIS feature ID | 1267627 [4] |
Website | watertownsd.us |
Watertown is a city in and the county seat of Codington County, South Dakota, United States. [7] Watertown is home to the Redlin Art Center, which houses many of the works of Terry Redlin, one of the nation's most popular wildlife artists. Watertown is between Pelican Lake and Lake Kampeska, from which Redlin derived inspiration for his artwork.
The population was 22,655 at the 2020 census, [5] making Watertown South Dakota's 5th-most populous city. It is also the principal city of the Watertown Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Codington County. It is home to the Bramble Park Zoo. 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 approximately $200,000. [8]
Watertown is along the Big Sioux River. [9]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an 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. [10] Watertown sits on the Big Sioux River and two major lakes, Pelican Lake and Lake Kampeska. Most of Watertown also sits on a short plateau. Watertown Regional Airport's elevation is 1,745 ft (532 m).
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. [1] [11] The city was named after Watertown, New York, the hometown of brothers John E. and Oscar P. Kemp, two of the city's founders. The town was originally planned to be called Kampeska. [1]
During the 1880s, Watertown prospered as a transportation hub after the railroads had extended farther west. Along with several other cities, it had been a candidate for capital of the new state of South Dakota, [1] losing to the more centrally located Pierre. The city's newspaper, the Watertown Public Opinion , began publishing in 1887. [1]
In the mid-20th century, Interstate 29 was constructed through eastern South Dakota. [12] The route included a slight bend to bring it closer to Watertown. [12] Its construction was a major economic benefit to Watertown and the communities near it. [12]
In the last decades the climate is configured as hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen: Dfa); it previously had a warm-summer (Dfb). Although it is a humid city, it is relatively dry for its climatic category, due to its position in the Great Plains, which still provides an even greater thermal amplitude, especially in the higher values. [13]
Climate data for Watertown Regional Airport, South Dakota (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1893−present) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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) | 78 (26) | 69 (21) | 110 (43) |
Mean maximum °F (°C) | 41.7 (5.4) | 46.0 (7.8) | 63.1 (17.3) | 78.6 (25.9) | 86.3 (30.2) | 90.8 (32.7) | 93.4 (34.1) | 91.3 (32.9) | 87.7 (30.9) | 79.0 (26.1) | 62.2 (16.8) | 44.8 (7.1) | 95.0 (35.0) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 21.4 (−5.9) | 25.9 (−3.4) | 38.6 (3.7) | 54.0 (12.2) | 66.9 (19.4) | 76.8 (24.9) | 82.0 (27.8) | 79.5 (26.4) | 71.6 (22.0) | 56.2 (13.4) | 39.8 (4.3) | 26.3 (−3.2) | 53.2 (11.8) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 12.2 (−11.0) | 16.3 (−8.7) | 29.1 (−1.6) | 42.8 (6.0) | 55.7 (13.2) | 66.1 (18.9) | 71.0 (21.7) | 68.5 (20.3) | 60.1 (15.6) | 45.7 (7.6) | 30.6 (−0.8) | 17.8 (−7.9) | 43.0 (6.1) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 3.1 (−16.1) | 6.7 (−14.1) | 19.6 (−6.9) | 31.5 (−0.3) | 44.5 (6.9) | 55.4 (13.0) | 60.0 (15.6) | 57.5 (14.2) | 48.6 (9.2) | 35.2 (1.8) | 21.3 (−5.9) | 9.3 (−12.6) | 32.7 (0.4) |
Mean minimum °F (°C) | −20.9 (−29.4) | −17.2 (−27.3) | −6.0 (−21.1) | 15.1 (−9.4) | 29.4 (−1.4) | 42.9 (6.1) | 47.3 (8.5) | 44.6 (7.0) | 32.1 (0.1) | 18.4 (−7.6) | 2.3 (−16.5) | −13.8 (−25.4) | −24.3 (−31.3) |
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) | 0.58 (15) | 0.65 (17) | 1.00 (25) | 2.06 (52) | 2.87 (73) | 3.85 (98) | 3.05 (77) | 2.89 (73) | 2.45 (62) | 1.95 (50) | 0.68 (17) | 0.68 (17) | 22.71 (577) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 6.7 (17) | 8.9 (23) | 5.4 (14) | 5.2 (13) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 1.4 (3.6) | 4.5 (11) | 8.9 (23) | 41.1 (104) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 5.9 | 6.0 | 6.9 | 8.9 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 9.5 | 8.6 | 8.5 | 7.5 | 5.4 | 6.3 | 96.3 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 5.6 | 5.9 | 3.5 | 1.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 6.0 | 26.6 |
Source: NOAA [14] [15] |
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
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% | |
2020 | 22,655 | 5.5% | |
2022 (est.) | 23,019 | [6] | 1.6% |
U.S. Decennial Census [16] 2020 Census [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. [17]
As of the census of 2010, there were 21,482 people, 9,278 households, and 5,563 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,231.3 inhabitants per square mile (475.4/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.
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 inhabitants per square mile (513.1/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.
Watertown has two institutions providing post-secondary education. Lake Area Technical College 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, [18] a private Catholic school based in Yankton, South Dakota.
Lake Area Technical College received the 2017 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, following three previous Finalist-With-Distinction honors in 2011, 2013, and 2015. The Aspen Institute awarded the prize in March 2017 in Washington, D.C., after an intense data collection process that included a rigorous review of critical elements of student success, such as learning, completion, and employment after college.
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. [19]
Watertown Middle School (7th and 8th grades) is Watertown's only public middle school. Construction of the school was completed in 2015. The community's "Prairie Lakes Wellness Center" opened in 2017, adjacent to the middle school. When the middle school opened in 2015, the former middle school was renovated and became the Intermediate School (5th and 6th grades).
Watertown has multiple elementary schools. The five public elementary schools are 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. It is 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.
Channel (Digital) | Callsign | Network | Owner |
---|---|---|---|
3.1 | KDLO-DT (Satellite of KELO) | CBS | Nexstar Media Group |
3.2 | KDLO-DT (Satellite of KELO) | MyNetworkTV | Nexstar Media Group |
3.4 | KDLO-DT (Satellite of KELO) | The CW Plus | Nexstar Media Group |
13.1 | K32DK-D (Translator of KSFY) | ABC | Gray Television |
13.2 | K32DK-D (Translator of KSFY) | Outlaw | Gray Television |
13.3 | K32DK-D (Translator of KSFY) | MeTV | Gray Television |
13.4 | K32DK-D (Translator of KSFY) | True Crime Network | Gray Television |
13.5 | K32DK-D (Translator of KSFY) | TheGrio | Gray Television |
46.1 | K28OE-D (Translator of KDLT) | NBC | Gray Television |
46.2 | K28OE-D (Translator of KDLT) | FOX | Gray Television |
46.3 | K28OE-D (Translator of KDLT) | The365 | Gray Television |
46.4 | K28OE-D (Translator of KDLT) | Cozi TV | Gray Television |
46.5 | K28OE-D (Translator of KDLT) | Court TV | Gray Television |
46.6 | K28OE-D (Translator of KDLT) | Ion Mystery | Gray Television |
AM radio stations | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Frequency | Call sign | Name | Format | Owner | City |
950 AM | KWAT | Full-service radio | Alpha Media | Watertown | |
1480 AM | KSDR | The Talk of Watertown | Conservative talk radio | Alpha Media | Watertown |
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 | KNWC-FM | Contemporary Christian | University of Northwestern - St. Paul | Watertown | Watertown |
92.9 FM | KSDR-FM | New Country KS93 | Hot Country | Alpha Media | Watertown | Watertown |
96.1 FM | KIXX | The Best Mix Kicks 96 | Hot AC | Alpha Media | Watertown | Watertown |
96.9 FM | KDLO-FM | 96.9 KDLO Country | Classic Country | Alpha Media | Watertown | Watertown |
98.1 FM | KPHR | Star 98.1 | Soft Adult Contemporary | Prairie Winds Broadcasting | Watertown | Ortonville |
99.1 FM | KXLG | Soft Adult Contemporary, News/Talk | TMRG Broadcasting, LLC | Watertown | Milbank | |
103.5 FM | K278BK | Christian Radio | VCY America | Watertown | Watertown | |
104.3 FM | KKSD | 104.3 KKSD | Classic Hits | Alpha Media | Watertown | Milbank |
106.3 FM | KPHR | Power 106.3 | Classic Rock | Prairie Winds Broadcasting | Watertown | Ortonville |
Watertown also has one airport, Watertown Regional Airport, served by Denver Air Connection with flights to Denver and Chicago O'Hare, and local bus service provided by the Watertown Area Transit Corporation.
Jefferson Lines provides intercity bus service to Watertown. [20]
Former President Barack Obama has visited Watertown twice, in 2008 during his presidential campaign, and in 2015 to address the graduating class at Lake Area Technical College.
According to the city's 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, [23] [24] Watertown's largest employers are:
Employer | Sector | Number of Employees | As of | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Watertown School District | Education | 776 | June 2018 | |
Prairie Lakes Health System | Healthcare | 683 | June 2018 | |
Terex Utilities | Manufacturing | 634 | June 2018 | |
Hy-Vee | Retail | 450 | June 2018 | Mostly part-time |
Premier Bankcard | Lending | 367 | June 2018 | |
City of Watertown | Government | 336 | June 2018 | |
Worthington Industries | Manufacturing | 309 | June 2018 | |
Walmart | Retail | 300 | July 2017 | |
Dakota Bodies | Manufacturing | 285 | June 2018 | |
Jenkins Living Center | Healthcare | 274 | June 2018 | |
OEM Worldwide/Sparton | Manufacturing | 272 | May 2017 | |
Spartronics | Manufacturing | 253 | June 2018 | |
Dakota Sioux Casino | Entertainment | 215 | November 2016 | |
Lake Area Technical College | Education | 211 [25] | May 2017 | |
Target | Retail | 85 | July 2017 |
Mellette County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,918. Its county seat is White River. The county was created in 1909, and was organized in 1911. It was named for Arthur C. Mellette, the last Governor of the Dakota Territory and the first Governor of the state of South Dakota.
Grant County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,556. The county seat is Milbank. The county was founded in 1873 and organized in 1878. It is named for Ulysses S. Grant, 18th President of the United States.
Deuel County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,295. Its county seat is Clear Lake. The county was created in 1862, and was organized in 1878. It is named for Jacob Deuel, a legislator in 1862.
Day County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,449. Its county seat is Webster. The county is named for Merritt H. Day, pioneer and 1879 Dakota Territory legislator.
Codington County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,325, making it the 7th most populous county in South Dakota. Its county seat is Watertown. The county was created in 1877 and organized in 1878. It is named for Rev. George S. S. Codington, Dakota Territory legislator.
Clark County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,837. Its county seat is Clark. The county was created in 1873 and organized in 1881. It was named for Newton Clark, a Dakota Territory legislator in 1873.
Campbell County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,377, making it the fourth-least populous county in South Dakota. Its county seat is Mound City. The county was created in 1873 and organized in 1884. It was named for Norman B. Campbell, a Dakota Territory legislator in 1873 and son of General Charles T. Campbell.
Aurora is a town in Brookings County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 1,047 at the 2020 census.
Brookings is a city in and the county seat of Brookings County, South Dakota, United States. Brookings is South Dakota's fourth most populous city, with a population of 23,377 at the 2020 census. It is home to South Dakota State University, the state's largest institution of higher education. Also in Brookings are the South Dakota Art Museum, the Children's Museum of South Dakota, the annual Brookings Summer Arts Festival, and the headquarters of several manufacturing companies and agricultural operations.
Florence is a town in northwestern Codington County, South Dakota, United States. It is part of the Watertown, South Dakota Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 337 at the 2020 census.
Henry is a town in southwestern Codington County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 256 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Watertown, South Dakota Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Kranzburg is a town in Codington County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 163 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Watertown, South Dakota Micropolitan Statistical Area.
South Shore is a town in Codington County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 189 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Watertown, South Dakota Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Wallace is a town in Codington County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 91 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Watertown, South Dakota Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Canton is a city in and the county seat of Lincoln County, South Dakota, United States. Canton is located 20 minutes south of Sioux Falls in southeastern South Dakota. Canton is nestled in the rolling hills of the Sioux Valley, providing an abundance of recreational activities with the Big Sioux River bordering the eastern side, Newton Hills State Park to the south, and Lake Alvin to the north. The city was named by Norwegian settler and former legislator James M. Wahl. The population was 3,066 as of the 2020 census.
Lennox is a city in Lincoln County, South Dakota, United States, located 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Sioux Falls. The population was 2,423 at the 2020 census.
Dell Rapids is a city in Minnehaha County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 3,996 at the 2020 census. It is known as "The Little City with the Big Attractions."
Sisseton is a city in Roberts County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 2,479 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Roberts County. Sisseton is the home to a number of tourist attractions, including the Nicollet Tower, and is near the "Song to the Great Spirit" building on the Sisseton Wahpeton College campus. The city is named for the Sisseton division of the Native American Sioux. It also serves as an important part of the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation.
Mellette is a city in Spink County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 199 at the 2020 census.
Lake Kampeska is a 5,250-acre (21 km2) inland glacial lake in the U.S. state of South Dakota. It is located west-northwest of Watertown, South Dakota and lies entirely within Codington County and the Coteau des Prairies. The lake is naturally shaped and the most urban developed lake in South Dakota with approximately 13.5 miles (20 km) of residential shoreline. Lake Kampeska is connected to the Big Sioux River through a single inlet-outlet channel located on the northeast side. It is the third largest natural lake within the borders of South Dakota.
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