Watkins, Iowa

Watkins, Iowa
Census-designated place
Watkins Location within the state of Iowa
Coordinates: 41°53′28″N91°59′11″W / 41.89111°N 91.98639°W / 41.89111; -91.98639
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County	Benton
Area [1]
• Total	0.41 sq mi (1.07 km2)
• Land	0.41 sq mi (1.07 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	830 ft (250 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	116
• Density	280.19/sq mi (108.18/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	52354
FIPS code	19-82515
GNIS feature ID	462737

Watkins is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in southeastern Benton County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 116. Watkins lies along local roads south of the city of Vinton, the county seat of Benton County. ^[2] Its elevation is 830 feet (250 m) above sea level. ^[3] Although Watkins is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 52354, ^[4] which opened on 15 December 1873. ^[5]

Watkins was platted in 1874. ^[6] The community was named for John Burton Watkins, Supt. of the Iowa Div. of the Chicago & North Western Railway Co. who was killed near there Oct 1873. ^[7] Watkins was crushed between two cars during an inspection tour when a freight train collided with his train. ^{[8] [9]}

Watkins is within the Benton Community School District. ^[10]

Demographics

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, ^[11] there were 116 people, 49 households, and 30 families residing in the community. The population density was 280.2 inhabitants per square mile (108.2/km²). There were 54 housing units at an average density of 130.4 per square mile (50.4/km²). The racial makeup of the community was 96.6% White, 0.0% Black or African American, 0.0% Native American, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.0% from other races and 3.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race comprised 2.6% of the population.

Of the 49 households, 12.2% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 4.1% were cohabitating couples, 12.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 30.6% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 38.8% of all households were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals, 22.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.

The median age in the community was 44.4 years. 23.3% of the residents were under the age of 20; 6.9% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 22.4% were from 25 and 44; 25.9% were from 45 and 64; and 21.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the community was 47.4% male and 52.6% female.

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
2. Rand McNally. The Road Atlas '08. Chicago: Rand McNally, 2008, p. 39.
3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Watkins, Iowa
4. Zip Code Lookup
5. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Watkins Post Office
6. The History of Benton County, Iowa, Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, &c. Western Historical. 1878. p.  328.
7. https://www.nytimes.com/1873/10/31/archives/shocking-railroad-accident-a-railroad-official-caught-between-two.html
8. Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 136.
9. The History of Benton County, Iowa, Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, &c. Western Historical. 1878. p.  466.
10. "Booklet 2019-2020" (PDF). Benton Community School District. p. 4/24. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
11. "2020 Census". United States Census Bureau.