Watertown, Minnesota

{{Short description|City in Minnesota, United States}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox settlement |official_name = Watertown |settlement_type = City |nickname = |motto = "Heart of the Luce Line Trail."  |image_skyline = Businesses on Lewis Avenue, Watertown, Minnesota.jpg |imagesize = |image_caption = Uptown Watertown |image_flag = |image_seal =  |image_map = Carver_County_Minnesota_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Watertown_Highlighted.svg |mapsize = 250x200px |map_caption = Location of the city of Watertown<br/>within Carver County, Minnesota |image_map1 = |mapsize1 = |map_caption1 =  |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = United States |subdivision_type1 = State |subdivision_name1 = Minnesota |subdivision_type2 = County |subdivision_name2 = Carver  |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = Mayor |established_title = Founded |established_date = 1859 |established_title1 = Incorporated |established_date1 = 1877  |unit_pref = Imperial |area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_27.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=July 24, 2022}}</ref> |area_magnitude = |area_total_km2 = 6.92 |area_land_km2 = 6.80 |area_water_km2 = 0.12 |area_total_sq_mi = 2.67 |area_land_sq_mi = 2.63 |area_water_sq_mi = 0.05  |population_as_of = 2020 |population_est = 4842 |pop_est_as_of = 2022 |pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2022"/> |population_footnotes = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/> |population_total = 4659 |population_density_km2 = 685.06 |population_density_sq_mi = 1774.18  |timezone = Central |utc_offset = -6 |timezone_DST = CDT |utc_offset_DST = -5 |elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/> |elevation_ft = 958 |coordinates = {{coord|44|57|37|N|93|50|35|W|region:US-MN|display=inline,title}} |postal_code_type = ZIP code |postal_code = 55388 |area_code = 952 |blank_name = FIPS code |blank_info = 27-68548<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> |blank1_name = GNIS feature ID |blank1_info = 2397211<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2397211}}</ref> |website = {{URL|https://www.watertownmn.gov/|watertownmn.gov}} |footnotes = }}

'''Watertown''' is a small city in Carver County, Minnesota, United States, along the South Fork of the Crow River, on the outskirts of the Twin Cities metro area. The population was 4,659 at the 2020 census.<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explorer Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2768548 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 10, 2022}}</ref>

==History== Watertown was platted in 1858 and incorporated in 1877.<ref name="history">{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog | title=Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance | publisher=Minnesota Historical Society | last=Upham | first=Warren | year=1920 | page=[https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog/page/n53 84]}}</ref> The city took its name from Watertown Township.<ref name="history" />

==Geography== According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of {{convert|2.64|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|2.59|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.05|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name ="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 13, 2012}}</ref>

Minnesota State Highway 25 serves as a main route in Watertown.

==Demographics== {{US Census population |1880= 316 |1890= 362 |1900= 490 |1910= 465 |1920= 534 |1930= 594 |1940= 737 |1950= 837 |1960= 1046 |1970= 1390 |1980= 1818 |1990= 2408 |2000= 3029 |2010= 4205 |2020= 4659 |estyear=2022 |estimate=4842 |estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2022">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |date=June 9, 2023|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=June 9, 2023}}</ref> |align-fn=center |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/> | align = right }}

===2020 census=== As of the 2020 census, Watertown had a population of 4,659. The median age was 36.4 years. 27.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 11.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.8 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=place%3A68548&in=state%3A27|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 29, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=place%3A68548&in=state%3A27|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 29, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=place%3A68548&in=state%3A27|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=April 29, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 1,714 households in Watertown, of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 55.1% were married-couple households, 15.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 20.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 1,772 housing units, of which 3.3% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.7%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

{| class="wikitable" |+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census<ref name="Census2020PL"/> ! Race !! Number !! Percent |- | White || 4,331 || 93.0% |- | Black or African American || 52 || 1.1% |- | American Indian and Alaska Native || 9 || 0.2% |- | Asian || 19 || 0.4% |- | Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 0 || 0.0% |- | Some other race || 55 || 1.2% |- | Two or more races || 193 || 4.1% |- | ''Hispanic or Latino (of any race)'' || 123 || 2.6% |}

===2010 census=== As of the census of 2010, there were 4,205 people, 1,564 households, and 1,075 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1623.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,697 housing units at an average density of {{convert|655.2|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.8% White, 0.3% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.7% of the population.

There were 1,564 households, of which 40.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.3% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.22.

The median age in the city was 34.3 years. 29.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 30.8% were from 25 to 44; 22.7% were from 45 to 64; and 9.7% 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 3,029 people, 1,078 households, and 775 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,808.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,100 housing units at an average density of {{convert|656.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.69% White, 0.33% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.43% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.45% of the population.

There were 1,078 households, out of which 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.3% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.2% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $47,500, and the median income for a family was $56,136. Males had a median income of $37,277 versus $27,083 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,918. About 4.4% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over. ==Notable people== * Monika Czinano – Basketball player with MTK, a Budapest-based team in the top Hungarian league. Former basketball player at the University of Iowa; graduated from Watertown–Mayer HS in 2018. Former teammate of Caitlin Clark. * Harry Elliott – Professional baseball player, graduated from Watertown HS in 1942. * Matt Janning – Professional basketball player, born in Watertown in 1988. * Gordon Paschka (1920–1964) - Professional football player, went to high school in Watertown.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-journal-gordon-paschka-h/160941965/ "Watertown Hurler Pitches No-Hit Game,"] ''Minneapolis Journal,'' May 6, 1937, p. 26.</ref> * Marion Ross – Film and television actress, born in Watertown in 1928.

==References== {{Reflist}} {{commons}} {{CarverCounty}} {{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in Carver County, Minnesota Category:Cities in Minnesota