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Watertown, South Dakota

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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.

Watertown, South Dakota
City
Redlin Art Center
Watertown station
Codington County Courthouse
Codington County Heritage Museum
Evangelical United Brethren Church
Mellette House
Old Post Office
Watertown Stadium
Official logo of Watertown, South Dakota
Nickname: 
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; -97.12056
CountryUnited States
StateSouth Dakota
CountyCodington
Founded1879[1]
Incorporated1885[2]
Government
 • TypeMayor–council
 • BodyWatertown City Council
 • MayorRied Holien
Area
[3]
 • City
26.34 sq mi (68.23 km2)
 • Land18.37 sq mi (47.57 km2)
 • Water7.98 sq mi (20.66 km2)
Elevation
[4]
1,729 ft (527 m)
Population
 (2020)[5]
 • City
22,655
 • Estimate 
(2024)[6]
23,501
 • Density1,233.46/sq mi (476.25/km2)
 • Metro
28,325 (US: 451st)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
57201
Area code605
FIPS code46-69300
GNIS feature ID1267627[4]
Websitewatertownsd.us

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]

Geography

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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).

History

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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.[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]

Climate

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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]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880746—
18902,672258.2%
19003,35225.4%
19107,010109.1%
19209,40034.1%
193010,2148.7%
194010,6173.9%
195012,69919.6%
196014,07710.9%
197013,388−4.9%
198015,64916.9%
199017,59212.4%
200020,23715.0%
201021,4826.2%
202022,6555.5%
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]

2010 census

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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.

2000 census

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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.

Education

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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.

Points of interest

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Sailboat on Lake Kampeska circa 1900.

Local media

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Television

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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

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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

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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

Transportation

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  • 20th Avenue South, 20th Avenue Southeast, and 29th Street Southeast: alternate city truck route around Watertown's south side
  • 448th Avenue and North Lake Drive: former South Dakota Highway 139; runs along Lake Kampeska's west side

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]

Notable people

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Notable visitors

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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.

Major employers

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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

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Hasselstrom, p. 29.
  2. ^ "SD Towns" (PDF). South Dakota State Historical Society. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
  3. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  4. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Watertown, South Dakota
  5. ^ a b c "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022". United States Census Bureau. July 21, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  7. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  8. ^ "South Dakota Homes For Sale By City". South Dakota Real Estate Trends. RealEstate.com. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  9. ^ DeLorme (2001),South Dakota Atlas & Gazetteer, Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme, ISBN 0-89933-330-3
  10. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  11. ^ Thompson (ed.), p. 173.
  12. ^ a b c Schell, p. 333.
  13. ^ "Watertown, South Dakota Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  14. ^ "NowData − NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  15. ^ "Station: Watertown RGNL AP, SD". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991−2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  16. ^ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved September 23, 2013.
  17. ^ Watertown, South Dakota: Now. Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau, 2006
  18. ^ "Watertown Campus". Retrieved February 18, 2011.
  19. ^ "Great Plains Lutheran High School".
  20. ^ "South Dakota Bus Stops". Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  21. ^ "Retro Member details". Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  22. ^ "NOEM, Kristi". US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  23. ^ "City of Watertown 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report" (PDF). August 16, 2022. p. 10.
  24. ^ "Top Employers". Watertown Works. June 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  25. ^ "LATI Staff". Retrieved June 1, 2017.

Bibliography

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