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, Iowa | |
|---|---|
  Watkins Location within the state of Iowa | |
| Coordinates: 41°53′28″N 91°59′11″W / 41.89111°N 91.98639°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Iowa |
| County | Benton |
| Area | |
| • 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 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
edit2020 census
editAs 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
edit- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- ^ Rand McNally. The Road Atlas '08. Chicago: Rand McNally, 2008, p. 39.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Watkins, Iowa
- ^ Zip Code Lookup
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Watkins Post Office
- ^ The History of Benton County, Iowa, Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, &c. Western Historical. 1878. p. 328.
- ^ https://www.nytimes.com/1873/10/31/archives/shocking-railroad-accident-a-railroad-official-caught-between-two.html
- ^ 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.
- ^ The History of Benton County, Iowa, Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, &c. Western Historical. 1878. p. 466.
- ^ "Booklet 2019-2020" (PDF). Benton Community School District. p. 4/24. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
- ^ "2020 Census". United States Census Bureau.
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