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Watertown (city), New York
Encyclopedia
Watertown is a city in the state of New York
and the county seat
of Jefferson County
. It is situated approximately 20 miles (32.2 km) south of the Thousand Islands
. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 27,023, an increase of 1.2% since 2000. The U.S. Army post Fort Drum
is near the city.
Named after the many falls located on the Black River
, the city developed early in the 19th century as a manufacturing center. From years of generating industrial wealth, in the early 20th century the city was said to have more millionaires per capita than any other city in the nation. Residents of Watertown built a rich public and private architectural legacy. It is the smallest city to have a park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted
, the celebrated landscape architect
who created Central Park
in New York City.
Geographically, Watertown is located in the central part of Jefferson County. It lies 72 miles (115.9 km) northeast of Syracuse, New York
and 31 miles (49.9 km) south of the Ontario
border. The city is served by Watertown International Airport
.
The city is known as the birthplace of the Five and dime
, the safety pin
, and is the home of Little Trees
air fresheners. It manufactured the first portable steam engine
. It has the longest continually operating county fair in the United States
and holds the Red and Black football franchise, the oldest surviving semi-professional team in the United States.
The city of Watertown was settled in 1800 by pioneers from New Hampshire
, most notably Hart Massey, Henry Coffeen, and Zachariah Butterfield, part of a large migration into New York from New England
after the Revolutionary War. These pioneers chose the area due to the Black River. The pioneers' vision was for an industrial center that would draw power from the Black River. All the land was rough and unclear. Elevation was also a problem. The western end of the town was 12 to 15 ft (3.7 to 4.6 ) higher than the eastern end, with a large depression in the middle. A small stream also passed through the town.
Within a few years, the center of town was cleared for the ambitious Public Square
. Together with the 19th century structures that created a streetscape around it, this has been designated a historic district
listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. As industry and businesses flourished, residents built substantial retail buildings, churches and private residences. The Paddock Arcade
, built in 1850 according to European and US models, is the oldest continuously operating enclosed mall in the United States. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
, as are several significant churches and private mansions.
The drop in the Black River at Watertown's location provided abundant water power for early industry. By the mid-19th century, entrepreneurs had built paper mills and major industries, including the first portable steam engine in 1847. In 1851, the city was joined to the state by the railroad. Other mills rapidly joined the business base and generated revenue to support early public works projects like the water system and illuminating gas works in 1853, and a telephone system in 1879.
Watertown claims that Rodman
native Frank W. Woolworth conceived the idea of his mercantile chain while working there in 1878. Woolworth, employed as a clerk in Moore's Store, set up a successful clearance display of low-priced items. This led to his idea of a store specializing in fixed-price, cut-rate merchandise. Woolworth left Watertown and opened his first store in Utica, New York
in 1879.
Among the many manufacturing businesses was the Davis Sewing Machine Company, which originated in Watertown. It was predecessor to George P. Huffman
's Huffy Corporation
(NYSE: HUF), now an American maker of bicycles and other sporting goods.
In 1805 Watertown became the county seat
of Jefferson County, New York
, and it was made an incorporated village in 1816. In 1869, Watertown was incorporated as a city. In 1920, the city adopted a city manager style of government. The Jefferson County Courthouse Complex is an example of the substantial architecture of the city, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. An early industrial city that earned great wealth for many of its citizens by the turn of the 20th century, Watertown also developed an educated professional class of doctors and lawyers.
A number of factors affected Watertown's progress. The economic center of the country kept moving west, and Chicago
drew off many of its younger people for business and professional opportunities. Industrial technology shifted and jobs changed. In the deindustrialization of the mid-20th century, Watertown suffered economic and population declines.
The city has been working in recent decades to redevelop its downtown and revive the heart of the city. It is capitalizing on its rich architectural heritage, compact and walkable retail center, and well-designed residential areas.
Today the city serves as the commercial and financial center for a large rural area. It is the major community closest to Fort Drum
and the post's large population. Since the city is located just 25 miles (40.2 km) from the international boundary via the Thousand Islands Bridge
, shopping by Canadian visitors is an important part of the local economy.
, the city has a total area of 9.3 square miles (24.1 km²). 9 square miles (23.3 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (3.45%) is water.
The Black River
flows westward through the city toward Lake Ontario
. The Black River is a world-renowned kayaking
destination. Competition-level kayaking
events, such as the Blackwater Challenge, have been held on the river.
By tradition, the city's name was derived from the abundant water power available from the river. Businesses harnessed water power to create one of the early industrial centers in New York. Paper mills were historically a major industry for the city and contributed to its 19th century wealth.
Jefferson Community College
(JCC) is located in the western part of the city near the fairgrounds.
of 2000, there were 26,705 people, 11,036 households, and 6,500 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,981.3 per square mile (1,150.8/km²). There were 12,450 housing units at an average density of 1,389.9 per square mile (536.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.13% White, 4.95% Black or African American
, 0.54% Native American, 1.16% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 1.67% from other races
, and 2.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.59% of the population. In 2009, the population was estimated at 27,489.
There were 11,036 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couples
living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.1% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,429, and the median income for a family was $36,115. Males had a median income of $31,068 versus $21,294 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,354. About 14.4% of families and 19.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.2% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.
north to Hill Island, Ontario, connecting via the Thousand Islands Bridge
and a short connecting road to Highway 401 across the Canadian border. Interstate 81 passes just to the west of the city of Watertown, near Salmon Run Mall.
U.S. Route 11
runs from eastern New Orleans, Louisiana
, to its northern terminus at the Canadian border in Rouses Point, New York
. US 11 runs north-south through the city of Watertown.
Many state highways converge on the city. New York State Route 3
is an east-west route that begins in Sterling
and heads north and east to Watertown. NY 3 interchanges with I-81 at the city line. NY 3 heads east into Watertown, overlapping with both US 11 and NY 12 through downtown prior to leaving the city to the northeast to head through the Adirondacks to Plattsburgh.
New York State Route 12
is a north-south route through the city, extending northward to Clayton
then following the St. Lawrence Seaway to Morristown. A spur, NY 12E, takes a slightly-longer path through Cape Vincent
before rejoining NY 12.
New York State Route 12F
is a spur connecting NY 12 in downtown Watertown to NY 180 near the Watertown International Airport
in Dexter
.
, is published 7 days a week and serves Jefferson
, St. Lawrence
and Lewis
counties. The Fort Drum Mountaineer is a weekly newspaper for Fort Drum soldiers and their dependents.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Jefferson County
Jefferson County, New York
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 116,229. It is named after Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States of America, and president at the time the county was created in 1805...
. It is situated approximately 20 miles (32.2 km) south of the Thousand Islands
Thousand Islands
The Thousand Islands is the name of an archipelago of islands that straddle the Canada-U.S. border in the Saint Lawrence River as it emerges from the northeast corner of Lake Ontario. They stretch for about downstream from Kingston, Ontario. The Canadian islands are in the province of Ontario, the...
. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 27,023, an increase of 1.2% since 2000. The U.S. Army post Fort Drum
Fort Drum
Fort Drum is a United States Army base in New York near the Canadian border.Fort Drum may also refer to:*Fort Drum, Florida, a nearly-uninhabited town in the United States*Fort Drum , Philippines...
is near the city.
Named after the many falls located on the Black River
Black River (New York)
The Black River is a blackwater river that empties into the eastern end of Lake Ontario on the shore of Jefferson County, New York in the United States of America...
, the city developed early in the 19th century as a manufacturing center. From years of generating industrial wealth, in the early 20th century the city was said to have more millionaires per capita than any other city in the nation. Residents of Watertown built a rich public and private architectural legacy. It is the smallest city to have a park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted
Frederick Law Olmsted
Frederick Law Olmsted was an American journalist, social critic, public administrator, and landscape designer. He is popularly considered to be the father of American landscape architecture, although many scholars have bestowed that title upon Andrew Jackson Downing...
, the celebrated landscape architect
Landscape architect
A landscape architect is a person involved in the planning, design and sometimes direction of a landscape, garden, or distinct space. The professional practice is known as landscape architecture....
who created Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
in New York City.
Geographically, Watertown is located in the central part of Jefferson County. It lies 72 miles (115.9 km) northeast of Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
and 31 miles (49.9 km) south of the Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
border. The city is served by Watertown International Airport
Watertown International Airport
Watertown International Airport is a public airport located in the town of Hounsfield, five miles west of the central business district of Watertown, a city in Jefferson County, New York, USA...
.
The city is known as the birthplace of the Five and dime
Five and Dime
Five and Dime is a cartoon short by Walter Lantz which features Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. It is the 74th Oswald short produced by Lantz and the 125th overall. It also is among the number of shorts that feature Oswald in his fully clothed appearance....
, the safety pin
Safety pin
A safety pin is a simple fastening device, a variation of the regular pin which includes a simple spring mechanism and a clasp. The clasp serves two purposes: to form a closed loop thereby properly fastening the pin to whatever it is applied to, and to cover the end of the pin to protect the user...
, and is the home of Little Trees
Little Trees
Little Trees are disposable air fresheners in the shape of a stylized evergreen tree, marketed for use in cars. They are made of a material very similar to beer coasters and are produced in a variety of colours and scents...
air fresheners. It manufactured the first portable steam engine
Steam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
. It has the longest continually operating county fair in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and holds the Red and Black football franchise, the oldest surviving semi-professional team in the United States.
History
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, most notably Hart Massey, Henry Coffeen, and Zachariah Butterfield, part of a large migration into New York from New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
after the Revolutionary War. These pioneers chose the area due to the Black River. The pioneers' vision was for an industrial center that would draw power from the Black River. All the land was rough and unclear. Elevation was also a problem. The western end of the town was 12 to 15 ft (3.7 to 4.6 ) higher than the eastern end, with a large depression in the middle. A small stream also passed through the town.
Within a few years, the center of town was cleared for the ambitious Public Square
Public Square (Watertown, New York)
Public Square is an open mall that lies in the center of Watertown, New York. The square is listed as Public Square Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. The district encompasses 58 contributing buildings, 1 contributing site, and 3 contributing objects.-Description:The...
. Together with the 19th century structures that created a streetscape around it, this has been designated a historic district
Historic district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. As industry and businesses flourished, residents built substantial retail buildings, churches and private residences. The Paddock Arcade
Paddock arcade
The Paddock Arcade is a 19th century shopping mall located in Watertown, New York. Built in 1850, it is the second oldest covered shopping mall in the United States. Since it has seen uninterrupted use since it opened in 1850, it carries the distinction of being the country's oldest, continuously...
, built in 1850 according to European and US models, is the oldest continuously operating enclosed mall in the United States. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, as are several significant churches and private mansions.
The drop in the Black River at Watertown's location provided abundant water power for early industry. By the mid-19th century, entrepreneurs had built paper mills and major industries, including the first portable steam engine in 1847. In 1851, the city was joined to the state by the railroad. Other mills rapidly joined the business base and generated revenue to support early public works projects like the water system and illuminating gas works in 1853, and a telephone system in 1879.
Watertown claims that Rodman
Rodman, New York
Rodman is a town in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 1,176 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from a public official, Daniel Rodman....
native Frank W. Woolworth conceived the idea of his mercantile chain while working there in 1878. Woolworth, employed as a clerk in Moore's Store, set up a successful clearance display of low-priced items. This led to his idea of a store specializing in fixed-price, cut-rate merchandise. Woolworth left Watertown and opened his first store in Utica, New York
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
in 1879.
Among the many manufacturing businesses was the Davis Sewing Machine Company, which originated in Watertown. It was predecessor to George P. Huffman
George P. Huffman
George P. Huffman was an American businessman. His Davis Sewing Machine Company, which began producing bicycles in the late 19th century, was the precursor to the Huffman Manufacturing Company , a manufacturer of high-quality bicycles.In 1887, Huffman purchased the Davis Sewing Machine Company in...
's Huffy Corporation
Huffy
The Huffy Corporation is an American importer and manufacturer of inexpensive mass-market bicycles. It was founded in 1887 when George P. Huffman purchased the Davis Sewing Machine Company and moved its factory to Dayton, Ohio. Seven years later, in 1894, Huffman adapted the factory to...
(NYSE: HUF), now an American maker of bicycles and other sporting goods.
In 1805 Watertown became the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Jefferson County, New York
Jefferson County, New York
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 116,229. It is named after Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States of America, and president at the time the county was created in 1805...
, and it was made an incorporated village in 1816. In 1869, Watertown was incorporated as a city. In 1920, the city adopted a city manager style of government. The Jefferson County Courthouse Complex is an example of the substantial architecture of the city, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. An early industrial city that earned great wealth for many of its citizens by the turn of the 20th century, Watertown also developed an educated professional class of doctors and lawyers.
A number of factors affected Watertown's progress. The economic center of the country kept moving west, and Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
drew off many of its younger people for business and professional opportunities. Industrial technology shifted and jobs changed. In the deindustrialization of the mid-20th century, Watertown suffered economic and population declines.
The city has been working in recent decades to redevelop its downtown and revive the heart of the city. It is capitalizing on its rich architectural heritage, compact and walkable retail center, and well-designed residential areas.
Today the city serves as the commercial and financial center for a large rural area. It is the major community closest to Fort Drum
Fort Drum
Fort Drum is a United States Army base in New York near the Canadian border.Fort Drum may also refer to:*Fort Drum, Florida, a nearly-uninhabited town in the United States*Fort Drum , Philippines...
and the post's large population. Since the city is located just 25 miles (40.2 km) from the international boundary via the Thousand Islands Bridge
Thousand Islands Bridge
The Thousand Islands Bridge is an international bridge system over the Saint Lawrence River connecting northern New York in the United States with southeastern Ontario in Canada. Constructed in 1937, with additions in 1959, the bridges span the United States-Canada border in the middle of the...
, shopping by Canadian visitors is an important part of the local economy.
Notable residents
Notable people born in or who have resided in Watertown:- Samuel BeardsleySamuel BeardsleySamuel Beardsley was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:...
, New York State Attorney GeneralNew York State Attorney GeneralThe New York State Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of New York. The office has been in existence in some form since 1626, under the Dutch colonial government of New York.The current Attorney General is Eric Schneiderman...
1836-1839 - Albert BouchardAlbert BouchardAlbert Bouchard and grew up in Clayton, New York. He is a drummer, guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was a founding member of Blue Öyster Cult and a driving force through the band's first decade...
, drummer for and co-founding member of popular rock band Blue Öyster CultBlue Öyster CultBlue Öyster Cult, often abbreviated BÖC, is an American rock band, most of whose members first came together in Long Island, NY in 1967 as the band Soft White Underbelly... - Joe BouchardJoe BouchardJoe Bouchard was the original bassist for Blue Öyster Cult. He grew up in Clayton, New York...
, bassist for and co-founding member of popular rock band Blue Öyster CultBlue Öyster CultBlue Öyster Cult, often abbreviated BÖC, is an American rock band, most of whose members first came together in Long Island, NY in 1967 as the band Soft White Underbelly...
, brother of Albert Bouchard - Rocco CanaleRocco CanaleRocco Peter Canale was a professional football player in the National Football League. During his pro career, he split time between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Boston Yanks...
, NFL player for Philadelphia Eagles 1944-1949 - Reginald CaseReginald CaseReginald Case was an artist who made American Folk Art collages and Hollywood iconographic mixed-media assemblages and sculptures.-Life and work:...
, artist - Allen Welsh DullesAllen Welsh DullesAllen Welsh Dulles was an American diplomat, lawyer, banker, and public official who became the first civilian and the longest-serving Director of Central Intelligence and a member of the Warren Commission...
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, U.S. Secretary of State - Frederick ExleyFrederick ExleyFrederick E. "Fred" Exley, was an American novelist best known as the author of A Fan's Notes.-Biography:Early yearsFred Exley was born March 28, 1929, in Watertown, New York...
, author of A Fan's Notes, 1968, and other works - Leonard J. FarwellLeonard J. FarwellLeonard James Farwell was an American politician and the second Governor of Wisconsin.Farwell was born in Watertown, New York, and moved to Wisconsin in the 1840s, prior to its statehood...
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governor - Paul FinkelmanPaul finkelmanPaul Finkelman is an American historian and legal scholar. He is the President William McKinley Distinguished Professor of Law and Public Policy, and Senior Fellow in the Government Law Center at Albany Law School in Albany, NY...
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personality - Richard GriecoRichard GriecoRichard John Grieco, Jr. is an American actor and former fashion model.-Early life:Richard Grieco was born in Watertown, New York, the son of Carolyn and Richard Grieco. He is of Italian and Irish descent. Grieco played football for Central Connecticut State University.-Career:Grieco worked as a...
, actor, model, singer, former college football athlete - Robert GuinanRobert GuinanRobert Guinan is a Chicago-based American painter. The subject matter of his work includes but has not been limited to street performers, musicians, barflies, historical scenes, landscapes and building structures...
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- Kyle PucciaKyle PucciaKyle Puccia is a Billboard charting recording artist, Billboard charting songwriter, award-winning composer, celebrity vocal coach, music-director and producer...
, Billboard-charting singer/songwriter - Charles H. SawyerCharles H. SawyerCharles Henry Sawyer was an American businessman and Republican politician from Dover, New Hampshire. Born in 1840 in Watertown, New York, he served New Hampshire in the state's House of Representatives and as Governor. He died in 1908 in Dover, New Hampshire.-External links:*...
, former governor of New HampshireNew HampshireNew Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian... - Arthur ShawcrossArthur ShawcrossArthur John Shawcross was an American serial killer, also known as The Genesee River Killer in Rochester, New York...
, serial killer - Maggie RizerMaggie RizerMaggie Rizer is an American model, actress, and AIDS activist. She is also ambassador for Operation Smile.-Personal life:...
, supermodel & AIDS activist - Frank W. Woolworth, founder of F. W. Woolworth CompanyF. W. Woolworth CompanyThe F. W. Woolworth Company was a retail company that was one of the original American five-and-dime stores. The first successful Woolworth store was opened on July 18, 1879 by Frank Winfield Woolworth in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as "Woolworth's Great Five Cent Store"...
/Five and Dime stores - Charles W. Yost, U.S. Ambassador to the United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
- Zina D. H. YoungZina D. H. YoungZina Diantha Huntington Jacobs Smith Young was an American social activist and religious leader who served as the third general president of the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1888 until her death...
, leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and social activist
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 9.3 square miles (24.1 km²). 9 square miles (23.3 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (3.45%) is water.
The Black River
Black River (New York)
The Black River is a blackwater river that empties into the eastern end of Lake Ontario on the shore of Jefferson County, New York in the United States of America...
flows westward through the city toward Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
. The Black River is a world-renowned kayaking
Kayaking
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...
destination. Competition-level kayaking
Kayaking
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...
events, such as the Blackwater Challenge, have been held on the river.
By tradition, the city's name was derived from the abundant water power available from the river. Businesses harnessed water power to create one of the early industrial centers in New York. Paper mills were historically a major industry for the city and contributed to its 19th century wealth.
Jefferson Community College
Jefferson Community College (New York)
Jefferson Community College, a two-year college located in Watertown, New York, was chartered in 1961 and was initially accredited in 1969. It is one of the 30 community colleges that make up the State University of New York system.-Students:...
(JCC) is located in the western part of the city near the fairgrounds.
Climate
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 26,705 people, 11,036 households, and 6,500 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,981.3 per square mile (1,150.8/km²). There were 12,450 housing units at an average density of 1,389.9 per square mile (536.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.13% White, 4.95% Black or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.54% Native American, 1.16% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 1.67% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.59% of the population. In 2009, the population was estimated at 27,489.
There were 11,036 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.1% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,429, and the median income for a family was $36,115. Males had a median income of $31,068 versus $21,294 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $16,354. About 14.4% of families and 19.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.2% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Watertown is served by the Watertown City School District. The elementary schools are North, Ohio, Knickerbocker, Sherman and Starbuck. The higher level schools are H.T. Wiley Intermediate School, Case Middle School, Watertown High School, and Immaculate Heart Central Junior and Senior High Schools, the Catholic and secular educational institutions. Jefferson Community College is a two-year college located in the city as well.Points of interest
- New York State Zoo at Thompson Park. Founded in 1920, the mission of the New York State Zoo is to promote the conservation of wildlife and wild places by helping community members build positive sustainable relationships with nature. The zoo offers special events, classes, parties and picnics.
- Thompson Park. The historic Thompson Park itself is a large, city-owned public park featuring tennis courts, playgrounds, a public pool, multiple picnic areas, large open fields which host various sports and activities, an 18-hole golf course, multiple hiking trails, and many picturesque views of the city of Watertown and surrounding areas due to its very high elevation. During the considerably snowy winters in Watertown, the park offers many large hills for sledding, as well as multiple cross-country skiingCross-country skiingCross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
trails throughout the park and surrounding forests. Each summer, Thompson Park also hosts a firework show and live symphony orchestra show on the Fourth of July. - Alex Duffy Fairgrounds. Located between the Town Square and Community College, the fairground each year hosts the Jefferson County Fair, which is the oldest continually operating fair in America. The fair has a heavy focus on local agriculture, particularly local dairy and livestock farming, maple syrup production, and wineriesWinemakingWinemaking, or vinification, is the production of wine, starting with selection of the grapes or other produce and ending with bottling the finished wine. Although most wine is made from grapes, it may also be made from other fruit or non-toxic plant material...
. The fairgrounds also offers many sporting fields for various local sporting events, most notably Watertown's own semi-professional football team, the Watertown Red & BlackWatertown Red & BlackThe Watertown Red & Black is a semi-professional American football team based in Watertown, New York. Founded in 1896, the team is the oldest semi-pro football team in the United States...
, which is the country's longest-running semi-professional football program. In addition, a public pool, skateboarding park, picnic areas, hiking trails, and an indoor ice-skating rink are featured within the fairgrounds. - Seaway Wine Trail Tours. Most weekends throughout the spring, summer and fall, Coach Buses offer tours through the Seaway Wine Trail, consisting of 4 wineries in Jefferson CountyJefferson County, New YorkJefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 116,229. It is named after Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States of America, and president at the time the county was created in 1805...
located along the famous Seaway TrailSeaway TrailThe Great Lakes Seaway Trail, formerly named and commonly known as the Seaway Trail, is a National Scenic Byway in the northeastern United States, mostly contained in New York but with a small segment in Pennsylvania...
. The tours begin and end in the city square, and consist of meals and wine-tasting. - Burrville Cider Mill. The Burrville Cider Mill is one of Jefferson County's oldest establishments. The structure, formerly known as Burr's Mills, was built in 1801 and was originally used as a sawmill and a gristmill. The Mill is located at the headwaters of the North Branch of the Sandy Creek on a 30-foot waterfall that was used to turn a turbine that powered the Mill equipment.
- The Hudson River Rafting Company offers rafting trips on 4 rivers the Hudson, Sacandaga, Black, and Moose rivers over three seasons. Specializing in group rafting trips, they offer rafting to school groups, scouts, corporate outings, religious groups, camp groups and family reunions.
- Dry Hill Ski Area. A slope just south of the city on the northern edge of the Tug Hill Plateau which features 9 trails for skiing and snowboarding of multiple difficulty levels, as well as a section for snow-tubing, and a lodge with a restaurant, skiing and snowboarding rental shop, and bar.
- "Golden Crescent" and Thousand IslandsThousand IslandsThe Thousand Islands is the name of an archipelago of islands that straddle the Canada-U.S. border in the Saint Lawrence River as it emerges from the northeast corner of Lake Ontario. They stretch for about downstream from Kingston, Ontario. The Canadian islands are in the province of Ontario, the...
Region. Though not located within the city, Watertown is the closest American city to the well-known Thousand Islands Region, as well as the popular sport-fishing and diving region known as the Golden Crescent, which extends from Henderson Harbor to the Thousand Islands. Being within 30 miles of these regions makes the city a popular destination and stopping point for tourists during the summer. - The farmers market in Watertown, where farmers, vendors, bakers, and many others set up an open market every Wednesday from 6 AM to 3 PM all along Washington Street to advertise and sell their produce.
Highways
Interstate 81 runs through the Watertown area. It is a north-south route that runs from near Dandridge, TennesseeDandridge, Tennessee
Dandridge is a town in Jefferson County, Tennessee, United States. It is the county seat of Jefferson County. It is part of the Morristown, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area....
north to Hill Island, Ontario, connecting via the Thousand Islands Bridge
Thousand Islands Bridge
The Thousand Islands Bridge is an international bridge system over the Saint Lawrence River connecting northern New York in the United States with southeastern Ontario in Canada. Constructed in 1937, with additions in 1959, the bridges span the United States-Canada border in the middle of the...
and a short connecting road to Highway 401 across the Canadian border. Interstate 81 passes just to the west of the city of Watertown, near Salmon Run Mall.
U.S. Route 11
U.S. Route 11
U.S. Route 11 is a north–south United States highway extending 1,645 miles across the eastern United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 90 in the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge in eastern New Orleans, Louisiana. The northern terminus is at the United...
runs from eastern New Orleans, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, to its northern terminus at the Canadian border in Rouses Point, New York
Rouses Point, New York
Rouses Point is a village in Clinton County, New York, United States, along the 45th parallel. The population was 2,209 at the 2010 census. The village is named after Jacques Rouse, an early settler....
. US 11 runs north-south through the city of Watertown.
Many state highways converge on the city. New York State Route 3
New York State Route 3
New York State Route 3 is a major east–west state highway in New York, United States, that connects central New York to the North Country region near the Canadian border via Adirondack Park. The route extends for between its western terminus at an intersection with NY 104A in the Cayuga...
is an east-west route that begins in Sterling
Sterling, New York
Sterling is a town in Cayuga County, New York, United States. The population was 3,040 at the 2010 census. The town is named after "Lord Stirling", a general of the Revolutionary War. Sterling is the most northerly town in the county...
and heads north and east to Watertown. NY 3 interchanges with I-81 at the city line. NY 3 heads east into Watertown, overlapping with both US 11 and NY 12 through downtown prior to leaving the city to the northeast to head through the Adirondacks to Plattsburgh.
New York State Route 12
New York State Route 12
New York State Route 12 is a state highway extending for through central and northern New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 11 in the town of Chenango in the Southern Tier. The northern terminus is at NY 37 near the village of...
is a north-south route through the city, extending northward to Clayton
Clayton (village), New York
Clayton is a village located in the Town of Clayton in Jefferson County, New York, USA. The population was 1,821 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from the name of the town....
then following the St. Lawrence Seaway to Morristown. A spur, NY 12E, takes a slightly-longer path through Cape Vincent
Cape Vincent (village), New York
Cape Vincent is a village in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 760 at the 2000 census.The Village of Cape Vincent is in the northern part of the Town of Cape Vincent and is northwest of Watertown.- History :...
before rejoining NY 12.
New York State Route 12F
New York State Route 12F
New York State Route 12F is an east–west state highway in Jefferson County, New York, in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 180 in the town of Hounsfield to a junction with U.S. Route 11 and NY 12 in the city of Watertown...
is a spur connecting NY 12 in downtown Watertown to NY 180 near the Watertown International Airport
Watertown International Airport
Watertown International Airport is a public airport located in the town of Hounsfield, five miles west of the central business district of Watertown, a city in Jefferson County, New York, USA...
in Dexter
Dexter, New York
Dexter is a village in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 1,120 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from Simon Newton Dexter, one of the village's stockholders....
.
Media
The local newspaper, the Watertown Daily TimesWatertown Daily Times
The Watertown Daily Times is a daily newspaper published in Watertown, New York. It provides coverage of Jefferson County, Lewis County, and St. Lawrence County. It was founded in 1861....
, is published 7 days a week and serves Jefferson
Jefferson County, New York
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 116,229. It is named after Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States of America, and president at the time the county was created in 1805...
, St. Lawrence
St. Lawrence County, New York
St. Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 111,944. The county seat is Canton. The county is named for the Saint Lawrence River, which in turn was named for the Catholic saint on whose Feast day the river was discovered by...
and Lewis
Lewis County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,944 people, 10,040 households, and 7,309 families residing in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile . There were 15,134 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...
counties. The Fort Drum Mountaineer is a weekly newspaper for Fort Drum soldiers and their dependents.
Watertown in popular culture
- American novelist Fred ExleyFrederick ExleyFrederick E. "Fred" Exley, was an American novelist best known as the author of A Fan's Notes.-Biography:Early yearsFred Exley was born March 28, 1929, in Watertown, New York...
grew up in Watertown. - Watertown was the given setting for the 1990 Bette MidlerBette MidlerBette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
film StellaStella (1990 film)Stella is a 1990 American drama film produced by The Samuel Goldwyn Company and released by Touchstone Pictures. The screenplay by Robert Getchell is the third feature film adaptation of the 1920 novel Stella Dallas by Olive Higgins Prouty....
. While the movie was filmed in Ontario, several local items were imported to appear in the film, including the local daily newspaper, taxi-cabs and shopping bags from the locally owned Empsall's department store. - Little TreesLittle TreesLittle Trees are disposable air fresheners in the shape of a stylized evergreen tree, marketed for use in cars. They are made of a material very similar to beer coasters and are produced in a variety of colours and scents...
air fresheners were invented in Watertown in 1951; now the city is home to the Car-Freshner Corporation headquarters and manufacturing plant. - Harry ChapinHarry ChapinHarry Forster Chapin was an American singer-songwriter best known in particular for his folk rock songs including "Taxi", "W*O*L*D", and the number-one hit "Cat's in the Cradle". Chapin was also a dedicated humanitarian who fought to end world hunger; he was a key player in the creation of the...
made a famous quote—"I spent a week there one afternoon"—about Watertown. His song "A Better Place to Be" was inspired by a story he heard in Watertown. Chapin mentioned both the quote and the origin of the song on his 1976 album Greatest Stories LiveGreatest Stories LiveGreatest Stories Live is the first live album by the American singer/songwriter Harry Chapin, released in 1976. Certain elements had to be re-recorded in the studio due to technical problems with the live recordings. The original LP release featured three new studio tracks, two of which were...
. - Frank SinatraFrank SinatraFrancis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
's 1970 concept album WatertownWatertown (album)Watertown is a 1970 studio album by the American singer Frank Sinatra.It is Sinatra's most ambitious concept album, an experiment perhaps first started on the 1966 album That's Life...
charts the story of a middle-aged man in Watertown, New York, whose wife has left him with his children. - In the 2005 film RobotsRobots (film)Robots is a 2005 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Blue Sky Studios for 20th Century Fox, and was released theatrically on March 11, 2005. The story was created by Chris Wedge and William Joyce, a children's book author/illustrator. The two were trying to create a film version of...
, the fictional town of Rivet Town is based on Watertown, where Robots director Chris WedgeChris WedgeChris Wedge is an American film director, best known for the films Ice Age and Robots.-Early life and career:Wedge was born in Binghamton, New York. He attended Fayetteville-Manlius High School, graduating in 1975...
lived during his teens. - In the Law & Order: SVU episode "Selfish", there was a mention of Watertown and Evans Mills as a wanted man had escaped to a cabin there. The episode showed much of the surrounding area including areas North where the show chased the criminal to Canada.
External links
- City of Watertown official website
- City of Watertown History
- Jefferson County Historical Society
- New York State Zoo at Thompson Park
- Jefferson County & Watertown wiki
- Jefferson County and Watertown stories of historical significance
- Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad
- Newzjunky.com Popular Current News for Jefferson County and Watertown
- Photos of the Watertown Steam Engine Company buildings, where the first portable steam engine was created