| Official Name: | Watertown, South Dakota |
| Nickname: | South Dakota's Rising Star |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Image Blank Emblem: | City of Watertown Logo.png |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | South Dakota |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Codington |
| Government Type: | Mayor–council |
| Governing Body: | Watertown City Council |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Ried Holien |
| Established Title: | Founded |
| Established Date: | 1879[1] |
| Established Title1: | Incorporated |
| Established Date1: | 1885[2] |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [3] |
| Area Total Km2: | 68.23 |
| Area Land Km2: | 47.57 |
| Area Water Km2: | 20.66 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 26.34 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 18.37 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 7.98 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Est: | 23501 |
| Pop Est As Of: | 2024 |
| Population Total: | 22655 |
| Population Density Km2: | 476.25 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 1233.46 |
| Population Metro: | 28325 (US: 451st) |
| Timezone: | CST |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Coordinates: | 44.9033°N -97.1206°W |
| Elevation Ft: | 1729 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 57201 |
| Area Code: | 605 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 46-69300 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 1267627 |
Watertown is a city in and the county seat of Codington County, South Dakota, United States.[4] 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.
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.[6]
Watertown is along the Big Sioux River.[7]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 25.04sqmi, of which 17.45sqmi is land and 7.59sqmi is water.[8] 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 .
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] [9] 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.[10] The route included a slight bend to bring it closer to Watertown.[10] Its construction was a major economic benefit to Watertown and the communities near it.[10]
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.[11]
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.[12]
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 1231.3PD/sqmi. There were 10,050 housing units at an average density of 575.9/sqmi. 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.
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 1328.9sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 9,193 housing units at an average density of 603.7sp=usNaNsp=us. 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.
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,[13] 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.[14]
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.
| Channel (Digital) | Callsign | Network | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | KDLO-DT (Satellite of KELO) | Nexstar Media Group | |
| 3.2 | KDLO-DT (Satellite of KELO) | Nexstar Media Group | |
| 3.4 | KDLO-DT (Satellite of KELO) | Nexstar Media Group | |
| 13.1 | K32DK-D (Translator of KSFY) | Gray Television | |
| 13.2 | K32DK-D (Translator of KSFY) | Gray Television | |
| 13.3 | K32DK-D (Translator of KSFY) | Gray Television | |
| 13.4 | K32DK-D (Translator of KSFY) | Gray Television | |
| 13.5 | K32DK-D (Translator of KSFY) | Gray Television | |
| 46.1 | K28OE-D (Translator of KDLT) | Gray Television | |
| 46.2 | K28OE-D (Translator of KDLT) | Gray Television | |
| 46.3 | K28OE-D (Translator of KDLT) | Gray Television | |
| 46.4 | K28OE-D (Translator of KDLT) | Gray Television | |
| 46.5 | K28OE-D (Translator of KDLT) | Gray Television | |
| 46.6 | K28OE-D (Translator of KDLT) | Gray Television | |
| 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 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 | |
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.[15]
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.
According to the city's 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[18] [19] Watertown's largest employers are:
| Employer | Sector | data-sort-type="number" | Number of Employees | As of | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watertown School District | Education | 776 | June 2018 | ||
| Prairie Lakes Health System | Healthcare | 683 | June 2018 | ||
| Manufacturing | 634 | June 2018 | |||
| Retail | 450 | June 2018 | Mostly part-time | ||
| Lending | 367 | June 2018 | |||
| City of Watertown | Government | 336 | June 2018 | ||
| Manufacturing | 309 | June 2018 | |||
| 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 | ||
| Education | 211[20] | May 2017 | |||
| Retail | 85 | July 2017 |