Watertown (town), New York
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Watertown is a town in Jefferson County, New York. The population is 4,482.
The Town of Watertown is located in the southeast part of the county. Part of the City of Watertown borders the town.
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History
Numerous sites of the aboriginal habitation were found by early surveyors of this region. Watertown was established as a town in 1800 before the formation of Jefferson County, while still in Oneida County, New York. The town was first settled in 1801 around the time of the first permanent US military presence in the region, which was established at nearby Sackets Harbor, New York to guard the international border and to fight smuggling in the St. Lawrence region.
Geography
As of the 2000 census, the town of Watertown had a total population of 4,482 and the City of Watertown, which is within the town of Watertown, had a total population of 26,705. References to "Watertown, New York" usually apply to the city rather than to the town.
The Town of Watertown is in the north central part of the county. The town surrounds the city on three sides. The Town of Pamelia forms the northern boundary.
The Black River forms the northern town boundary.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 93.4 km² (36.1 mi²). 93.2 km² (36.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.19% water. The land area of the city is 9.0 square miles.
Interstate highway 81 passes through the west part of the town and three full-power television stations WPBS, WWNY and WWTI currently broadcast from the Watertown area.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 4,482 people, 1,407 households, and 1,018 families residing in the town. The population density is 48.1/km² (124.6/mi²). There are 1,502 housing units at an average density of 16.1/km² (41.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 83.94% White, 11.24% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.39% from other races, and 0.47% from two or more races. 6.85% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 1,407 households out of which 34.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% are married couples living together, 7.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% are non-families. 22.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.57 and the average family size is 3.02.
In the town the population is spread out with 21.3% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 37.6% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 143.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 158.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $41,961, and the median income for a family is $46,563. Males have a median income of $35,475 versus $21,638 for females. The per capita income for the town is $21,786. 4.7% of the population and 3.8% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 5.6% of those under the age of 18 and 1.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Communities and locations in the Town of Watertown
- Burrville (formerly Burrs Mills) -- A hamlet near the east town line on Route 12. The name is from Captain John Burr and his family, early settlers.
- Dry Hill -- A hamlet south of the City of Watertown and location of a skiing area. The name is supposed to be an ironic indication of the distilleries located here in the past.
- East Watertown -- A hamlet near the east town line on Route 126.
- North Watertown -- A former location in the town, north of the Black River.
- Rices -- A hamlet in the southeast part of the town on Route 232 by interstate 81.
- Rices Junction -- A location northeast of Rice on Route 232.
- Watertown -- The City of Watertown occupies the north central part of the town.
- Watertown Center -- A hamlet on US Route 11 south of the City of Watertown. Watertown Center is the location of the town government.
External links
- Town of Watertown history (http://history.rays-place.com/ny/watertown-ny.htm)