Watertown, New York | |
|---|---|
  052613_014.JPG)       Clockwise from top: the Public Square; theSt. Paul's Episcopal Church, theEmma Flower Taylor Mansion; thePaddock Arcade; a set of buildings including the Paddock Arcade; theRoswell P. Flower Memorial Library; thePaddock Mansion; theJefferson County Courthouse Complex; theBlack River. | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| Nickname: The Garland City | |
 Interactive map of Watertown's location | |
| Coordinates:43°58′32.2″N75°54′23.0″W / 43.975611°N 75.906389°W /43.975611; -75.906389 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Jefferson |
| Region | North Country |
| Settled | 1800; 225 years ago (1800) |
| Incorporated (village) | 1816; 209 years ago (1816) |
| Incorporated (city) | 1869; 156 years ago (1869) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| • Mayor | Sarah Compo Pierce |
| • City council | Members' List
|
| Area | |
• Total | 9.39 sq mi (24.31 km2) |
| • Land | 9.03 sq mi (23.39 km2) |
| • Water | 0.36 sq mi (0.92 km2) |
| Elevation | 466 ft (142 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 24,685 |
| • Density | 2,733.0/sq mi (1,055.21/km2) |
| Demonym | Watertownian |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Zip Codes | 13601, 13602 |
| Area code | 315 |
| FIPS code | 36-78608[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0968914[3] |
| Website | www |
Watertown is acity in and thecounty seat ofJefferson County, New York, United States. It is approximately 25 miles (40 km) south of theThousand Islands, along theBlack River, about 5 miles (8 km) east of where it flows intoLake Ontario. The city is bordered by thetown of Watertown to the south, east, and west, and is served by theWatertown International Airport and theWatertown Daily Times newspaper. In the middle of Watertown lies thePublic Square Historic District, which was built in 1805 and listed on theNational Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1984. Watertown is located 13 miles (21 kilometers) southwest of theU.S. Army base atFort Drum; it is the service and shopping destination for personnel there and their families. As of the2020 United States census, the city has 24,685 residents, making it the largest city in theNorth Country.
The area was first surveyed in 1795, and was settled in March 1800 due to the abundanthydropower the Black River provided. The city was designated as the county seat of Jefferson County when it was split off fromOneida County in 1805. Watertown wasincorporated as a village in 1816, and became a city in 1869. By then, it was booming as an industrial center forUpstate New York. During the mid 1960s,Chicago attracted many of the younger residents from the area along with their businesses, leading to the demolition of many historic buildings and a steady decline in population. By 2000, the city had lost over 7,000 residents.
The city serves as the commercial and financial center for theNorth Country. Located 30 miles (48 km) from the Canadian border, shopping by Canadian visitors is important to Watertown's economy. The city also receives numerous tourists and summer residents.Watertown, South Dakota, was named in the city's honor.
Watertown got its name from straddling the Black River.[4] It is unknown which settler chose it, but it is commonly believed to have been a consensus choice in order to attract mills. By 1850, mills manufacturing different products, powered by the Black river, were being built throughout Watertown.[5]
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In 1791,New York City residentAlexander Macombpurchased the land of Jefferson,Lewis,St. Lawrence andOswego county. He sent out multiple surveyors to sell the land to passing settlers. The area of Watertown was first surveyed in 1796 byBenjamin Wright, who was employed by Macomb to survey the northern and central portions of New York State.[6][7] Wright made the following statement about the land after returning:[8]
Along the river there is some good land and some that is broken and rocky. The river is amazing rapid and rocky; some falls along the river which may be made good mill seats, and some excellent pine timber along the river. On the east line is a fine country. The west line is of good quality. There are some fine mill seats in this town which on the map are marked 'falls' and 'rapids.' To speak generally I think this to be an excellent town-ship, and scarcely any poor land upon it. Will settle very fast, if laid in lots and sold to settlers.
In 1798, pioneers Hart Massey, Henry Coffeen, and Zachariah Butterfield built cabins in what is now the Public Square area as part of a large migration into New York fromNew England after theRevolutionary War. The land was very uneven territory and was leveled out in one of the firstlandfill projects in the United States.[7] The area was taken from the nearby town ofMexico in 1800.[9]
Coffeen then moved his family into Watertown. He and the other pioneers chose the area due to theBlack River, which flowed west intoLake Ontario about 5 mi (8.0 km) away.[10][11] Their vision was for an industrial center that would draw power from the river. In 1805, settlers cleared the center of town to createPublic Square.[10] During the 19th century, several significant buildings were built around it. The area has been designated as ahistoric district, listed on theNRHP. Watertown was designated as theseat ofJefferson County after it was split fromOneida County. At that time, Watertown was one of the least populated places in the county.[7]
Watertown wasincorporated as avillage in 1816.[12] In 1869, it reincorporated as a city.[13][14]
Due to its proximity toLake Ontario, Watertown became a popular location for transporting supplies into Canada, which helped its economy. As industry and businesses flourished, successful residents built substantial retail buildings, churches, and private residences close to the square. After theEmbargo Act of 1807 was passed which prohibited trade with Britain and France, which at the time included Canada. The economy suffered as a result and eventually led to smuggling materials into Canada, leading to theWar of 1812. During the Civil War, the35th New York Infantry Regiment began in Watertown.[7]
ThePaddock Arcade, built in 1850 according to European and US models, is the oldest continuously operating enclosed mall in the United States.[15] It is also listed on the National Register, as are several mansions and churches, such as the Emma Flower Taylor Mansion and the Trinity Episcopal Church. The drops in the Black at Watertown's location—40 feet (12 m) in the center of town, and 120 feet (37 m) over 2.5 miles (4.0 km)—provided abundant water power for early industry.[11]
By the mid-19th century, entrepreneurs had built paper mills and major industries, including one to manufacture the first portable steam engine in 1847. In the late 1840s Watertown saw an influx in population fromIrish migration into the area duringthe famine.[11] In 1849 a fire began in the public square that destroyed most of the surrounding buildings.[16] In 1851, the city was joined toAlbany,Syracuse, andRochester as well as other major cities of the state with theRome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad. Other mills were added to the business base, generating revenue to support the city's early public works projects, such as the water system and illuminating gas works in 1853, and a telephone system in 1879.
Watertown claims thatRodman nativeFrank W. Woolworth conceived the idea of his eponymousmercantile chain while working here in 1878. Woolworth, then 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 1879 inUtica. Among the many manufacturing businesses was the Davis Sewing Machine Company, which originated in Watertown. It was the predecessor toGeorge P. Huffman'sHuffy Corporation, now a maker of bicycles and other sporting goods.[citation needed]
In the late 1890s, many new factories and industries were established, increasing the population by over 17,000 in the span of 30 years. The city gained a reputation for gambling and prostitution.[11] Watertown also developed an educated professional class of doctors and lawyers. The economic center of the country kept moving west following the development of the frontier and a shift of population into theMidwest. In 1920, the city adopted acity manager-style of government.[17]
After theWall Street Crash of 1929, many stores shut down and laid off a considerable amount of their workforce, leading to economic hardships untilWorld War II, when Watertown's industries switched fromconsumer products to war materiel, revitalizing the economy.[7]
Little Trees were developed in Watertown in 1951;[18] the Car-Freshner Corporation headquarters and manufacturing plant is located in the city. In the 1960s and 1970s, Watertown began a large de-industrialization which destroyed many historic buildings, such as the Hotel Woodruff and old courthouse.[7][19] Watertown suffered economic and population declines. As Chicago boomed, it attracted many of the younger people from upstate New York for its business and professional opportunities. By the 1980s, unemployment in the area was up 20 percent.[7]
In the 21st century, the city serves as a hub for a large rural area. In 2006, the city began a $7.4 million project that restored multiple buildings as well as fixing roads and walkways. The city completed this project in 2008, although more fixes are planned.[14][20] In early 2019, Watertown was named "The Least Politically Prejudiced Place in America" byAmanda Ripley.[21][22]
Watertown is around 60 miles (97 kilometers) north ofSyracuse, 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of theThousand Islands and 328 miles (530 kilometers) northwest ofNew York City.[23][24] According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.3 square miles (24 km2), of which 9.0 square miles (23 km2) are land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) (3.45 percent) is water.[25] Before the area was settled, all the land was rough and forested. Elevation was also a problem.[7] TheBlack River, flowing westward through the city towardLake Ontario, is a world-renownedkayaking destination.[26] Competition-level kayaking events, such as the Blackwater Challenge, have been held on the river.[27]
Watertown has ahumid continental climate orhemiboreal climate(Köppen:Dfb), with cold, snowy winters and an atypical autumn maximum precipitation regime, this being far more common in areas on the west coasts of landmasses (this may be the result of Lake Ontario located to the west of Watertown, thus providing a "west coast").[28] Unless otherwise noted, all figures cited below are from the GHCN station located closer to downtown.
Winters can be very cold: temperatures remain at or below the freezing mark on an average of 54 days annually, and fall to 0 °F (−18 °C) or below on an average 20 nights.[29] Moreover, Watertown is located in planthardiness zone 4b, which means that the temperature is likely to drop below −20 °F (−29 °C) at least once a year.[30]Summers are mild to warm, and temperatures of 90 °F (32 °C) or above on average occur on only 3.1 days annually. Record temperatures range from a low of −39 °F (−39 °C) on December 29, 1933, up to highs of 99 °F (37 °C) on July 20 and 27, 1894, although those at the airport have dropped as low as −43 °F (−42 °C) onJanuary 16, 1994.
Precipitation averages 44.36 inches (1,127 mm), and is distributed fairly uniformly throughout the year, with slightly more during autumn and slightly less during spring and late winter.[31] Since Watertown is situated near the eastern edge ofLake Ontario, it receives muchlake-effect snow, averaging 116.4 inches (296 cm) of snowfall in the winter.
| Climate data for Watertown, New York (GHCN station, 151.5 m (497 ft) AMSL), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 66 (19) | 67 (19) | 82 (28) | 92 (33) | 92 (33) | 98 (37) | 99 (37) | 97 (36) | 96 (36) | 87 (31) | 78 (26) | 69 (21) | 99 (37) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 54.5 (12.5) | 51.5 (10.8) | 63.1 (17.3) | 77.7 (25.4) | 84.2 (29.0) | 88.8 (31.6) | 90.0 (32.2) | 89.5 (31.9) | 86.0 (30.0) | 77.9 (25.5) | 67.5 (19.7) | 56.7 (13.7) | 91.5 (33.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 28.9 (−1.7) | 30.9 (−0.6) | 39.6 (4.2) | 53.5 (11.9) | 66.9 (19.4) | 75.3 (24.1) | 79.8 (26.6) | 78.7 (25.9) | 71.8 (22.1) | 58.6 (14.8) | 46.4 (8.0) | 34.9 (1.6) | 55.4 (13.0) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 19.8 (−6.8) | 21.3 (−5.9) | 30.6 (−0.8) | 44.0 (6.7) | 57.0 (13.9) | 66.1 (18.9) | 70.9 (21.6) | 69.6 (20.9) | 62.1 (16.7) | 49.8 (9.9) | 38.4 (3.6) | 27.3 (−2.6) | 46.4 (8.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 10.7 (−11.8) | 11.7 (−11.3) | 21.6 (−5.8) | 34.5 (1.4) | 47.2 (8.4) | 56.9 (13.8) | 62.0 (16.7) | 60.5 (15.8) | 52.3 (11.3) | 41.0 (5.0) | 30.5 (−0.8) | 19.7 (−6.8) | 37.4 (3.0) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −15.3 (−26.3) | −11.7 (−24.3) | −0.5 (−18.1) | 20.5 (−6.4) | 32.2 (0.1) | 43.3 (6.3) | 50.6 (10.3) | 47.1 (8.4) | 37.2 (2.9) | 25.7 (−3.5) | 13.0 (−10.6) | −4.1 (−20.1) | −18.7 (−28.2) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −34 (−37) | −31 (−35) | −21 (−29) | 1 (−17) | 21 (−6) | 30 (−1) | 35 (2) | 36 (2) | 26 (−3) | 15 (−9) | −3 (−19) | −39 (−39) | −39 (−39) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.58 (91) | 2.88 (73) | 2.75 (70) | 3.53 (90) | 3.65 (93) | 3.71 (94) | 3.47 (88) | 3.84 (98) | 3.85 (98) | 5.01 (127) | 4.24 (108) | 3.85 (98) | 44.36 (1,127) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 34.0 (86) | 29.6 (75) | 13.6 (35) | 2.7 (6.9) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.5 (1.3) | 9.1 (23) | 26.9 (68) | 116.4 (296) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 17.9 | 14.8 | 13.1 | 13.6 | 13.8 | 12.7 | 11.0 | 11.1 | 11.6 | 16.1 | 15.0 | 17.3 | 168.0 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 11.7 | 10.1 | 5.6 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 3.4 | 9.1 | 41.3 |
| Source:NOAA[31][32] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data forWatertown International Airport, New York (96.9 m (318 ft) AMSL), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1949–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 66 (19) | 66 (19) | 84 (29) | 89 (32) | 91 (33) | 95 (35) | 97 (36) | 96 (36) | 96 (36) | 84 (29) | 77 (25) | 69 (21) | 97 (36) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 54.5 (12.5) | 51.8 (11.0) | 62.9 (17.2) | 77.4 (25.2) | 83.2 (28.4) | 87.8 (31.0) | 89.2 (31.8) | 88.8 (31.6) | 85.4 (29.7) | 77.1 (25.1) | 67.1 (19.5) | 56.2 (13.4) | 90.9 (32.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 29.8 (−1.2) | 31.4 (−0.3) | 40.0 (4.4) | 53.7 (12.1) | 66.2 (19.0) | 74.5 (23.6) | 79.2 (26.2) | 78.2 (25.7) | 71.2 (21.8) | 58.4 (14.7) | 46.6 (8.1) | 35.5 (1.9) | 55.4 (13.0) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 19.9 (−6.7) | 21.1 (−6.1) | 30.4 (−0.9) | 43.1 (6.2) | 55.0 (12.8) | 63.8 (17.7) | 69.0 (20.6) | 67.5 (19.7) | 60.0 (15.6) | 48.8 (9.3) | 38.0 (3.3) | 27.3 (−2.6) | 45.3 (7.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 10.0 (−12.2) | 10.7 (−11.8) | 20.7 (−6.3) | 32.5 (0.3) | 43.7 (6.5) | 53.1 (11.7) | 58.8 (14.9) | 56.7 (13.7) | 48.8 (9.3) | 39.2 (4.0) | 29.5 (−1.4) | 19.0 (−7.2) | 35.2 (1.8) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −22.7 (−30.4) | −19.7 (−28.7) | −4.5 (−20.3) | 17.7 (−7.9) | 29.3 (−1.5) | 38.9 (3.8) | 45.4 (7.4) | 42.2 (5.7) | 32.2 (0.1) | 22.1 (−5.5) | 10.2 (−12.1) | −9.9 (−23.3) | −28.0 (−33.3) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −43 (−42) | −37 (−38) | −24 (−31) | 6 (−14) | 18 (−8) | 29 (−2) | 33 (1) | 30 (−1) | 22 (−6) | 12 (−11) | −7 (−22) | −37 (−38) | −43 (−42) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 2.86 (73) | 2.18 (55) | 2.37 (60) | 3.07 (78) | 2.97 (75) | 3.09 (78) | 3.01 (76) | 3.20 (81) | 3.56 (90) | 4.22 (107) | 3.40 (86) | 3.14 (80) | 37.07 (942) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 31.6 (80) | 20.7 (53) | 12.0 (30) | 2.8 (7.1) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.2 (0.51) | 7.0 (18) | 25.8 (66) | 100.2 (255) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 16.4 | 13.7 | 12.5 | 13.0 | 13.0 | 12.3 | 10.6 | 10.5 | 10.8 | 14.4 | 14.4 | 16.3 | 157.9 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 13.7 | 10.4 | 7.0 | 2.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 4.5 | 12.0 | 50.6 |
| Source:NOAA (snow 1981–2010)[31][33][34] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 9,336 | — | |
| 1880 | 10,697 | 14.6% | |
| 1890 | 14,725 | 37.7% | |
| 1900 | 21,696 | 47.3% | |
| 1910 | 26,730 | 23.2% | |
| 1920 | 31,285 | 17.0% | |
| 1930 | 32,205 | 2.9% | |
| 1940 | 33,385 | 3.7% | |
| 1950 | 34,350 | 2.9% | |
| 1960 | 33,306 | −3.0% | |
| 1970 | 30,787 | −7.6% | |
| 1980 | 27,861 | −9.5% | |
| 1990 | 29,429 | 5.6% | |
| 2000 | 26,705 | −9.3% | |
| 2010 | 27,023 | 1.2% | |
| 2020 | 24,685 | −8.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[35]2020[36] | |||
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,705 people, 11,036 households, and 6,500 families living in the city. The population density was 2,981.3 inhabitants per square mile (1,151.1/km2). There were 12,450 housing units at an average density of 1,389.9/sq mi (536.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 89.13 percentWhite, 4.95 percentBlack orAfrican American, 0.54 percentNative American, 1.16 percentAsian, 0.11 percentPacific Islander, 1.67 percent fromother races, and 2.45 percent from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino people of any race were 3.59 percent of the population.[2]
In 2009, the population was estimated at 27,489. There were 11,036 households, out of which 31.9 percent had residents under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7 percent were married couples living together, 14.2 percent had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.1 percent were non-families. 34.5 percent of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8 percent 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 percent under the age of 18, 10.4 percent from 18 to 24, 29.6 percent from 25 to 44, 18.5 percent from 45 to 64, and 15.5 percent 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 percent of families and 19.3 percent of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.2 percent of those under age 18 and 11.8 percent of those aged 65 or over.
As of the2010 US Census, there were 27,023 people living in the city. The racial makeup of the village was 86.25 percentWhite, 6.04 percentAfrican American, 0.58 percentNative American, 1.83 percentAsian, 0.18 percentPacific Islander, 1.33 percent fromother races, and 3.79 percent from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino people of any race were 5.59 percent of the population.
As of the2020 US Census, there were 24,685 people with 7.9 percent of residents being under the age of 5, 23.5 percent under 18, and 12.9 percent being over the age of 65, with 49.5 percent of residents being female and 50.5 percent being male. There were 10,867 households with 43.3 percent of the houses being made up of individuals. The population density was 2,996.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,156.8/km2). Theracial makeup of the city was 83.8 percentWhite, 8.5 percentBlack or African American, 1.0 percent Native American, 1.5 percentAsian, 7.8 percentHispanic or Latino, 0.1 percentPacific Islander, or 4.4 percent of two or more races.[36]
During the 2020 US Census themedian price for owner-occupied housing units was $133,400, with the median income for a household being $40,253.[36][37] Because the city is located 30 miles (48 km) from theCanada–United States border via theThousand Islands Bridge, shopping by Canadian visitors is an important part of the local economy.[38] In the 1980s, unemployment in the area was up 20 percent, and property values rapidly decreased.[7] After Fort Drum was established, Watertown's industry shifted from industrial to consumer products.[citation needed]
The city contains Factory Square, 80 acres (32 hectares) of factories that were once powered by the Black River. In the 1880s and 1890s, many new factories were established, which began an economic boom. In 1900 3,760 workers were employed in the factories. Immediately adjacent to the factories and river was a prominent saloon district, which became a common location for scams, and theWatertown Daily Times often referenced workers being scammed by "tinhorn gamblers and short-card men".[11]
In fall 2019, the city began a revitalization program for Sewall's Island and Factory Square in hopes of attracting new investments, businesses, and identifying transformational projects in the area. The city was awarded a Strategic Planning and Feasibility Studies grant from theNew York Department of State to pay for the plan.[39]
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TheRoswell P. Flower Memorial Library was built in 1904 as a memorial toFlower by his daughter, Emma Flower Taylor.[40] The area also has a largeAmish population.[11][41]
Watertown contains a number of historic buildings and districts. Buildings on the NRHP include thePaddock Mansion (added December 11, 1979),[42] theWatertown Masonic Temple (added January 23, 1980),[43] and theEmerson Place (added April 18, 2003),[44] as well as several buildings inside the 16-acre (6.5-hectare)Public Square Historic District (added September 7, 1984).[45] TheJefferson County Courthouse Complex is an example of the substantial architecture of the city.
TheDuffy Fairgrounds is currently home to three sports teams. TheWatertown Red & Black of theGridiron Developmental Football League. The Red & Black are the oldest active semipro football team in the United States, founded in 1896. The Watertown Rapids of thePerfect Game Collegiate Baseball League have played here starting in 2017, following several professional teams. TheWatertown Wolves have played at the municipal arena at the fairgrounds since 2012. They are a member of theFederal Prospects Hockey League and have won three titles, in 2015, 2018, and 2022.[citation needed]
After first hosting aminor league baseball team in the 1888 Eastern International League, Watertown and Duffy Fairgrounds hosted several others. TheWatertown Bucks of theCan-Am League (1936), theWatertown Athletics of theBorder League (1946-1951), theWatertown Pirates (1983-1988) andWatertown Indians of theNew York-Penn League (1989-1998) played at the Duffy Fairgrounds. Watertown teams were an affiliate of theBoston Bees (1936),Pittsburgh Pirates (1983-1988) andCleveland Indians (1989-1998).[citation needed]
| Club | Sport | League | Founded | Venue | League titles | Championship years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watertown Wolves | Ice hockey | Federal Prospects Hockey League | 2010 | Watertown Municipal Arena | 3 | 2015,2018,2022 |
| Watertown Rapids | Baseball | Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League | 2017 | Duffy Fairgrounds | 0 | — |
| Watertown Red & Black | Football | Gridiron Developmental Football League | 1896 | Duffy Fairgrounds | 0 | — |
Thompson Park is about 450 acres (180 hectares) ofpark designed byJohn Charles Olmsted.[46] The park was gifted to the city in 1916.[10] The park contains Zoo New York, which began in 1920 when the Northern New York Trust Company donated two whitetail deer to Thompson Park and the City of Watertown.[47][48] The following are also located inside the park:
The city's government was created after the village's incorporation in 1816. The act of incorporation provided for the election of five trustees, one for each ward. These extended to the formation of a fire department, the construction of water works and regulation of streets. In 1816, the first village election was held, at which Timothy Burr was chosen President. Sixteen years later, the village trustees were empowered by an act of the Legislature to borrow up to $2,000 ($63,000 in modern dollars[51]) to improve the fire department. In 1835 legislation authorized the construction of a market. In 1852, the boundaries of the village were extended and two wards added, making seven total. The officers consisted of a President, three Assessors, a Clerk, a Treasurer, a Collector and two police constables. Elections were held on the first Monday in March.[52] Watertown is served by the Watertown Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.[53][54]
| Watertown | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime rates (2012–2019) | ||||||||
| Crime type | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
| Homicide: | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Rape: | 12 | 12 | 47 | 48 | 41 | 39 | 65 | 57 |
| Robbery: | 20 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 14 |
| Aggravated assault: | 122 | 81 | 89 | 79 | 124 | 83 | 91 | 83 |
| Total violent crime: | 154 | 109 | 153 | 145 | 181 | 139 | 175 | 154 |
| Burglary: | 269 | 169 | 193 | 229 | 194 | 153 | 130 | 108 |
| Larceny-theft: | 1,183 | 953 | 1,097 | 1,067 | 953 | 880 | 755 | 743 |
| Motor vehicle theft: | 124 | 43 | 6 | 30 | 24 | 21 | 19 | 36 |
| Total property crime: | 1,576 | 1,165 | 1,296 | 1,326 | 1,171 | 1,054 | 904 | 887 |
| Arson: | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Sources:Newsday;FBI2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,20182019 data | ||||||||
Watertown is served by theWatertown City School District and the General Brown Central School District, which covers a portion of the Creekwood Apartment complex on the city's north side. 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, Immaculate Heart Central Elementary, Intermediate, and Junior and Senior High Schools, the Catholic and secular educational institutions.[55] There is also a Faith Fellowship Christian School.[56]Jefferson Community College (JCC) is located in the northwestern part of the city and serves as the only institution of higher education within a 50-mile (80 km) radius. It was started in 1961 and is part of theState University of New York (SUNY).[57]
The local newspaper, theWatertown Daily Times, is published seven days a week and servesJefferson,St. Lawrence andLewis counties.[58] TheFort Drum Mountaineer is a weekly newspaper for Fort Drum soldiers and their dependents.[citation needed]
The Watertown market is served by four commercial television stations. The oldest isCarthage-licensed,CBS-affiliated WCNY-TV (channel 7), put on the air in 1954 by the publishers of theWatertown Daily Times. The station changed itscall letters toWWNY-TV in 1965. After an unsuccessful struggle against theFederal Communications Commission andits directive for newspapers to divest themselves of television stations held within the same market, theDaily Times sold WWNY-TV toUnited Communications Corporation ofKenosha, Wisconsin, in 1981.[citation needed]
In 2001, United Communications entered into an agreement with Smith Broadcasting to operate aFox network affiliate with low-power transmitters in Watertown and Massena. After a year of joint operation, UCC took complete ownership ofWNYF-CD/WWNY-CD (channel 28). Both WWNY and WNYF were sold toAtlanta-basedGray Television in 2019.[citation needed]
Watertown is also served byPBS member stationsWPBS-TV/WNPI-DT (channels 16/18),NBC affiliateWVNC-LD/WVNV-LD (channel 45),[59] andABC affiliateWWTI (channel 50), which also operates the area'sCW affiliate throughThe CW Plus.[citation needed]
Watertown is served by a number of radio stations:
| Frequency | Call sign | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AM 790 | WTNY | News/talk | Also heard on 95.9 FM W240EA in Watertown |
| AM 1240 | WATN | News/talk | |
| AM 1410 | WNER | sports | Also heard on 97.9 FM W250CI in Watertown |
| FM 88.9 | WSLJ | public radio | |
| FM 90.1 | WKWV | Christian contemporary | |
| FM 90.9 | WJNY | Classical | |
| FM 91.7 | WRVJ | public radio | |
| FM 92.5 | WBLH | Variety hits | Licensed toBlack River and also heard on 104.5 FM W283CC in Watertown |
| FM 93.3 | WCIZ-FM | Classic hits | |
| FM 94.1 | WOTT | mainstream rock | Licensed toCalcium |
| FM 94.7 | WMHI | Christian radio | Licensed toCape Vincent |
| FM 96.9 | WWTJ-LP | Religious teaching | www.thewayradio.org |
| FM 97.5 | WFRY-FM | Country music | |
| FM 100.7 | WEFX | Country music | Licensed toHenderson |
| FM 102.7 | WLYK | Gold-basedadult contemporary | Licensed toCape Vincent |
| FM 103.1 | WTOJ | Adult contemporary | Licensed toCarthage and also heard on 100.1 FM W261CP inLowville |
| FM 106.7 | WBDR | CHR/Top 40 | Licensed toCopenhagen |
Radio stations are also heard in the Watertown area from neighboring communities includingKingston, Ontario, Canada.
The city is known partially because of its various late 19th century styles of architecture, includingEastlake as seen in thePaddock Mansion,Colonial Revival as seen in theEmerson Place andQueen Anne as seen in theEmma Flower Taylor Mansion.
Watertown was the nexus of theRome, Watertown & Ogdensburg Railroad, which was later absorbed into theNew York Central Railroad (NYC) network. Watertown sat at the junction of five different lines, as trains fromSyracuse,Rome,Oswego, andUtica passed through Watertown on their way to points along theSt. Lawrence River (principally, Ogdensburg and Massena) and to Canada. The Watertown passenger station, situated along the Black River behind Public Square at what is now J.B. Wise Place, was described as among the finest in the system. With the decline in travel by rail after World War II, however, the last named passenger train with a sleeper section to the town was theIroquois in 1961; the train carrying sleepers south from Watertown was theFifth Avenue / Cleveland Limited, also ending in 1961. Passenger service to Watertown finally ended in 1964.[60][61] The station itself was demolished and replaced with a parking lot. Although the rail network is greatly attenuated compared to its peak in the early 20th century,CSX Transportation still transports freight by rail through Watertown.
Interstate 81 runs through the Watertown area. It is a north-south route that runs from nearDandridge, Tennessee north toHill Island, Ontario, connecting via theThousand Islands Bridge and a shortconnecting road toHighway 401 across the Canada–US border. Interstate 81 passes just to the west of the city of Watertown, nearSalmon Run Mall. Access to the highway is from Exits 45 (Route 3), 46 (Route 12F), and 47 (Route 12).[62]
U.S. Route 11 runs from easternNew Orleans, Louisiana, to its northern terminus at theCanada–United States border inRouses Point, New York. U.S. Route 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 inSterling 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 theAdirondacks toPlattsburgh.
New York State Route 12 is a north-south route through the city, extending northward toClayton then following theSt. Lawrence Seaway toMorristown. A spur, NY 12E, takes a slightly-longer path throughCape Vincent before rejoining NY 12.
New York State Route 12F is a spur connecting NY 12 in downtown Watertown toNew York State Route 180 near theWatertown International Airport inDexter.
Adirondack Trailways serves bothSyracuse, to the south, andPotsdam, to the east, on itsU.S. Route 11 run. CitiBus also serves Watertown.[63]
Watertown International Airport is a county-owned, public-use airport located inHounsfield, 6 miles (10 km) west of Watertown's central business district of Watertown.American Eagle has scheduled flights to and fromPhiladelphia.[64]
During the late 19th century through the mid 20th century, Watertown became known for its extensive list ofpoliticians born in or who studied in the city, notable examples includeJohn Foster Dulles andAllen Dulles, who attendedpublic schools in the city.[65] The tallest building in the city, the Dulles State Office Building was named after Foster Dulles, and was built in 1970.[66]Robert Lansing was born inAlbany, New York in 1799 and moved to Watertown in 1817.[67]Robert Lansing was born in Watertown and until 1907 he was a member of the law firm of Lansing & Lansing at Watertown and went on to become the 42nd United States Secretary of State.[68]Joseph Mullin was born in Ireland and grew up in Watertown, and went on to be Member of theU.S. House of Representatives from New York's19th district.Joseph Mullin was born in Watertown and was a member of theNew York State Senate from 1892 until his death in 1897.[69]Roswell P. Flower was born inTheresa and became Deputy Postmaster of Watertown in 1853, becoming 30thGovernor of New York from 1892 to 1894. The Roswell P. Flower Memorial Library was named after him.Frank Winfield Woolworth was born inRodman, New York and attended a business college for two terms in Watertown, New York where he came up for the idea of afive-and-dime.
Eric Anzalone was born inDayton, Ohio, but grew up in Watertown, he was the leatherman of the group Village People from 1995 to 2017.[70]Antonio Blakeney was born in Watertown and became ashooting guard in the NBA and for theCleveland Charge. In May 2021, he was arrested for armed robbery but bonded out of jail.[71]Bob McCreadie was born in Watertown and was a racer at theWatertown Speedway before its closure in 1975.Mary Gay Scanlon was born in Watertown and is a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives.Viggo Mortensen was born in Watertown in 1958 and starred asAragorn inThe Lord of the Rings.
Watertown has appeared in multiple pieces of media over the years. WriterFred Exley grew up in Watertown, and he set much of his 1968 novelA Fan's Notes in the city.[72]Frank Sinatra's 1970 concept albumWatertown explores the life of a middle-aged man in Watertown, whose wife has left him and his children.[73]Harry Chapin 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.[74] Chapin mentioned both the quote and the origin of the song on his 1976 albumGreatest Stories Live. Watertown was the given setting for the 1990Bette Midler filmStella. While the movie was filmed in Ontario, several local items were taken there to be shown in the film, including the local daily newspaper, taxi-cabs, and shopping bags from the locally owned Empsall's department store.[75] In the 2005 filmRobots, the fictional town ofRivet Town was rumored to be based on Watertown, where directorChris Wedge lived during his teens. However, Wedge dismissed this in an interview.[76]
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