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Watertown, Tennessee

Coordinates: 36°6′0″N 86°8′14″W / 36.10000°N 86.13722°W / 36.10000; -86.13722
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Watertown, Tennessee
Town
Watertown Town Hall
Watertown Town Hall
Location of Watertown in Wilson County, Tennessee.
Location of Watertown in Wilson County, Tennessee.
Coordinates: 36°6′0″N 86°8′14″W / 36.10000°N 86.13722°W / 36.10000; -86.13722
CountryUnited States
StateTennessee
CountyWilson
Settled1780[1]
Incorporated1905[2]
Named forWilson L. Waters, founder[1]
Area
[3]
 • Total1.44 sq mi (3.72 km2)
 • Land1.44 sq mi (3.72 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
653 ft (199 m)
Population
 (2020)[4]
 • Total1,553
 • Density1,081.48/sq mi (417.52/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
37184
Area code615
FIPS code47-78320[5]
GNIS feature ID1304411[6]
Websitewww.watertowntn.com

Watertown is a town located in Wilson County, Tennessee. The population was 1,477 at the 2010 census. The population then raised to 1,556 after the 2020 census. It is located southeast of Lebanon, and northwest of Smithville.

History

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Prior to the town's establishment, the land was a Revolutionary War grant to Colonel Archibald Lytle and his brother William.[1]

Circa 1790, the grandparents of Watertown's founder, Wilson L. Waters, moved into the area. In 1845, the post office moved from nearby Three Forks to Wilson's store. Waters expanded his operations with a sawmill, gristmill and blacksmith shop. Waters' 400-acre (1.6 km2) farm eventually became Watertown.[1]

The Nashville and Knoxville Railroad built a depot in Watertown in 1885, making it the hub of business in the area. The increased business led to a doubling of the village's size.

In 1903, a fire swept through the wood structures of the village, destroying many businesses. During the recovery period following the fire, a town square surrounded by brick building was laid out, creating the core of the current city of Watertown.[1]

Geography

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Watertown is located at 36°06′00″N 86°08′14″W / 36.100039°N 86.137102°W / 36.100039; -86.137102 (36.100039, -86.137102).[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2), all land.

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1910517—
192093380.5%
1930928−0.5%
1940908−2.2%
19509332.8%
1960919−1.5%
19701,06115.5%
19801,30022.5%
19901,250−3.8%
20001,3588.6%
20101,4778.8%
20201,5535.1%
Sources:[8][9][4]

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 1,358 people, 542 households, and 377 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,083.9 inhabitants per square mile (418.5/km2). There were 605 housing units at an average density of 482.9 per square mile (186.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.24% White, 6.11% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.66% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.25% of the population.

First Baptist Church in Watertown

There were 542 households, out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the city the population was spread out, with 26.7% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.8 males.[citation needed]

The median income for a household in the city was $35,662, and the median income for a family was $41,484. Males had a median income of $30,263 versus $22,500 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,008. About 9.2% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.2% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.[citation needed]

Education

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Watertown is served by Wilson County Schools.[10] Its zoned schools are Watertown Elementary School, Watertown Middle School, and Watertown High School.[11]

Arts and Entertainment

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Watertown Historic District
  • Old Henry (2021) was shot in Watertown, TN.
  • Was the filming site of Dark Harvest 3: Skarecrow.
  • In 2003, the Stardust Drive-in theater opened in Watertown, a very unusual event since most drive-ins around the country have closed.[12]
  • The city is a frequent destination of excursion trains from nearby Nashville run by the Tennessee Central Railway Museum.[13]
  • Watertown is noted for its annual Jazz Festival.[14]
  • The White Elephant Emporium in Watertown was featured in the episode "The Emu Chase" of American Pickers.
  • Fiction novelist D.M. Barrett, author of Equinox, Raven I, II, III & IV, and Caliente I & II, is from Watertown.

Music

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e History of Watertown, Watertown official website. Retrieved: March 1, 2013.
  2. ^ Tennessee Blue Book, 2005-2006, pp. 618-625.
  3. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  6. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  7. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  8. ^ "Census of Population and Housing: Decennial Censuses". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
  9. ^ "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  10. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Wilson County, TN" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  11. ^ "School Zone Maps". Wilson County School District. Retrieved July 6, 2021. - See Watertown Elementary, Watertown Middle, and Watertown High School zones.
  12. ^ "Media coverage of the Stardust Drive-In Theatre". Stardust Drive-In Theatre. Retrieved February 5, 2007.
  13. ^ "Passenger Excursions". Tennessee Central Railway Museum. 2007. Retrieved February 5, 2007.
  14. ^ watertownjazz.com
  15. ^ "Tom T. Hall ~ Homegrown". Mercury - Nashville. July 14, 2003. Retrieved February 5, 2007.
  16. ^ "Garth Brooks Production Takes Over Wilson County, TN Town". PlanetGarth.com. October 1, 2001. Retrieved February 5, 2007.
  17. ^ "Videos : Music Binge - 8.14.10 : Not That Far Away". CMT.com. Retrieved September 4, 2010.[dead link]
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Media

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