# Watertown, South Dakota

Watertown is a city in and the county seat of Codington County, South Dakota, United States. 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, 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.

## Geography

Watertown is along the Big Sioux River.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 25.04 square miles (64.85 km$^2$), of which 17.45 square miles (45.20 km$^2$) is land and 7.59 square miles (19.66 km$^2$) is water. 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 1,745 ft (532 m).

## History

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. 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.
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, losing to the more centrally located Pierre. The city's newspaper, the Watertown Public Opinion, began publishing in 1887.
In the mid-20th century, Interstate 29 was constructed through eastern South Dakota. The route included a slight bend to bring it closer to Watertown. Its construction was a major economic benefit to Watertown and the communities near it.

## Climate

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.
Climate data for Watertown Regional Airport, South Dakota (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1893−present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 65 (18) | 66 (19) | 82 (28) | 95 (35) | 106 (41) | 107 (42) | 110 (43) | 105 (41) | 104 (40) | 91 (33) | 78 (26) | 69 (21) | 110 (43) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 41.7 (5.4) | 46.0 (7.8) | 63.1 (17.3) | 78.6 (25.9) | 86.3 (30.2) | 90.8 (32.7) | 93.4 (34.1) | 91.3 (32.9) | 87.7 (30.9) | 79.0 (26.1) | 62.2 (16.8) | 44.8 (7.1) | 95.0 (35.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 21.4 (−5.9) | 25.9 (−3.4) | 38.6 (3.7) | 54.0 (12.2) | 66.9 (19.4) | 76.8 (24.9) | 82.0 (27.8) | 79.5 (26.4) | 71.6 (22.0) | 56.2 (13.4) | 39.8 (4.3) | 26.3 (−3.2) | 53.2 (11.8) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 12.2 (−11.0) | 16.3 (−8.7) | 29.1 (−1.6) | 42.8 (6.0) | 55.7 (13.2) | 66.1 (18.9) | 71.0 (21.7) | 68.5 (20.3) | 60.1 (15.6) | 45.7 (7.6) | 30.6 (−0.8) | 17.8 (−7.9) | 43.0 (6.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 3.1 (−16.1) | 6.7 (−14.1) | 19.6 (−6.9) | 31.5 (−0.3) | 44.5 (6.9) | 55.4 (13.0) | 60.0 (15.6) | 57.5 (14.2) | 48.6 (9.2) | 35.2 (1.8) | 21.3 (−5.9) | 9.3 (−12.6) | 32.7 (0.4) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −20.9 (−29.4) | −17.2 (−27.3) | −6.0 (−21.1) | 15.1 (−9.4) | 29.4 (−1.4) | 42.9 (6.1) | 47.3 (8.5) | 44.6 (7.0) | 32.1 (0.1) | 18.4 (−7.6) | 2.3 (−16.5) | −13.8 (−25.4) | −24.3 (−31.3) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −40 (−40) | −38 (−39) | −27 (−33) | −10 (−23) | 16 (−9) | 25 (−4) | 35 (2) | 32 (0) | 9 (−13) | −2 (−19) | −20 (−29) | −37 (−38) | −40 (−40) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.58 (15) | 0.65 (17) | 1.00 (25) | 2.06 (52) | 2.87 (73) | 3.85 (98) | 3.05 (77) | 2.89 (73) | 2.45 (62) | 1.95 (50) | 0.68 (17) | 0.68 (17) | 22.71 (577) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 6.7 (17) | 8.9 (23) | 5.4 (14) | 5.2 (13) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 1.4 (3.6) | 4.5 (11) | 8.9 (23) | 41.1 (104) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 5.9 | 6.0 | 6.9 | 8.9 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 9.5 | 8.6 | 8.5 | 7.5 | 5.4 | 6.3 | 96.3 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 5.6 | 5.9 | 3.5 | 1.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 6.0 | 26.6 |
| Source: NOAA ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

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.

### 2010 census

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 1,231.3 inhabitants per square mile (475.4/km$^2$). There were 10,050 housing units at an average density of 575.9 per square mile (222.4/km$^2$). 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.

### 2000 census

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 1,328.9 inhabitants per square mile (513.1/km$^2$). There were 9,193 housing units at an average density of 603.7 per square mile (233.1/km$^2$). 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.

## Education

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, 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.
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.

## Points of interest

* Redlin Art Center
* Bramble Park Zoo
* Codington County Heritage Museum
* Mellette House
* Watertown Family Aquatic Center
* Watertown Stadium
* Lake Kampeska
* Pelican Lake
* Watertown Regional Library
* The Goss Opera House

## Local media

* Newspaper
** The Watertown Public Opinion is the local daily newspaper.

### Television

| Channel (Digital) | Callsign | Network | Owner |
| 3.1 | KDLO-DT (Satellite of KELO) | CBS | Nexstar Media Group |
| 3.2 | KDLO-DT (Satellite of KELO) | MyNetworkTV | Nexstar Media Group |
| 3.4 | KDLO-DT (Satellite of KELO) | The CW Plus | Nexstar Media Group |
| 13.1 | K32DK-D (Translator of KSFY) | ABC | Gray Television |
| 13.2 | K32DK-D (Translator of KSFY) | Outlaw | Gray Television |
| 13.3 | K32DK-D (Translator of KSFY) | MeTV | Gray Television |
| 13.4 | K32DK-D (Translator of KSFY) | True Crime Network | Gray Television |
| 13.5 | K32DK-D (Translator of KSFY) | TheGrio | Gray Television |
| 46.1 | K28OE-D (Translator of KDLT) | NBC | Gray Television |
| 46.2 | K28OE-D (Translator of KDLT) | FOX | Gray Television |
| 46.3 | K28OE-D (Translator of KDLT) | The365 | Gray Television |
| 46.4 | K28OE-D (Translator of KDLT) | Cozi TV | Gray Television |
| 46.5 | K28OE-D (Translator of KDLT) | Court TV | Gray Television |
| 46.6 | K28OE-D (Translator of KDLT) | Ion Mystery | Gray Television |

### AM radio

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

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 |

## Transportation

* Interstate 29 serves Watertown at Exits 177 and 180
* U.S. Highway 81
* U.S. Highway 212
* South Dakota Highway 20
* 20th Avenue South, 20th Avenue Southeast, and 29th Street Southeast: alternate city truck route around Watertown's south side
* 448th Avenue and North Lake Drive: former South Dakota Highway 139; runs along Lake Kampeska's west side
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.

## Notable people

* Cleveland Abbott (Tuskegee Institute), Hall of Fame coach and educator
* Sylvia Bacon (born 1931), Judge of the Superior Court, District of Columbia
* Nancy Turbak Berry (born 1956), trial attorney and South Dakota state senator
* Stephen Foster Briggs (1885–1976), founder of the Briggs & Stratton Corporation
* John Hamre (born 1950), Deputy Secretary of Defense and international studies specialist
* Fred H. Hildebrandt (1874–1956), U.S. Representative from South Dakota
* Wendell "Bud" Hurlbut (1918–2011), amusement park designer
* J. A. Jance (born 1944), writer
* Charles B. Kornmann (born 1937), federal judge on United States District Court for the District of South Dakota
* Jake Krull (1938–2016), Army Brigadier General, SD National Guard; South Dakota state senator
* George R. Mather, general in the U.S. Army, Commander in Chief, United States Southern Command (USCINCSO) from 1969 to 1971
* Arthur C. Mellette (1842–1896), last Dakota territorial governor and first governor of South Dakota
* Kristi Noem (born 1971), governor of South Dakota and Secretary of Homeland Security
* Hope A. Olson, author and information studies professor
* Henry Roberts Pease (1837–1907), Civil War veteran and U.S. senator from Mississippi
* Lee Raymond (born 1938), chemical engineer and longtime chairman and CEO of Exxon Corporation and ExxonMobil, born and attended primary and secondary school in Watertown
* Terry Redlin (1937–2016), wildlife artist whose work is displayed at Redlin Art Center
* Bob Scholtz (born 1937), football player
* Joseph Schull (1906–1980), Canadian playwright and historian
* Ramona Solberg (1921-2005), jeweler
* Lee Schoenbeck (born 1958), lawyer and current president pro tempore of the State Senate
* Neal Tapio (born 1970), businessman and former Trump presidential campaign director for South Dakota
* Timmy Williams (born 1981), comedian (The Whitest Kids U' Know)
* Roger Zwieg (1942–2015), NASA test pilot and flight instructor

## Major employers

According to the city's 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, Watertown's largest employers are:
| Employer | Sector | Number of Employees | As of | Notes |
| Watertown School District | Education | 776 | June 2018 | |
| Prairie Lakes Health System | Healthcare | 683 | June 2018 | |
| Terex Utilities | Manufacturing | 634 | June 2018 | |
| Hy-Vee | Retail | 450 | June 2018 | Mostly part-time |
| Premier Bankcard | Lending | 367 | June 2018 | |
| City of Watertown | Government | 336 | June 2018 | |
| Worthington Industries | Manufacturing | 309 | June 2018 | |
| Walmart | 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 | |
| Lake Area Technical College | Education | 211 | May 2017 | |
| Target | Retail | 85 | July 2017 | |