Watertown, South Dakota

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Watertown, South Dakota
|other_name               = 
|native_name              = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
|nickname                 = South Dakota's Rising Star
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|motto                    = 
<!-- Images --------------->
|image_skyline            = File:Redlin Art Center.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Intersection of Interstate 29 and Highway 212: The [[Redlin Art Center]]
|image_flag               = 
|flag_size                = 
|image_seal               = 
|seal_size                = 
|image_shield             = 
|shield_size              = 
|image_blank_emblem       = 
|blank_emblem_type        = 
|blank_emblem_size        = 
<!-- Maps ----------------->
|image_map                = Codington_County_South_Dakota_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Watertown_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Codington County, South Dakota|Codington County]] and the state of [[South Dakota]]
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
<!-- Location ------------->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[South Dakota]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in South Dakota|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Codington County, South Dakota|Codington]]
<!-- Government ----------->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–council]]
|governing_body           = Watertown City Council
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Ried Holien
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1879<ref name=Hasselstrom29>Hasselstrom, p. 29.</ref>
|established_title1       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date1        = 1885<ref>{{cite web|title=SD Towns|publisher=[[South Dakota State Historical Society]]|access-date=February 17, 2010|url=http://history.sd.gov/Archives/forms/exhibits/SD%20Towns.pdf}}</ref>
<!-- Area ----------------->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='46'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 15, 2022}}</ref>
|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
|area_water_percent       = 
|area_urban_km2           = 
|area_urban_sq_mi         = 
|area_metro_km2           = 
|area_metro_sq_mi         = 
|area_blank1_title        = 
|area_blank1_km2          = 
|area_blank1_sq_mi        = 
<!-- Population ----------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 23501
|pop_est_as_of            = 2024
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2022"/>
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 22655
|population_density_km2   = 476.25
|population_density_sq_mi = 1233.46
|population_metro         = 35073 (US: [[Micropolitan statistical area|374th]])
|population_density_metro_km2 = 
|population_density_metro_sq_mi = 
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|CST]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|coordinates              = {{coord|44|54|12|N|97|7|14|W|region:US-SD_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 1729
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 57201
|area_code                = [[Area code 605|605]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 46-69300
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1267627<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|1267627}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://www.watertownsd.us/|watertownsd.us}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Watertown''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Codington County, South Dakota|Codington County]], [[South Dakota]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Watertown is home to the [[Redlin Art Center]] which houses many of the original art works produced by [[Terry Redlin]], one of America's most popular wildlife artists. Watertown is located between [[Pelican Lake (Codington County, South Dakota)|Pelican Lake]] and [[Lake Kampeska]], from which Redlin derived inspiration for his artwork.

The population was 22,655 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Watertown_city,_South_Dakota?g=160XX00US4669300 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=July 21, 2023}}</ref> making Watertown the [[List of cities in South Dakota|5th most populous]] in South Dakota. It is also the principal city of the Watertown [[Watertown, South Dakota micropolitan area|Micropolitan Statistical Area]], which includes all of Codington and [[Hamlin County, South Dakota|Hamlin]] counties. Watertown also 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=South Dakota Homes For Sale By City|url=http://www.realestate.com/state/SD/|work=South Dakota Real Estate Trends|publisher=RealEstate.com|access-date=January 28, 2013}}</ref>

==Geography==
Watertown is located along the [[Big Sioux River]].<ref>[[DeLorme]] (2001),''South Dakota Atlas & Gazetteer'', Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme, {{ISBN|0-89933-330-3}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|25.04|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|17.45|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|7.59|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=June 21, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref> Watertown sits on the [[Big Sioux River]] and two major lakes, [[Pelican Lake (Codington County, South Dakota)|Pelican Lake]] and [[Lake Kampeska]]. Most of Watertown also sits upon a short [[plateau]]. The elevation at Watertown Regional Airport is 1,745 feet.

==History==
[[File:Watertown, SD 1883.jpg|thumb|left|An 1883 bird's eye illustration of Watertown]]
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]].<ref name=Hasselstrom29/><ref>Thompson (ed.), p. 173.</ref> Despite the prominence of rivers and lakes in the area, the city was named after [[Watertown, New York|Watertown]], New York, the hometown of brothers John E. Kemp and Oscar P. Kemp, two of the city's founders. The town's name was originally planned to be named Kampeska.<ref name=Hasselstrom29/>

During the 1880s, Watertown prospered as a transportation hub after the railroads had been extended farther west. Along with several other cities, Watertown had been a candidate as capital of the new state of South Dakota,<ref name=Hasselstrom29/> although it lost out to the more centrally located [[Pierre, South Dakota|Pierre]]. The city's current newspaper, the ''[[Watertown Public Opinion]]'', began publishing in 1887.<ref name=Hasselstrom29/>

In the mid-20th century, [[Interstate 29 in South Dakota|Interstate 29]] was constructed through eastern South Dakota.<ref name=Schell333>Schell, p. 333.</ref> The route included a slight bend to bring the interstate closer to Watertown.<ref name=Schell333/> The interstate's construction has been a major economic benefit to Watertown and the large communities next to it.<ref name=Schell333/>

==Climate==
In the last decades the climate is configured as hot-summer [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Dfa''), although it had a warm-summer previously (''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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=21637&cityname=Watertown,+South+Dakota,+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Watertown, South Dakota Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase|access-date=July 19, 2019}}</ref>

{{Weather box 
|location = [[Watertown Regional Airport]], South Dakota (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1893−present)
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 65
|Feb record high F = 66
|Mar record high F = 82
|Apr record high F = 95
|May record high F = 106
|Jun record high F = 107
|Jul record high F = 110
|Aug record high F = 105
|Sep record high F = 104
|Oct record high F = 91
|Nov record high F = 78
|Dec record high F = 69
|year record high F = 110
|Jan high F = 21.4
|Feb high F = 25.9
|Mar high F = 38.6
|Apr high F = 54.0
|May high F = 66.9
|Jun high F = 76.8
|Jul high F = 82.0
|Aug high F = 79.5
|Sep high F = 71.6
|Oct high F = 56.2
|Nov high F = 39.8
|Dec high F = 26.3
|year high F = 53.2
|Jan mean F = 12.2
|Feb mean F = 16.3
|Mar mean F = 29.1
|Apr mean F = 42.8
|May mean F = 55.7
|Jun mean F = 66.1
|Jul mean F = 71.0
|Aug mean F = 68.5
|Sep mean F = 60.1
|Oct mean F = 45.7
|Nov mean F = 30.6
|Dec mean F = 17.8
|year mean F = 43.0
|Jan low F = 3.1
|Feb low F = 6.7
|Mar low F = 19.6
|Apr low F = 31.5
|May low F = 44.5
|Jun low F = 55.4
|Jul low F = 60.0
|Aug low F = 57.5
|Sep low F = 48.6
|Oct low F = 35.2
|Nov low F = 21.3
|Dec low F = 9.3
|year low F = 32.7
|Jan record low F = −40
|Feb record low F = −38
|Mar record low F = −27
|Apr record low F = −10
|May record low F = 16
|Jun record low F = 25
|Jul record low F = 35
|Aug record low F = 32
|Sep record low F = 9
|Oct record low F = -2
|Nov record low F = −20
|Dec record low F = −37
|year record low F = -40
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.58
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.65
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.00
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.06
|May precipitation inch = 2.87
|Jun precipitation inch = 3.85
|Jul precipitation inch = 3.05
|Aug precipitation inch = 2.89
|Sep precipitation inch = 2.45
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.95
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.68
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.68
|year precipitation inch = 22.71
|Jan snow inch = 6.7
|Feb snow inch = 8.9
|Mar snow inch = 5.4
|Apr snow inch = 5.2
|May snow inch = 0.1
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 1.4
|Nov snow inch = 4.5
|Dec snow inch = 8.9
|year snow inch = 41.1
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 5.9
|Feb precipitation days = 6.0
|Mar precipitation days = 6.9
|Apr precipitation days = 8.9
|May precipitation days = 11.4
|Jun precipitation days = 11.4
|Jul precipitation days = 9.5
|Aug precipitation days = 8.6
|Sep precipitation days = 8.5
|Oct precipitation days = 7.5
|Nov precipitation days = 5.4
|Dec precipitation days = 6.3
|year precipitation days = 96.3
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 5.6
|Feb snow days = 5.9
|Mar snow days = 3.5
|Apr snow days = 1.9
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 1.1
|Nov snow days = 2.6
|Dec snow days = 6.0
|year snow days = 26.6
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name= NOAA>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=abr
| title = NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = October 13, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00014946&format=pdf
| title = Station: Watertown RGNL AP, SD
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = October 13, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 746
|1890= 2672
|1900= 3352
|1910= 7010
|1920= 9400
|1930= 10214
|1940= 10617
|1950= 12699
|1960= 14077
|1970= 13388
|1980= 15649
|1990= 17592
|2000= 20237
|2010= 21482
|2020= 22655
|estyear=2022
|estimate=23019
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2022">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html|date=July 21, 2023|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=July 21, 2023}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 23, 2013}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

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.<ref>''Watertown, South Dakota: Now.'' Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau, 2006</ref>

===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 {{convert|1231.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 10,050 housing units at an average density of {{convert|575.9|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 94.8% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.4% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 2.4% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.5% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.5% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|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 [[Marriage|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 {{convert|1,328.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 9,193 housing units at an average density of {{convert|603.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.25% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.14% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.65% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.33% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.71% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.90% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.28% of the population. 47.1% were of [[germans|German]], 19.8% [[norwegians|Norwegian]] and 5.9% [[irish people|Irish]] ancestry. 96.5% spoke [[english language|English]], 1.7% [[spanish language|Spanish]] and 1.1% [[german language|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 [[Marriage|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]],<ref name="Mount Marty">{{cite web |url=http://www.mtmc.edu/admissions/watertown/index.aspx |title=Watertown Campus |access-date=February 18, 2011}}</ref> a private Catholic school based in [[Yankton, South Dakota|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 (bi-annual competition/selection process). The Prize was awarded by the Aspen Institute in March 2017 in Washington, D.C. following an intense data collection process by Aspen officials that included a rigorous review of critical elements of student success including learning, completion, and employment after college.

Watertown has one public high school, [[Watertown High School (South Dakota)|Watertown High School]], and one private boarding school, [[Great Plains Lutheran High School]], of the [[Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Great Plains Lutheran High School|url=https://www.gplhs.org/}}</ref>

Watertown Middle School (7th and 8th grades) is the only public middle school in Watertown. Construction of the Middle School was completed in August 2015. The community's "Prairie Lakes Wellness Center", opened in 2017, is adjacent to the Middle School. When the Middle School opened in 2015, the prior middle school was completely renovated and became the Intermediate School (5th and 6th grades).

There are multiple elementary schools in Watertown. The five public elementary schools include: Lincoln Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary, McKinnely Elementary, and Mellette Elementary. [http://icschoolwatertown.org Immaculate Conception School] is a private Catholic elementary school. [http://stmartinschurch.com St. Martin's Lutheran School] is a private Lutheran elementary school of the [[Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod|WELS]]. [http://www.watertownchristianschool.com Watertown Christian School] is a private non-denominational [[Christianity|Christian]] elementary school.

The Watertown Regional Library is the town's main library, located on 6th St. NE, and open every day of the week.

[[Harmony Hill High School]] was a [[Roman catholic|Catholic]] girls [[boarding school]] in Watertown from 1967 to 1974.

==Points of interest==
[[Image:Sailboat on Kampeska circa 1900.png|thumb|right|Sailboat on [[Lake Kampeska]] circa 1900.]]
* [[Redlin Art Center]]
* [[Bramble Park Zoo]]
* [[Codington County Heritage Museum]]
* [[Mellette House]]
* Watertown Family Aquatic Center
* [[Watertown Stadium]]
* [[Lake Kampeska]]
* [[Pelican Lake (Codington County, South Dakota)|Pelican Lake]]
* Watertown Regional Library
* The Goss Opera House

==Local media==
* ''Newspaper''
** The ''[[Watertown Public Opinion]]'' is the local daily newspaper.

===Television===
{| class="wikitable"
! '''Channel<br>([[ATSC|Digital]])'''
! '''[[Callsign]]'''
! '''Network'''
! '''Owner'''
|-
|3.1  || [[KELO-TV|KDLO-DT]]<br><small>(Satellite of KELO)</small> || [[CBS]] || [[Nexstar Media Group]]
|-
|3.2  || [[KELO-TV|KDLO-DT]]<br><small>(Satellite of KELO)</small> || [[MyNetworkTV]] || [[Nexstar Media Group]]
|-
|3.4  || [[KELO-TV|KDLO-DT]]<br><small>(Satellite of KELO)</small> || [[The CW Plus]] || [[Nexstar Media Group]]
|-
|13.1  || [[KSFY-TV|K32DK-D]]<br><small>(Translator of KSFY)</small> || [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] || [[Gray Television]]
|-
|13.2  || [[KSFY-TV|K32DK-D]]<br><small>(Translator of KSFY)</small> || [[Outlaw]] || [[Gray Television]]
|-
|13.3  || [[KSFY-TV|K32DK-D]]<br><small>(Translator of KSFY)</small> || [[MeTV]] || [[Gray Television]]
|-
|13.4  || [[KSFY-TV|K32DK-D]]<br><small>(Translator of KSFY)</small> || [[True Crime Network]] || [[Gray Television]]
|-
|13.5  || [[KSFY-TV|K32DK-D]]<br><small>(Translator of KSFY)</small> || [[TheGrio]] || [[Gray Television]]
|-
|46.1 || [[KDLT|K28OE-D]]<br><small>(Translator of KDLT)</small> || [[NBC]] || [[Gray Television]]
|-
|46.2 || [[KDLT|K28OE-D]]<br><small>(Translator of KDLT)</small> || [[FOX]] || [[Gray Television]]
|-
|46.3 || [[KDLT|K28OE-D]]<br><small>(Translator of KDLT)</small> || [[The365]] || [[Gray Television]]
|-
|46.4 || [[KDLT|K28OE-D]]<br><small>(Translator of KDLT)</small> || [[Cozi TV]] || [[Gray Television]]
|-
|46.5 || [[KDLT|K28OE-D]]<br><small>(Translator of KDLT)</small> || [[Court TV]] || [[Gray Television]]
|-
|46.6 || [[KDLT|K28OE-D]]<br><small>(Translator of KDLT)</small> || [[Ion Mystery]] || [[Gray Television]]
|-
|}

===AM radio===
{| class="wikitable"
!align="center" colspan="6"|'''[[AM radio]] stations'''
|-
!Frequency!!Call sign!!Name!!Format!!Owner!!City
|-
|950 AM||[[KWAT]]||||[[Full-service radio]]||[[Alpha Media]]||Watertown
|-
|1480 AM||[[KSDR (AM)|KSDR]]||The Talk of Watertown||[[Conservative talk radio]]||[[Alpha Media]]||Watertown
|}

===FM radio===
{|class="wikitable"
!align="center" colspan="7"|'''[[FM radio]] stations'''
|-
!Frequency!!Call sign!!Name!!Format!!Owner!!Target city/[[media market|market]]!![[City of license]]
|-
|89.1 FM||[[KPGT]]||||[[Religious radio|Religious]]||Church Planters of America||Watertown||Watertown
|-
|90.1 FM||[[WJFM|K211EC]]||||[[Christian Radio|Christian]]<br/><small>[[WJFM|WJFM-FM]] [[broadcast translator|translator]]</small>||Jimmy Swaggart Ministries||Watertown||Watertown
|-
|90.3 FM||[[South Dakota Public Broadcasting|KJSD]]||South Dakota Public Broadcasting||[[NPR]]||South Dakota Bureau of Information and Telecommunication||Watertown||Watertown
|-
|91.9 FM||[[Northwestern Media|K220IT]]||[[KNWC-FM]]||[[Contemporary Christian music|Contemporary Christian]]||[[University of Northwestern – St. Paul|University of Northwestern - St. Paul]]||Watertown||Watertown
|-
|92.9 FM||[[KSDR-FM]]||New Country KS93||[[Country music|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]]||||[[Adult contemporary music|Soft Adult Contemporary]], [[News/Talk]]||TMRG Broadcasting, LLC||Watertown||Milbank
|-
|103.5 FM||[[KVCH|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|Classic Rock]]||Prairie Winds Broadcasting||Watertown||Ortonville
|-
|}

==Transportation==
{{div col|colwidth=28em}}
*[[Image:I-29.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 29 in South Dakota|Interstate 29]]-serves Watertown at Exits 177 and 180
*[[Image:US 81.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 81]]
*[[Image:US 212.svg|23px]] [[U.S. Highway 212]]
*[[Image:SD 20.svg|20px]] [[South Dakota Highway 20]]
{{div col end}}
*20th Avenue South, 20th Avenue Southeast, and 29th Street Southeast-Alternate City Truck Route around the south side of Watertown. 
*448th Avenue and North Lake Drive-Former South Dakota Highway 139; runs along the west side of [[Lake Kampeska]].

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.

Intercity bus service to the city is provided by [[Jefferson Lines]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jeffersonlines.com/bus-stops/south-dakota/|title=South Dakota Bus Stops|access-date=July 20, 2023}}</ref>

==Notable people==
{{Div col}}
* [[Cleveland Abbott]] ([[Tuskegee Institute]]) Multiple hall of fame coach and educator
* [[Sylvia Bacon]] (born 1931), Judge of the Superior Court, District of Columbia
* [[Nancy Turbak Berry]], trial attorney and South Dakota state senator
* [[Stephen Foster Briggs]] (1885-1976), founder [[Briggs & Stratton]] Corporation
* [[John Hamre]] (born 1950), Deputy Secretary of Defense and international studies specialist
* [[Fred H. Hildebrandt]], U.S. Representative from South Dakota
* [[Wendell "Bud" Hurlbut|Wendell 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), U.S. General and 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 the State of South Dakota.
* [[Kristi Noem]], (born 1971), current Governor of the State of South Dakota.<ref>{{cite web |title=Retro Member details |url=https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=N000184 |website=Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress |access-date=November 17, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=NOEM, Kristi |url=https://history.house.gov/People/Detail/19064 |website=US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives |access-date=November 17, 2021}}</ref>
* [[Hope A. Olson]], author and professor in the field of information studies
*[[Henry Roberts Pease]] (1837-1907) Civil War veteran and United States Senator from Mississippi
* [[Lee Raymond]], (born 1938), chemical engineer and long-time Chairman and CEO, [[Exxon Corporation]] and [[ExxonMobil]], born and attended primary and secondary school in Watertown
* [[Terry Redlin]] (1937-2016), wildlife artist whose paintings are displayed at [[Redlin Art Center]]
* [[Bob Scholtz]] (born 1937), American football player
* [[Joseph Schull]] (6 February 1906 – 19 May 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), American comedian of ''[[The Whitest Kids U' Know]]''
* [[Roger Zwieg]] (1942-2015), [[NASA]] test pilot and flight instructor
{{div col end}}

==Notable visitors==
[[Barack Obama|Former President Barack Obama]] has visited the city twice, first in 2008 during his presidential campaign, and again on May 8, 2015, to address the graduating class of 2015 from [[Lake Area Technical College]].

==Major employers==
According to the city's 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.watertownsd.us/DocumentCenter/View/5970/2021-BUDGET-BOOK?bidId=|title=City of Watertown 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report|format=[[Portable Document Format|PDF]]|page=10|date=August 16, 2022}}</ref><ref name="wtnworks-topjobs">{{cite web|title=Top Employers|url=https://www.watertownworks.com/work/top-employers/|website=Watertown Works|access-date=August 16, 2022|date=June 2018}}</ref> the largest employers in the city are:

{|class="wikitable sortable"
! 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 ||
|-
| [[Terex|Terex Utilities]] || Manufacturing || 634 || June 2018 ||
|-
| [[Hy-Vee]] || Retail || 450 || June 2018 || Mostly part-time
|-
| [[First Premier Bank|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<ref name="latistaff">{{cite web|title=LATI Staff|url=https://www.lakeareatech.edu/academics/faculty-and-staff-information/|access-date=June 1, 2017}}</ref> || May 2017 ||
|-
| [[Target Corporation|Target]] || Retail || 85 || July 2017 ||
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
*{{Cite book |title=Roadside History of South Dakota |last=Hasselstrom |first=Linda M. |year=1994 |publisher=[[Mountain Press Publishing Company]] |location=Missoula, MT |isbn=0-87842-262-5 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/roadsidehistoryo0000hass }}
*{{Cite book |title=History of South Dakota |last=Schell |first=Herbert S. |year=2004 |publisher=[[South Dakota State Historical Society Press]] |location=Pierre, SD  |isbn=0-9715171-3-4}}
*{{Cite book |author=Thompson, Harry F. (ed.) |year=2009 |title=A New South Dakota History |edition=Second |publisher=Center for Western Studies - [[Augustana College (South Dakota)|Augustana College]] |location=Sioux Falls, SD |isbn=978-0-931170-00-3}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Watertown, South Dakota}}
* {{official website|http://www.watertownsd.us}}
* [http://www.watertownsd.com Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.thepublicopinion.com/ Watertown Public Opinion - local newspaper]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060827052808/http://watweb.sdln.net/ Watertown Regional Library Website]
* [http://watertown.k12.sd.us/ School District Website]

{{Codington County, South Dakota}}
{{South Dakota county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Watertown, South Dakota| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Codington County, South Dakota]]
[[Category:Cities in South Dakota]]
[[Category:County seats in South Dakota]]
[[Category:Watertown, South Dakota micropolitan area]]