Watertown, Connecticut | |
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Town of Watertown | |
Coordinates: 41°36′53″N73°07′59″W / 41.61472°N 73.13306°W | |
Country | United States |
U.S. state | Connecticut |
County | Litchfield |
Region | Naugatuck Valley |
Incorporated | 1780 |
Government | |
• Type | Council-manager |
• Town manager | Mark A Raimo |
• Town council |
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• Board of Education Commissioners |
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Area | |
• Total | 29.5 sq mi (76.4 km2) |
• Land | 29.0 sq mi (75.1 km2) |
• Water | 0.5 sq mi (1.3 km2) |
Elevation | 583 ft (178 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 22,105 |
• Density | 762/sq mi (294.3/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) |
ZIP Codes | 06779, 06795 |
Area code(s) | 860/959 |
FIPS code | 09-80490 |
GNIS feature ID | 0213527 |
Website | www |
Watertown is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region. The population was 22,105 at the 2020 census. [1] The ZIP Codes for Watertown are 06795 (for most of the town) and 06779 (for the Oakville section). It is a suburb of Waterbury. The urban center of the town is the Watertown census-designated place, with a population of 3,938 at the 2020 census. [2]
Colonization of the area today called Watertown began around 1657. In that time, the colony was called "Mattatock", though it had several variations in spelling through the years. [3] The land where Watertown is now located, having originally belonged to Mattatock, officially changed its name to Watterbury (now Waterbury) by record on March 20, 1695, by consensus of a council. The original Colony of Mattatuck, which became Watterbury, then Waterbury in name, comprised a much greater land area than Waterbury does today. [4] Thomas Judd and other families were among the first investors to buy the land as a group. The Town of Watertown was officially incorporated in 1780. [5]
Watertown is in southeastern Litchfield County and is bordered to the southeast by the city of Waterbury in New Haven County. Other bordering towns are Middlebury to the south, Woodbury and Bethlehem to the west, Morris to the northwest, and Thomaston to the east. It is in the Eastern Standard time zone. The elevation at the town center is 583 feet (178 m).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 29.5 square miles (76.4 km2), of which 29.0 square miles (75.1 km2) are land and 0.50 square miles (1.3 km2), or 1.72%, are water. [6] Oakville, which is often mistaken for a separate town, is in the southeast part of Watertown. Although Oakville has its own post office and ZIP code, it does not have a charter or town government of its own. Oakville receives all of its town services (police, fire, water and so on) from Watertown.
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1820 | 1,439 | — | |
1850 | 1,533 | — | |
1860 | 1,587 | 3.5% | |
1870 | 1,698 | 7.0% | |
1880 | 1,897 | 11.7% | |
1890 | 2,323 | 22.5% | |
1900 | 3,100 | 33.4% | |
1910 | 3,850 | 24.2% | |
1920 | 6,050 | 57.1% | |
1930 | 8,192 | 35.4% | |
1940 | 8,787 | 7.3% | |
1950 | 10,699 | 21.8% | |
1960 | 14,837 | 38.7% | |
1970 | 18,610 | 25.4% | |
1980 | 19,489 | 4.7% | |
1990 | 20,456 | 5.0% | |
2000 | 21,661 | 5.9% | |
2010 | 22,514 | 3.9% | |
2020 | 22,105 | −1.8% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [7] |
As of the census [8] of 2000, there were 21,661 people, 8,046 households, and 5,994 families residing in the town. The population density was 743.0 inhabitants per square mile (286.9/km2). There were 8,298 housing units at an average density of 284.6 per square mile (109.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.46% White, 0.75% African American, 0.12% Native American, 1.27% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.87% of the population.
There were 8,046 households, out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.7% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.8% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $59,420, and the median income for a family was $68,761. Males had a median income of $47,097 versus $31,822 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,044. About 1.1% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.8% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.
The Route 8 expressway runs through the eastern edge of town, with two exits inside the town. Route 8 leads north 14 miles (23 km) to Torrington and south through Waterbury 34 miles (55 km) to Bridgeport. The main routes through the center of Watertown are U.S. Route 6 running east–west and Connecticut Route 63 running north–south. Route 6 leads northeast 30 miles (48 km) to Hartford, the state capital, and southwest 30 miles (48 km) to Danbury, while Route 63 leads north 10 miles (16 km) to Litchfield and south the same distance to Naugatuck. Other important highways include Route 73 (a more direct route leading through Oakville to Waterbury) and Route 262, which runs north from Oakville through the eastern part of Watertown.
Public transportation is provided by buses of Northeast Transportation Company.
Hartford County is a county located in the north central part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. According to the 2020 census, the population was 899,498, making it the second-most populous county in Connecticut. Hartford County contains the city of Hartford, the state capital of Connecticut and the county's most populous city, with 121,054 residents at the 2020 census. Hartford County is included in the Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown metropolitan statistical area.
Litchfield County is in northwestern Connecticut, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 185,186. The county was named after Lichfield, in England. Litchfield County has the lowest population density of any county in Connecticut and is the state's largest county by area.
New Haven County is a county in the south central part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of the 2020 census, the population was 864,835, making it the third-most populous county in Connecticut. Two of the state's top 5 largest cities, New Haven (3rd) and Waterbury (5th), are part of New Haven County.
Bethlehem is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 3,385 at the 2020 census, down from 3,607 at the 2010 census. The town is part of the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region. The town center is a historic district and a census-designated place (CDP).
Bridgewater is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,662 at the 2020 census, down from 1,727 at the 2010 census. The town is part of the Western Connecticut Planning Region.
Harwinton is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 5,484 at the 2020 census. The town is part of the Northwest Hills Planning Region. The high school is Lewis S. Mills.
Northwest Harwinton is a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Harwinton in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 3,158 at the 2020 census, out of 5,484 in the entire town. The CDP contains the town center.
Oakville is a census-designated place (CDP) and neighborhood section of Watertown, in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 9,047 as of the 2010 census. It is the most populous community in Watertown, with more than twice as many people as the center village of Watertown. The ZIP code for Oakville is 06779.
Plymouth is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England. The population was 11,671 at the 2020 census, down from 12,243 at the 2010 census. The town of Plymouth includes the villages of Plymouth Center, Terryville and Pequabuck.
Roxbury is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 2,260 at the 2020 census. The town is located 65 miles (105 km) northeast of New York City, and is part of the Northwest Hills Planning Region.
Thomaston is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region. The population was 7,442 at the 2020 census. The urban center of the town is the Thomaston census-designated place, with a population of 1,928 at the 2020 census.
Warren is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,351 at the 2020 census. The town is part of the Northwest Hills Planning Region. The town was named for Revolutionary War General Joseph Warren.
Winchester is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 10,224 at the 2020 census. The city of Winsted is located in Winchester. The town is part of the Northwest Hills Planning Region.
Woodbury is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region. The population was 9,723 at the 2020 census. The town center, comprising the adjacent villages of Woodbury and North Woodbury, is designated by the U.S. Census Bureau as the Woodbury Center census-designated place (CDP). Woodbury was founded in 1673.
Middlebury is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 7,574 at the 2020 census. The town is part of the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region.
Oxford is a residential town located in western New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region. The population was 12,706 at the 2020 Census. Oxford is the 26th-wealthiest town in the state by median household income. Distinct settled areas in the town include Oxford Center, Quaker Farms, and Riverside. Oxford belongs to the Bridgeport–Stamford–Norwalk Metropolitan Statistical Area, a subregion of the New York metropolitan area.
The Naugatuck River Valley is the watershed area of the Naugatuck River in the western part of Connecticut. The Naugatuck Valley straddles parts of Litchfield County, New Haven, and Fairfield counties. The Route 8 corridor and Waterbury Branch of the Metro-North railroad line run along the river valley. Geographically, it comprises the municipalities located within the Naugatuck River basin. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the area was one of the main manufacturing centers in New England, and most of the communities around the river were emblematic New England mill towns.
The Central Naugatuck Valley is a region of Connecticut in New Haven and Litchfield counties located approximately 70 miles (110 km) northeast of New York City and 110 miles (180 km) southwest of Boston, United States. The region comprises 13 towns: Beacon Falls, Bethlehem, Cheshire, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Oxford, Prospect, Southbury, Thomaston, Waterbury, Watertown, Wolcott, and Woodbury.
Watertown is a census-designated place (CDP) in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. It comprises the central village of the town of Watertown. As of the 2010 census, the population of the CDP was 3,574, out of 22,514 in the entire town. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 22,105.
Thomaston is a census-designated place (CDP) in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. It comprises the downtown portion of the town of Thomaston. As of the 2010 census, the population of the CDP was 1,910, out of 7,887 in the entire town.