Watertown (city), New York
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Watertown is a city in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 26,705 at the 2000 census.
The area is served by Watertown International Airport.
History
Watertown became the county seat of Jefferson County in 1805 and became an Incorporated Village in 1816. In 1869 Watertown was incorporated as a city. In 1920 the city adopted a city manager style of government.Previously a more important city that it is today, Watertown suffered economic and population declines throughout most of the 20th century. Today it serves as the centre for a large rural area, and as the nearest community to Fort Drum and its large military population. Located 25 miles from the international boundary via the Thousand Islands Bridge, shopping by Canadian vistors is an important part of the local economy.
Geography
The Black River flows westward through the city toward Lake Ontario. The Black River is a world-renowned kayaking destination. Competition level kayaking events, such as the Blackwater Challenge, have been held on the river. The name is traditionally said to have been derived from abundant water power available from the river to power mills, particularly paper mills, historically a major industry for the city.According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 24.0 km² (9.3 mi²). 23.2 km² (9.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.8 km² (0.3 mi²) of it (3.45%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] of 2000, there were 26,705 people, 11,036 households, and 6,500 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,150.8/km² (2,981.3/mi²). There were 12,450 housing units at an average density of 536.5/km² (1,389.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.13% White, 4.95% Black or African American, 0.54% Native American, 1.16% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 1.67% from other races, and 2.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.59% of the population.There were 11,036 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.1% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% 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% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% 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% of families and 19.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.2% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.
Jefferson Community College (JCC) is located in the western part of the city near the fairgrounds.
Media
Television
- Channel 7: WWNY, CBS
- Channel 16: WPBS, PBS
- Channel 23: W23BP, shopping
- Channel 28: WNYF, Fox
- Channel 50: WWTI, ABC
- Channel 66: WLOT, UPN
Radio
- AM 790 - WTNY, news/talk
- AM 1240 - WATN, news/talk
- AM 1410 - WNER, ESPN Radio sports
- FM 88.9 - WSLJ, NPR
- FM 90.9 - WJNY , classical
- FM 91.7 - WRVJ, NPR
- FM 93.3 - WCIZ, classic hits
- FM 97.5 - WFRY, country
- FM 106.7 - WBDI, Pop
Trivia
Watertown claims that Rodman native Frank W. Woolworth conceived the idea of his mercantile chain in Watertown in 1878, although the first store was opened in Utica, New York in 1879. The claim is made because Woolworth, employed as a clerk in Moore's Store, set up a successful clearance display of low-priced items, which led to his idea of a store specializing in fixed-price cut-rate merchandise.The Staten Island Yankees were previously based in Watertown, as was the Davis Sewing Machine Company, predecessor of George P. Huffman's Huffy Corporation (NYSE: HUF), an American maker of bicycles and other sporting goods.
The fictional town of Rivet Town in the movie Robots is based on this city. Mainly because movie director Chris Wedge lived here during his teens.
Watertown was the setting for the 1990 Bette Midler film "Stella". While the movie was actually filmed in Canada, several local items were imported to appear in the film, including the local daily newspaper, taxi-cabs and shopping bags from the locally owned Empsalls department store.
Notable natives
Notable people born in or who have resided in Watertown:
- John Foster Dulles, U.S. Secretary of State
- Leonard J. Farwell, businessman and Wisconsin governor.
- Oscar S. Gifford, lawyer and South Dakota politician.
- Richard Grieco, actor, singer, former college football athlete.
- Robert Guinan, painter
- Eugene Mosher, a pioneer of human-computer interaction best known for inventing the graphic touchscreen point of sale computer.
- Viggo Mortensen, star of the Lord of the Rings trilogy
- Charles Pierce, self-defined male actress best known for his impersonations of Bette Davis.
- Savanna Samson, adult film star
- Zina D. H. Young, leader in the LDS movement and social activist.
See also
- Watertown International Airport
- John M. McHugh (congressperson)
- Paddock arcade
External links
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