Facts About Watertown
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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.
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Watertown has a total area of 25.04 square miles, of which, 17.45 square miles is land and 7.59 square miles is water.
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The city was named after Watertown, New York, the hometown of brothers John E. Kemp and Oscar P. Kemp, two of the city's founders.
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Watertown has a strong agricultural community, with a large number of farmers and ranchers in the surrounding area.
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Watertown is home to the Northern State University Wolves, an NCAA Division II athletics program.
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The estimated population of Watertown is 22,722, as of 2021, making Watertown the fifth largest city in South Dakota.
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Watertown is home to several annual events, including the Codington County Fair, the Glacial Lakes Arts Festival, and the Watertown Winter Carnival.
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Watertown is home to the Bramble Park Zoo, which features over 100 animals from around the world.
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Watertown has a strong manufacturing sector, with several large companies such as 3M, Cambria, and Meta Manufacturing, having facilities in the area.
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The city has a strong agricultural community, with a large number of farmers and ranchers in the surrounding area.
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