Watson is a city in
Chippewa County,
Minnesota, United States. The population was 205 at the
2010 census.
Lac Qui Parle State Park
Lac qui Parle State Park is a state park of Minnesota, United States, near Watson. ''Lac qui Parle'' is a French translation of the native Dakota name, meaning "talking lake".
The state park was built as part of the Lac qui Parle Flood Control ...
is nearby.
History
Watson was
platted in 1879 when the railroad was extended to that point. The city took its name from the Watson Farmers Elevator, a local
grain elevator
A grain elevator is a facility designed to stockpile or store grain. In the grain trade, the term "grain elevator" also describes a tower containing a bucket elevator or a pneumatic conveyor, which scoops up grain from a lower level and deposits ...
. A post office has been in operation in Watson since 1879.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.
U.S. Route 59
U.S. Route 59 (US 59) is a north–south United States highway (though it was signed east–west in parts of Texas). A latecomer to the U.S. numbered route system, US 59 is now a border-to-border route, part of the NAFTA Corridor Highway Sy ...
and
Minnesota State Highway 7 (
co-signed) serves as a main route in the community.
Watson is known as "The Goose Capitol of the USA" due to the large number of Canada geese which migrate through and inhabit nearby
Lac Qui Parle every fall.
Demographics
2010 census
As of the
census of 2010, there were 205 people, 90 households, and 50 families residing in the city. The
population density was . There were 102 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 98.5%
White, 1.0% from
other races, and 0.5% from two or more races.
Hispanic or
Latino of any race were 1.5% of the population.
There were 90 households, of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.3% were
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 44.4% were non-families. 37.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% 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 3.08.
The median age in the city was 41.2 years. 28.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.5% were from 25 to 44; 30.8% were from 45 to 64; and 12.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 56.1% male and 43.9% female.
2000 census
As of the
census of 2000, there were 209 people, 86 households, and 52 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 98 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95.69%
White, 0.96%
Asian, 3.35% from
other races.
Hispanic or
Latino of any race were 3.35% of the population.
There were 86 households, out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.7% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 113.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,688, and the median income for a family was $45,000. Males had a median income of $25,781 versus $21,250 for females. The
per capita income for the city was $14,617. About 7.1% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 8.3% of those under the age of eighteen and 32.0% of those 65 or over.
References
External links
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{{Coord, 45, 00, 35, N, 95, 48, 05, W, type:city_region:US-MN, display=title
Cities in Chippewa County, Minnesota
Cities in Minnesota