Watson, New York
Encyclopedia
Watson is a town
in Lewis County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 1,987 at the 2000 census. The town is named after early landowner James Watson.
The Town of Watson is at the east border of the county and is east of Lowville
, the county seat.
The town was formed from the Town of Leyden
in 1821. Parts of Watson were later taken to form the Towns of Greig
(1828), Diana
(1830), Croghan
(1841), and New Bremen
(1848).
, the town has a total area of 115.8 square miles (299.9 km²), of which, 112.7 square miles (291.9 km²) of it is land and 3 square miles (7.8 km²) of it (2.61%) is water.
The east town line is the border of Herkimer County
, and the west town line is partly defined by the Black River
.
The Beaver River flows through the north part of the town. The east part of Watson is inside the Adirondack Park.
of 2000, there were 1,987 people, 772 households, and 562 families residing in the town. The population density
was 17.6 people per square mile (6.8/km²). There were 1,652 housing units at an average density of 14.7 per square mile (5.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.49% White, 0.40% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.40% Pacific Islander, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.50% of the population.
There were 772 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.4% were married couples
living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.2% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 106.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,000, and the median income for a family was $38,438. Males had a median income of $28,208 versus $20,913 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $15,708. About 8.0% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.5% of those under age 18 and 14.2% of those age 65 or over.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Lewis County
Lewis County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,944 people, 10,040 households, and 7,309 families residing in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile . There were 15,134 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,987 at the 2000 census. The town is named after early landowner James Watson.
The Town of Watson is at the east border of the county and is east of Lowville
Lowville (village), New York
Lowville is a village in Lewis County, New York, United States. The Village is nestled in the Black River Valley, between the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains and the Tug Hill Plateau, and is located in the eastern part of the Town of Lowville....
, the county seat.
History
The town was first settled around 1815.The town was formed from the Town of Leyden
Leyden, New York
Leyden is a town in Lewis County, New York, United States. The population was 1,792 at the 2000 census.The Town of Leyden is in the south part of the county and is north of Rome.- History :Settlement began around 1794....
in 1821. Parts of Watson were later taken to form the Towns of Greig
Greig, New York
Greig is a town in Lewis County, New York, United States, Named after John Greig, the town was founded in 1828 from land within the boundary of Watson, New York. Originally named Brantingham, the town changed to its present name, February 20, 1832...
(1828), Diana
Diana, New York
Diana is a town in Lewis County, New York, United States. The population was 1,661 at the 2000 census.The Town of Diana is on the northeast border of the county and is northeast of Watertown. The northwest part of Diana is in the Fort Drum military reservation.- History :The Town of Diana was...
(1830), Croghan
Croghan (town), New York
Croghan is a town in Lewis County, New York, USA. The population was 3,161 at the 2000 census. The town is named after George Croghan, a military officer....
(1841), and New Bremen
New Bremen, New York
New Bremen is a town in Lewis County, New York, United States. The population was 2,722 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the German city Bremen....
(1848).
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 115.8 square miles (299.9 km²), of which, 112.7 square miles (291.9 km²) of it is land and 3 square miles (7.8 km²) of it (2.61%) is water.
The east town line is the border of Herkimer County
Herkimer County, New York
Herkimer County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It was created in 1791 north of the Mohawk River out of part of Montgomery County. As of the 2010 census, the population was 64,519. It is named after General Nicholas Herkimer, who died from battle wounds in 1777 after taking part...
, and the west town line is partly defined by the Black River
Black River (New York)
The Black River is a blackwater river that empties into the eastern end of Lake Ontario on the shore of Jefferson County, New York in the United States of America...
.
The Beaver River flows through the north part of the town. The east part of Watson is inside the Adirondack Park.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,987 people, 772 households, and 562 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 17.6 people per square mile (6.8/km²). There were 1,652 housing units at an average density of 14.7 per square mile (5.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.49% White, 0.40% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.40% Pacific Islander, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.50% of the population.
There were 772 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.2% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 106.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,000, and the median income for a family was $38,438. Males had a median income of $28,208 versus $20,913 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $15,708. About 8.0% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.5% of those under age 18 and 14.2% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Watson
- Beaver Lake – A lakeLakeA lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in the northeast part of the town by the town line. - Bushes Landing – A hamletHamlet (place)A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
east of Watson Village on County Road 26 and near the Black River. - Chase Lake – A lake south of Sperryville.
- Crystal Dale – A location near the north town line, located north of Petries Corners on County Road 26.
- Eagle Falls – A location on the Beaver River in the north part of the town.
- Francis Lake – A lake near the east town line, south of Beaver Lake.
- Moshier Falls – A location at the east town line in Herkimer County.
- Number Four – A location in the northeast part of the town, west of Beaver Lake on County Road 26.
- Petries Corners – A hamlet in the south part of the town, northeast of Watson village on County Road 26.
- Pine Grove – A hamlet near the south town line, southeast of Watson village. The Pine Grove Community ChurchPine Grove Community ChurchPine Grove Community Church is a historic non-denominational, Christian chapel located at Pine Grove in Lewis County, New York. It was built in 1895 and is a two story, wood frame building three bays in width and five bays deep. It features a projecting two storybell tower attached to the center of...
was listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2009. - Soft Maple Reservoir – An artificial lake at the town line by Eagle Falls.
- Sperryville – A hamlet in the south part of the town, inside the Adirondack Park.
- Watson – The hamlet of Watson is on County Road 26 in the southwest part of the town by the Black River.