Watertown

Watertown.

1 Town (1990 pop. 20,456), Litchfield co., W Conn.; set off from Waterbury and inc. 1780. Synthetic textiles, thread, plastics, chemicals, mattresses, and brass goods are among its manufactures. A method for processing silk thread developed there (1849) and led to the foundation of a major silk industry in the 19th cent. Portions of a state park and a state forest are in Watertown.

2 Town (1990 pop. 33,284), Middlesex co., E Mass., on the Charles River; settled 1630, inc. 1785. An industrial suburb of Boston, its manufactures include machinery, electronic equipment, precision instruments, clothing, and food products. A federal arsenal, built in 1816, was greatly enlarged during the two world wars; most of it is owned by the town, but the U.S. government has retained a section for research. The Perkins School for the Blind (est. in Boston 1829) moved to Watertown in 1912.

3 City (1990 pop. 29,429), seat of Jefferson co., N N.Y., on the Black River, in a dairy region; settled c.1800, inc. as a city 1869. The falls on the river (more than 100 ft/30 m high) provide power for its many small industries. Talc, lead, zinc, and iron are mined in the area. Watertown also attracts tourists as a result of its proximity to Canada, the Adirondacks, and the Thousand Islands resort area. A county historical museum is in the city. The Camp Drum military reservation (national guard) and an air force station are nearby.

4 City (1990 pop. 17,592), seat of Codington co., NE S.Dak., on the Big Sioux River; inc. 1885. It is the distribution, shipping, and trading center for an extensive agricultural area. Light industries and tourism add to Watertown's economy. Two large lakes adjoining the city provide recreation.

5 Industrial city (1990 pop. 19,142), Dodge and Jefferson counties, SE Wis., at the falls of the Rock River; inc. 1854. Manufacturing is diverse, and its agricultural market is economically important. Carl Schurz lived there. His wife, Margarethe, established (1856) the first U.S. kindergarten there; it has been restored and moved to the grounds of the Octagon House (c.1849), the city's historical museum. Northwestern College is in Watertown.