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Watson
Location of Watson, Minnesota
Location of Watson, Minnesota
Country United States
State Minnesota
County Chippewa
Area
 • Total 0.17 sq mi (0.45 km2)
 • Land 0.17 sq mi (0.45 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,030 ft (310 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 182
 • Density 1,040.00/sq mi (401.47/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
56295
Area code(s) 320
FIPS code 27-68656
GNIS feature ID 2397218

Watson is a city in Chippewa County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 205 at the 2010 census. Lac qui Parle State Park 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 post office has been in operation in Watson since 1879.

In 2024, a Watson man named Joseph M. Rongstad was arrested for threatening to kill University of Minnesota students. Rongstad, who had previously served as mayor of Watson, said he only made the threats because he wanted to talk to the Secret Service.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.18 square miles (0.47 km2), all land.

U.S. Route 59 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

Historical population
Census Pop.
1900 167
1910 152 −9.0%
1920 215 41.4%
1930 246 14.4%
1940 290 17.9%
1950 284 −2.1%
1960 267 −6.0%
1970 228 −14.6%
1980 238 4.4%
1990 211 −11.3%
2000 209 −0.9%
2010 205 −1.9%
2020 182 −11.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

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 1,138.9 inhabitants per square mile (439.7/km2). There were 102 housing units at an average density of 566.7 per square mile (218.8/km2). 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 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.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Watson (Minnesota) para niños

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