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Watertown, Tennessee

Watertown is a town located in Wilson County, Tennessee. The population was 1,477 at the 2010 census. The population then raised to 1,556 after the 2020 census. It is located southeast of Lebanon, and northwest of Smithville.

Watertown, Tennessee

United States

1780[1]

1905[2]

Wilson L. Waters, founder[1]

1.44 sq mi (3.72 km2)

1.44 sq mi (3.72 km2)

0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)

653 ft (199 m)

1,553

1,081.48/sq mi (417.52/km2)

UTC-5 (CDT)

37184

47-78320[5]

1304411[6]

History[edit]

Prior to the town's establishment, the land was a Revolutionary War grant to Colonel Archibald Lytle and his brother William.[1]


Circa 1790, the grandparents of Watertown's founder, Wilson L. Waters, moved into the area. In 1845, the post office moved from nearby Three Forks to Wilson's store. Waters expanded his operations with a sawmill, gristmill and blacksmith shop. Waters' 400-acre (1.6 km2) farm eventually became Watertown.[1]


The Nashville and Knoxville Railroad built a depot in Watertown in 1885, making it the hub of business in the area. The increased business led to a doubling of the village's size.


In 1903, a fire swept through the wood structures of the village, destroying many businesses. During the recovery period following the fire, a town square surrounded by brick building was laid out, creating the core of the current city of Watertown.[1]

Geography[edit]

Watertown is located at 36°06′00″N 86°08′14″W / 36.100039°N 86.137102°W / 36.100039; -86.137102 (36.100039, -86.137102).[7]


According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2), all land.

Education[edit]

Watertown is served by Wilson County Schools.[10] Its zoned schools are Watertown Elementary School, Watertown Middle School, and Watertown High School.[11]

Old Henry (2021) was shot in Watertown, TN.

Was the filming site of .

Dark Harvest 3: Skarecrow

In 2003, the Stardust opened in Watertown, a very unusual event since most drive-ins around the country have closed.[12]

Drive-in theater

The city is a frequent destination of excursion trains from nearby run by the Tennessee Central Railway Museum.[13]

Nashville

Watertown is noted for its annual Jazz Festival.

[14]

The White Elephant Emporium in Watertown was featured in the episode "The Emu Chase" of .

American Pickers

Fiction novelist D.M. Barrett, author of Equinox, Raven I, II, III & IV, and Caliente I & II, is from Watertown.

Official city site