The history of Watertown, a city in Jefferson County, New York, can be traced to the purchase of Upstate New York by Alexander Macomb, leading to a settlement east of Lake Ontario in the early 19th century. The area had seen human occupation since at least the second glacial period, but significant change into what is now known as Watertown did not occur until the beginning of the Machine Age. The city, which was incorporated in 1869, had expanded primarily through trade with Canada. The city destroyed many factories and historical buildings in the 1960s, which began a steady decline in population, from 33,306 in 1960 to 24,685 in 2020, a loss of 26%.
Prehistory 12,000 BP: Ice from the pleistocene period recedes, leaving the area underwater for ≈ 1,000 years. 11,000 BP: Land emerges from underwater.
Glacial Period: Native Americans follow Caribou into the area and settle.
18th century
1791: Area bought by Alexander Macomb. 1796: Area scouted by Benjamin Wright.
19th century March 1800: Houses first built by Pioneers. 1801: A Church is built. 1802 School Built. Hydropower using the fast moving water of the Black River begins. 1804: The Postal Station is built. 1805: The Public Square is allowed to be used by the public. 1816 Watertown Incorporated as a Village. First Bank opened. Local Fire Department begins. 1842: Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad built. 1847: First Portable steam engine to be made in the United States made in Watertown. 1849 Safety pin is invented by Walter Hunt of Watertown. A fire destroys most of the Public Square and surrounding buildings. 1850: Paddock Arcade built. 1853: Public water system and illuminating gas works installed. 1861: Watertown Daily Times begins. 1862: Jefferson County Courthouse Complex built. 1869 City of Watertown Incorporated. YMCA created. 1878: FW Woolworth comes up with the 5 and dime store in Watertown. 1879: Public Telephones installed. 1881: Samaritan Medical Center opens in Watertown. 1884: Electric lighting system established. 1889 Saint Paul's Episcopal Church built. Trinity Episcopal Church built. 1891: Soldiers and Sailors Monument built. 1894: Public Square paved. 20th century
1903: Roswell P. Flower Memorial Library begins construction. 1904 Emerson Place built. November 10: Roswell P. Flower Memorial Library completed. 1909: Thomas Memorial AME Zion Church built. 1912: Parish House built. 1914: Watertown Masonic Temple built. 1916: Thompson Park officially gifted to Watertown by John C. Thompson. 1920: City manager government style begins. 1925: Golf course built. 1926: Interurban bus lines spanning 800 miles built. 1927 Hydro-electric power plant built using the power from the Black River. Airplane taxi service established. 1952: Little Trees invented by Watertown resident Julius Sämann. 1960: The Fountain in the Public Square is built and dedicated. 1970: Construction on the Dulles State Office Building begins. 1972: Construction on the Dulles State Office Building finished.
21st century 2006: Public Square Revamp begins. 2008: Public Square Revamp completed.
References
Citations
External links Official website for the Jefferson County Historical Society