Colonization of the area today called Watertown began around 1657. In that time, the colony was called "Mattatock", though it had several variations in spelling through the years. The land where Watertown is now located, having originally belonged to Mattatock, officially changed its name to Watterbury by record on March 20, 1695, by consensus of a council. The original Colony of Mattatuck, which became Watterbury, then Waterbury in name, comprised a much greater land area than Waterbury does today. Thomas Judd and other families were among the first investors to buy the land as a group. The Town of Watertown was officially incorporated in 1780.
Geography
Watertown is in southeastern Litchfield County and is bordered to the southeast by the city of Waterbury in New Haven County. Other bordering towns are Middlebury to the south, Woodbury and Bethlehem to the west, Morris to the northwest, and Thomaston to the east. It is in the Eastern Standard time zone. The elevation at the town center is. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of, of which are land and, or 1.72%, are water. Oakville, which is often mistaken for a separate town, is in the southeast part of Watertown. Although Oakville has its own post office and ZIP code, it does not have a charter or town government of its own. Oakville receives all of its town services from Watertown.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 21,661 people, 8,046 households, and 5,994 families residing in the town. The population density was 743.0 people per square mile. There were 8,298 housing units at an average density of 284.6 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 96.46% White, 0.75% African American, 0.12% Native American, 1.27% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.87% of the population. There were 8,046 households out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.7% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.13. In the town, the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males. The median income for a household in the town was $59,420, and the median income for a family was $68,761. Males had a median income of $47,097 versus $31,822 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,044. About 1.1% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.8% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
The Route 8 expressway runs through the eastern edge of town, with two exits inside the town. Route 8 leads north to Torrington and south through Waterbury to Bridgeport. The main routes through the center of Watertown are U.S. Route 6 running east–west and Connecticut Route 63 running north–south. Route 6 leads northeast to Hartford, the state capital, and southwest to Danbury, while Route 63 leads north to Litchfield and south the same distance to Naugatuck. Other important highways include Route 73 and Route 262, which runs north from Oakville through the eastern part of Watertown. Public transportation is provided by buses of Northeast Transportation Company.
Local media
Waterbury Republican-American, a Waterbury-based independent daily newspaper
Town Times, Prime Publishers Inc., a local newspaper serving Watertown, Oakville, Bunker Hill in Waterbury, Thomaston and Northfield. Voices, its sister paper, covers Southbury, Middlebury, Oxford, Seymour, Naugatuck, Woodbury, Bethelhem, New Preston, Washington, Washington Depot, Roxbury, Bridgewater, Monroe, Sandy Hook and Newtown.
Macaroni Kid, an online magazine for families in Watertown
Benjamin B. Hotchkiss, for whom the Hotchkiss School was named by his widow, was one of the leading American ordnance engineers of his day; born in Watertown but in early childhood moved to Sharon
