Editing Watsontown, Pennsylvania

{{short description|Borough in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Watsontown, Pennsylvania
| native_name              = 
| other_name               = 
| settlement_type          = [[Borough (Pennsylvania)|Borough]]
<!-- images and maps ----------->
| image_skyline            = Watsontown Borough Building.webp
| image_caption            = Watsontown Borough Building
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = 
| image_shield             = 
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = 
| image_map                = File:Northumberland County Pennsylvania Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Watsontown Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                  = 250x200px
| map_caption              = Location of Watsontown in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.
| pushpin_map              = Pennsylvania#USA
| pushpin_label            = Watsontown
| pushpin_label_position   = left <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_mapsize          = <!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
<!-- Location ------------------>
| coordinates              = {{coord|41|05|07|N|76|51|48|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Pennsylvania]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Pennsylvania|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Northumberland County, Pennsylvania|Northumberland]]
| established_title        = Settled
| established_date         = 1794
| established_title2       = Incorporated (borough)
| established_date2        = 1858
| government_type          = 
| government_footnotes     = 
| leader_title             = 
| leader_name              = 
<!-- Area --------------------->
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='42'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 15, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2           = 2.42
| area_total_sq_mi         = 0.93
| area_land_km2            = 1.84
| area_land_sq_mi          = 0.71
| area_water_km2           = 0.58
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.22
| area_water_percent       = 
<!-- elevation -->
| elevation_footnotes     = <ref name="WTopozone">{{cite web |title=Watsontown Topo Map, Northumberland County PA (Milton Area) |url=https://www.topozone.com/pennsylvania/northumberland-pa/city/watsontown/ |website=TopoZone |publisher=Locality, LLC |access-date=28 November 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
| elevation_m             = 
| elevation_ft            = 484
| elevation_point         = benchmark at center of borough
| elevation_max_footnotes = <ref name="WTopozone"/>
| elevation_max_m         = 
| elevation_max_ft        = 590
| elevation_max_point     = eastern end of borough by cemetery
| elevation_max_rank      = 
| elevation_min_footnotes = <ref name="WTopozone"/>
| elevation_min_m         = 
| elevation_min_ft        = 450
| elevation_min_point     = West Branch Susquehanna River
| elevation_min_rank      = 
<!-- Population ----------------------->
| population_footnotes     = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
| population_total         = 2237
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_density_km2   = 1217.65
| population_density_sq_mi = 3155.15
| population_note          = 
<!-- General information --------------->
| timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset               = 
| timezone_DST             = EDT
| utc_offset_DST           = 
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 17777
| area_code                = [[Area codes 570 and 272|570 and 272]]
| website                  = {{URL|http://www.watsontownpa.info/|Borough website}}
| footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 42-81616
}}
'''Watsontown''' is a [[Borough (Pennsylvania)|borough]] in [[Northumberland County, Pennsylvania|Northumberland County]], [[Pennsylvania]], United States. The population was 2,351 at the 2010 census. It was named for John Watson, an early settler.

==History==
Land in the Watsontown area was first purchased by John Watson in 1792. The borough's post office was opened in 1828. There was a racetrack in Watsontown from 1830 to 1840. Railroad tracks first reached the borough in 1854. A sawmill was built in the area in 1856. Watsontown was a part of [[Turbot Township, Pennsylvania|Turbot Township]] until its incorporation in 1867.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livingplaces.com/PA/Northumberland_County/Watsontown_Borough.html|title=Watsontown Borough, Northumberland County 17777|access-date=October 18, 2016}}</ref>

Watsontown was an important part of a transportation network that included roads, railroads, and canals along the [[Susquehanna River]].  Watsontown served as a stop along the [[Underground Railroad]] for slaves escaping to Canada.  Many businesses were located here because of this.  Part of the old canal and the tow path used by mules at the time is visible along the river.{{cn|date=December 2023}}

==Geography==
[[File:Watsontown main drag.jpg|thumb|left|Main Street]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the borough has a total area of {{convert|0.9|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|0.7|sqmi|km2}}  is land and {{convert|0.2|sqmi|km2}}  (24.47%) is water.

Watsontown's terrain is almost entirely flat except for a hill in the eastern part of the borough. The borough's land is mostly residential, with some forest and industrial areas. The [[West Branch Susquehanna River]] borders the western part of Watsontown. The borough is served by [[Pennsylvania Route 44]] and [[Pennsylvania Route 405]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Watsontown,%20Northumberland,%20PA|title=Google Maps|access-date=October 18, 2016}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1870= 1181
|1880= 1481
|1890= 2157
|1900= 1898
|1910= 1950
|1920= 2153
|1930= 2248
|1940= 2282
|1950= 2327
|1960= 2431
|1970= 2514
|1980= 2366
|1990= 2310
|2000= 2255
|2010= 2351
|2020= 2237
|footnote=Sources:<ref name="USDecennialCensus">{{cite web|title=Census of Population and Housing|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=December 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref><ref name=CensusPopEst>{{cite web|title=Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|work=Population Estimates|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=December 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:42&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=Oct 12, 2022}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 2,254 people, 967 households, and 591 families residing in the borough. The population density was {{convert|3,161.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,017 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,426.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the borough was 98.66% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.40% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.18% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.13% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.13% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.09% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.40% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.35% of the population.  There are currently 8 registered sex offenders residing within the borough.

There were 967 households, out of which 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.8% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 21.1% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 21.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.6 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $31,094, and the median income for a family was $37,065. Males had a median income of $30,648 versus $20,972 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the borough was $16,110. About 8.4% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 15.7% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.
{{clear|left}}

==Arts and culture==
The [[Watsontown River Bridge]] is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania|National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

The Watsontown Theater operated from 1940 to 2009.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dailyitem.com/news/ex-theater-gets-new-life/article_2e3909f4-9d5c-11e5-95af-5fa2f81168aa.html | title=Ex-theater gets new life | date=December 7, 2015 }}</ref>

{{wide image|Watsontown_panorama.jpg|1000px|Panorama from Watsontown Cemetery}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* The [http://www.classicroses.co.uk/roses/d/dr_van_fleet.html Dr. Van Fleet Climbing Rose] was created in Watsontown by Dr. Walter Van Fleet, a resident botanist.

{{Northumberland County, Pennsylvania}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Pennsylvania populated places on the Susquehanna River]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1794]]
[[Category:Boroughs in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:1858 establishments in Pennsylvania]]