The City of Watertown, Wisconsin, is split between Jefferson and Dodge Counties in southeastern Wisconsin. The population was 21,598 at the 2000 census. Most of the city's population is in Jefferson County. Division Street, several blocks north of downtown, is built on the county line. Watertown's population is now over 23,131. The community was named after the city of Watertown, New York

The Rock River flows through Watertown in a horseshoe bend before heading south and west on its way to the Mississippi River. The city originally developed inside the horseshoe, though it has long since grown beyond. Silver Creek adjoins the river in the city, as does a short creek on the west side. The most notable geographical feature is a high density of drumlins, long hills formed by the glaciers of the Wisconsin glaciation as they retreated northwards. All hills in the area are elongated in the north-south direction.

Watertown was first settled by Timothy Johnson, who built a cabin on the west side of the river in 1836. A town was settled to utilize the power of the Rock River, which falls 20 feet in two miles. In contrast, the Rock River falls only 34 feet in the 58 miles upstream from Watertown. The waterpower was first used for sawmills, and later prompted the construction of two hydroelectric dams, one downtown (where the river flows south) and one on the eastern edge of the city (where the river flows north). The Watertown economy remains heavily reliant on light industry.

In 1853, a plank road was completed from Milwaukee to Watertown. After plank roads were no longer used, the route was replaced by highway (Wisconsin Highway 16) and railroad ties. However, a street named "Watertown Plank Road" survives in Milwaukee. The road is referenced by the "Plank Road Brewery" family of beers, including Icehouse beer, produced by Miller Brewing Company in Milwaukee.

Watertown, Wisconsin, has been home to several famous or influential Americans, including Margarethe Schurz, who founded the first American kindergarten in 1856 (the building that housed this kindergarten is now located on the grounds of the Octagon House Museum in Watertown); R. D. Blumenfeld, journalist, editor of the British Daily Express; Dan Brandenstein, former NASA astronaut, veteran of four space shuttle flights; Joseph E. Davies, the second Ambassador to represent the United States in the Soviet Union; and former Major League Baseball first baseman Fred Merkle, who played 16 years in the Major Leagues in the early twentieth century.

When you see the city name, “Watertown,” you quickly imagine all kinds of water activity. You won’t be disappointed. With two dams and ten bridges, there is an endless amount of water fun. Throughout the city, it's common to find people of all ages trying their luck at fishing. Others canoe, paddleboat or motor boat. And during the cold winter months, skaters take to the ice where boats were floating just weeks before. The Park and Recreation Department maintains two ice rinks and cross country ski trails in Brandt-Quirk Park. Sports enthusiasts turn to a list of indoor sport activities offered by the department to wile away the winter days.

The Watertown Park and Recreation Department oversees the operation of The Watertown Aquatic Center, The Senior/Community Center, the Watertown Park System, and its own roster of classes and athletic activities. The efforts of this department result in a myriad of activities for residents and visitors alike. Kids’ classes, adult sports leagues, and adult courses help to broaden the abilities of residents. The Health and Wellness Center of Watertown is another outlet for courses and programs designed to help Watertown residents who want to focus on healthier lifestyles. The Center includes trainers, instructors, equipment, and specialty groups to assist all areas of family life and wellness.

Of course, the gently rolling green hills of south-central Wisconsin mean that golfers have their choice between two 18-hole courses in Watertown. Watertown Country Club is a private club located on Silver Creek and includes a dining/banquet facility. Windwood is a public course complete with restaurant and dining/banquet facilities located just east of the city.

For more information on activities in and around Watertown, Wisconsin, visit:

• Downtown Watertown
• Dodge County, WI
• City of Watertown, WI
• Jefferson County, WI
• Watertown Chamber of Commerce
• The State of Wisconsin
• Watertown, WI Google Earth Map
• View Watertown, WI Area Jobs
• Watertown, Wisconsin on Wikipedia.com
• Watertown, Wisconsin on epodunk

For more information on activities in and around South Central Wisconsin, visit:

• Wisconsin State Parks – Kettle Moraine State Forest
• Kettle Moraine State Forest – Southern Unit
• Jefferson County Tourism

Watertown Homes, Properties and Special-Feature Real Estate

Watertown, Wisconsin real estate includes a wide variety of homes for sale, condos for sale, water access properties (waterfront or scenic view), active adult communities, hobby farms and executive properties. Sellers who have been in the area for a while know our reputation for knowledgeable advice, enthusiastic service, creative marketing and professional networking. We mine every source for suitable properties so you can feel at ease that your search will produce the right kind of solution for you.

For buyers new to the area, Laura Staude will provide the specialized services you deserve: a strong work ethic, personal real estate expertise to help define your needs, help with selecting and securing standard financing for your purchase, special technology, constant communication throughout the transaction, and more. Our many years living and working in the area, combined with our cumulative years of experience in real estate, means we can cover all aspects of your search - from existing homes for sale, properties for sale, lots, vacant land, new construction, 55-plus and retirement communities, investment properties, waterfront, golf and recreational properties, golf course lots - all the way to luxury villas, estates and executive homes.

So when you're ready to buy or sell real estate in or around Watertown, Wisconsin, please let Laura Staude help you purchase the home or property of your dreams. Contact Laura Staude today!

Other nearby communities have similar real estate characteristics as Watertown and may also be of interest to you in your home search. Please feel free to ask Laura Staude about homes for sale, lakeside/riverside properties and other real estate listings for nearby communities, such as Johnson Creek, Lake Mills, Rock Lake, Cambridge, Lake Ripley, Watertown, Rock River, Jefferson, Fort Atkinson, Ft. Atkinson, Lake Koshkonong, Koshkonong (Lake Koshkonong, Ixonia, Oconomowoc, Sullivan, Jefferson County, Dodge County, Dousman, Deerfield, Cottage Grove, Marshall, Waterloo, Ashippun, Whitewater, Aztalan and much more.

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