1791History
=== Precolonial and colonial eras ===
In 1791, New York City resident Alexander Macomb purchased the land of Jefferson, Lewis, St.
1795Civil Rights
The area was first surveyed in 1795, and was settled in March 1800 due to the abundant hydropower the Black River provided.
1796Infrastructure
The area of Watertown was first surveyed in 1796 by Benjamin Wright, who was employed by Macomb to survey the northern and central portions of New York State.
1798Architecture
In 1798, pioneers Hart Massey, Henry Coffeen, and Zachariah Butterfield built cabins in what is now the Public Square area as part of a large migration into New York from New En...
1799History
Robert Lansing was born in Albany, New York in 1799 and moved to Watertown in 1817.
1800History
The area was taken from the nearby town of Mexico in 1800.
1805Architecture
In the middle of Watertown lies the Public Square Historic District, which was built in 1805 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1984.
1807Economy
After the Embargo Act of 1807 was passed which prohibited trade with Britain and France, which at the time included Canada.
1812Military
The economy suffered as a result and eventually led to smuggling materials into Canada, leading to the War of 1812.
1816Government
Watertown was incorporated as a village in 1816, and became a city in 1869.
1835Government
In 1835 legislation authorized the construction of a market.
1847Architecture
By the mid-19th century, entrepreneurs had built paper mills and major industries, including one to manufacture the first portable steam engine in 1847.
1849Disaster
In 1849 a fire began in the public square that destroyed most of the surrounding buildings.
1850Architecture
By 1850, mills manufacturing different products, powered by the Black river, were being built throughout Watertown.
1851Infrastructure
In 1851, the city was joined to Albany, Syracuse, and Rochester as well as other major cities of the state with the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad.
1852Military
In 1852, the boundaries of the village were extended and two wards added, making seven total.
1853Infrastructure
Other mills were added to the business base, generating revenue to support the city's early public works projects, such as the water system and illuminating gas works in 1853, a...
1869Government
In 1869, it reincorporated as a city.
1878History
Woolworth conceived the idea of his eponymous mercantile chain while working here in 1878.
1879Architecture
Woolworth left Watertown and opened his first store in 1879 in Utica.
1888Sports
After first hosting a minor league baseball team in the 1888 Eastern International League, Watertown and Duffy Fairgrounds hosted several others.
1892History
Joseph Mullin was born in Watertown and was a member of the New York State Senate from 1892 until his death in 1897.
1896Government
The Red & Black are the oldest active semipro football team in the United States, founded in 1896.
1900History
In 1900 3,760 workers were employed in the factories.
1904Architecture
Flower Memorial Library was built in 1904 as a memorial to Flower by his daughter, Emma Flower Taylor.
1907History
Robert Lansing was born in Watertown and until 1907 he was a member of the law firm of Lansing & Lansing at Watertown and went on to become the 42nd United States Secretary of S...
1916History
The park was gifted to the city in 1916.
1920History
In 1920, the city adopted a city manager-style of government.
1933Infrastructure
Record temperatures range from a low of −39 °F (−39 °C) on December 29, 1933, up to highs of 99 °F (37 °C) on July 20 and 27, 1894, although those at the airport have dropped as...
1936History
The Watertown Bucks of the Can-Am League (1936), the Watertown Athletics of the Border League (1946-1951), the Watertown Pirates (1983-1988) and Watertown Indians of the New Yor...
1951Culture
=== Contemporary history ===
Little Trees were developed in Watertown in 1951; the Car-Freshner Corporation headquarters and manufacturing plant is located in the city.
1954Culture
The oldest is Carthage-licensed, CBS-affiliated WCNY-TV (channel 7), put on the air in 1954 by the publishers of the Watertown Daily Times.
1958History
Viggo Mortensen was born in Watertown in 1958 and starred as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings.
1961Education
It was started in 1961 and is part of the State University of New York (SUNY).
1964History
Passenger service to Watertown finally ended in 1964.
1965History
The station changed its call letters to WWNY-TV in 1965.
1968History
Writer Fred Exley grew up in Watertown, and he set much of his 1968 novel A Fan's Notes in the city.
1970Architecture
The tallest building in the city, the Dulles State Office Building was named after Foster Dulles, and was built in 1970.
1975History
Bob McCreadie was born in Watertown and was a racer at the Watertown Speedway before its closure in 1975.
1976History
Chapin mentioned both the quote and the origin of the song on his 1976 album Greatest Stories Live.
1990History
Watertown was the given setting for the 1990 Bette Midler film Stella.
1995History
=== Contemporary ===
Eric Anzalone was born in Dayton, Ohio, but grew up in Watertown, he was the leatherman of the group Village People from 1995 to 2017.
2000History
By 2000, the city had lost over 7,000 residents.
2001History
In 2001, United Communications entered into an agreement with Smith Broadcasting to operate a Fox network affiliate with low-power transmitters in Watertown and Massena.
2005History
In the 2005 film Robots, the fictional town of Rivet Town was rumored to be based on Watertown, where director Chris Wedge lived during his teens.
2006Architecture
In 2006, the city began a $7.4 million project that restored multiple buildings as well as fixing roads and walkways.
2008Architecture
The city completed this project in 2008, although more fixes are planned.
2009History
In 2009, the population was estimated at 27,489.
2010History
As of the 2010 US Census, there were 27,023 people living in the city.
2012Government
The Watertown Wolves have played at the municipal arena at the fairgrounds since 2012.
2015Sports
They are a member of the Federal Prospects Hockey League and have won three titles, in 2015, 2018, and 2022.
2017Culture
The Watertown Rapids of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League have played here starting in 2017, following several professional teams.
2019History
In early 2019, Watertown was named "The Least Politically Prejudiced Place in America" by Amanda Ripley.
2020History
As of the 2020 United States census, the city has 24,685 residents, making it the largest city in the North Country.
2021Crime
In May 2021, he was arrested for armed robbery but bonded out of jail.