 About Watertown
History
Settled in 1800, the city of Watertown became an attractive destination for pioneers moving from New England after the Revolutionary War. The Black River was central to a vision for an industrial center. The land was rough and uncleared, with a large natural depression and small stream in the middle of the town.
Settlers cleared an area for the public square and created a streetscape around it, now designated a National Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Business and industry flourished, including paper mills, major industries, and the first portable steam engine. Residents built stores, churches, and homes. The 1850 Paddock Arcade is the oldest enclosed mall in the United States, also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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