Watson, Saskatchewan

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Watson
Main Street
Motto: Industrial Crossroads of Saskatchewan
Coordinates: 52°7′N 104°31′W / 52.117°N 104.517°W / 52.117; -104.517
Country Canada
Provinces and territories of Canada Saskatchewan
Rural Municipalities (R.M.) Lakeside
Post office founded (as Vossen) 1904-04-01
Incorporated (village) 1906-05-01
Incorporated (town) August 1, 1908
Government
 • Mayor Michael Saresky
Area
 • Total 2.83 km2 (1.09 sq mi)
Population (2006)
 • Total 719
 • Density 254.2/km2 (658/sq mi)
[1]

Watson is a town of 719 residents in the rural municipality of Lakeside, in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Watson is located on the intersection of Highway 5 and Highway 6, the Canam Highway. Watson is approximately the same distance from Saskatoon which is to the west, and Regina to the south, which gives rise to its town motto, Industrial Crossroads of Saskatchewan.

Demographics

Canada census – Watson, Saskatchewan community profile
 201120062001

Population:
Land area:
Population density:
Median age:
Total private dwellings:
Median household income:

777 (8.1% from 2006)
2.83 km2 (1.09 sq mi)
274.7 /km2 (711 /sq mi)
48.0 (M: 45.5, F: 49.1)
364
$N/A

719 (-9.4% from 2001)
2.83 km2 (1.09 sq mi)
254.2 /km2 (658 /sq mi)
N/A (M: N/A, F: N/A)
362
$N/A

794 (-5.1% from 1996)
2.83 km2 (1.09 sq mi)
280.6 /km2 (727 /sq mi)
43.8 (M: 41.4, F: 47.5)
371
$31,460

References: 2011[2] 2006[3] 2001[4]

History

Settlers began arriving in the early 1900s, many of them German American Catholics.[5] The first post office in the area was established on April 1, 1904 and named Vossen after its postmaster, Frank J. Vossen Jr.[6] It was changed to Watson on May 1, 1906, in advance of the village's incorporation on October 6, 1906.[1] The village became a town on August 1, 1908.[7] The town's namesake is Senator Robert Watson. Senator Watson, originally owned the land the town was built on.[8] Watson celebrated its first Santa Claus Day in 1932, and in 1996 erected a 25-foot (7.6 m)-high Santa Claus to commemorate the event.[9][10][11]

Canadian Bank of Commerce
National Historic Site
Grain elevator

Geography

  • Lat (DM) 52° 7' N
  • Long (DM) 104° 31' W
  • Dominion Land Survey Vossen Sec.16, Twp.37, R.18, W2
  • Dominion Land Survey Watson Sec.28, Twp.36, R.18, W2
  • Time zone (cst) UTC-6

Jansen Lake, Houghton Lake, Lenore Lake, Ironspring Creek, Big Quill Lake and Little Quill Lake are all close to Watson.

Transportation

The town is located at the junction of Saskatchewan Highway 5 and Saskatchewan Highway 6.

The Saskatchewan Transportation Company provides inter-city bus service to the town.[12]

Saskatchewan railways and railway stations

(historic or current)

  • Melfort Subdivision C.P.R -- serves Lanigan, Leroy, Watson, Spalding[13]

Sites of interest

The Canadian Bank of Commerce was constructed in 1906 in Greek Revival architecture. This building was established as a National Historic Site in 1977.[11] The building of historical significance since it was prefabricated by B.C. Mills, Timber & Trading Company and then assembled on side, this was in an attempt to establish a presence in the area before other banks arrived.[14] The Watson and District Heritage Museum is currently housed in the original bank site. McNab Regional Park is a nearby campground facility with swimming pool, playground, and golf course.

Notable Watsonians

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Urban Municipality Incorporations" (PDF). Saskatchewan Ministry of Municipal Affairs. Retrieved 2011-04-25. 
  2. ↑ "2011 Community Profiles". Canada 2011 Census. Statistics Canada. July 5, 2013. Retrieved 2012-07-08. 
  3. ↑ "2006 Community Profiles". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011. Retrieved 2009-02-24. 
  4. ↑ "2001 Community Profiles". Canada 2001 Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012. Retrieved 2011-07-17. 
  5. ↑ McLennan, David (2006). "Watson". Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan. Canadian Plains Research Center, University of Regina. Retrieved 2011-04-25. 
  6. ↑ "Watson". Post Offices and Postmasters. Library and Archives Canada. January 31, 2007. Retrieved 2011-04-25. 
  7. ↑ "Watson: Incorporating Village as a Town" (PDF). Government of Saskatchewan. August 1, 1908. Retrieved 2011-04-25. 
  8. ↑ "Community Profiles: Watson". SaskBiz. Enterprise Saskatchewan. 2009. Retrieved 2011-04-25. 
  9. ↑ Solonyka, Ed. "Santa Claus Watson, Saskatchewan". Large Canadian Roadside Attractions. Retrieved 2011-04-25. 
  10. ↑ Yanciw, David (September 17, 2002). "Town of Watson". Big Things: The Monuments of Canada. Retrieved 2011-04-25. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Tourism". Town of Watson. 2010. Retrieved 2011-04-25. 
  12. ↑ "Saskatchewan Transportation Company: Route Map" (PDF). Saskatchewan Transportation Company. February 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-25. 
  13. ↑ Waghorn, J.R. (January 1925). Waghorn's Guide (493). Winnipeg: The Guide Co. Retrieved 2011-04-25. 
  14. ↑ "Heritage Property Details" (PDF). Retrieved 2011-04-25. 

External links

 Spalding
Englefeld-Humboldt Wadena-Quill Lake
   Watson  
Jansen

Coordinates: 52°07′00″N 104°31′00″W / 52.1167°N 104.5167°W / 52.1167; -104.5167

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