More than 210 years ago the area that is now Watertown belonged to the local Paugasuck Indians. But in 1684, Thomas Judd and 35 other proprietors bought the land from the Indians and Town history began.
Around 1700, Obadiah Richards settled in the area of Upper Middlebury Road, and John Scott on Nova Scotia Hill Road.By 1710 they both had left for safer places. In 1729 a family named Garnsey settled in the section now called Guernseytown. Built in 1735, the Belden saltbox house on lower Main Street is the oldest house in Watertown.
With 338 inhabitants, the First Ecclesiastical Society of Westbury was formed in 1738, and 42 years later, in 1780, Westbury separated from Waterbury and was named officially Watertown. For 15 years, however, it also included its territory Plymouth and Thomaston. The eastern area was incorporated as Plymouth in 1795. It soon became the crossroads for a number of early highways, and 12 scheduled train trips between Watertown and Waterbury. John Trumbull, poet of the Revolutionary War, who was also a lawyer and judge, was born here in 1750.
Products that were first manufactured here include Merritt Heminways spooled silk thread (1847), the Watertown Manufacturing’s Company’s plastic shatterproof dinnerware (1940)’s the first high-nap fabric used as imitation fur (Princeton Knitting Mills), and the Oakville Pin Shop.
One of the oldest firms in Connecticut at its time before shutting down a few years ago, Seymour Smith & Sons manufactured cutting tools, such as garden shears and pruning equipment.
A council-manager form of government in 1961 replaced more than 180 years of a town meeting-selectman form of government. The Council-Manager form of government rests the legislative power exclusively in the Town Council. The Town Council has the power to make, alter or repeal ordinances; regulate the internal operation of boards, commissions and offices which it fills by appointment and fix the compensation of officers and employees. The Town Manager is appointed by the Town Council and serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Administrator of the Town. Administration and supervision of all departments, agencies and offices is the responsibility of the Town Manager and the Town Council deals with the administrative service solely through the Town Manager. The Town Manager is also responsible for seeing to it that all laws and ordinances governing the Town are faithfully executed and must prepare and submit an annual budget to the Town Council. The Town Manager shall appoint and may remove all department heads, officials and employees provided for by the Town Charter. All collective bargaining for the Town is conducted by the Town Manager.
State and federal roads connect Watertown to surrounding towns and more distant areas of the State. US Route 6 crosses through the center of Watertown. Route 262 connects to Route 8 which is a multi-lane north-south highway. Route 6 intersects with Route 63, which intersects with Interstate 84. The connections link Watertown with Danbury, Hartford and areas along the Massachusetts Turnpike.
Watertown’s schools consist of John Trumbull Primary School (Grades Pre-K-2), Judson Elementary School (Grades 3-5), Polk Elementary School (Grades 3-5), Swift Middle School (Grades 6-8) and Watertown High School (Grades 9-12).
Incorporated in 1780, Watertown is served by both the Watertown and Oakville Post Offices, as Oakville is part of the Town of Watertown. Watertown has been the home of the Taft School, a college preparatory institution, since 1893. An estimated population of 22,274 inhabitants now occupy the 29.8 square miles which is now Watertown