HYDROLOGY OF NEW YORK 



225 



knowledge of the region. In regard to Watertown township, he 

 states therein : 



Township No. 2, on Black river, is situated about three miles 

 from the mouth of the river. This river is navigable for batteaux 

 about 1% miles, but yet with considerable difficulty it may be 

 ascended 2% miles. . . . There are excellent mill sites along 

 Black river, where they are noted on the map, and many more, 

 which it is impossible to note with certainty, as the river the 

 whole distance of the town is very rapid except at the northeast 

 corner for about three-quarters of a mile. The river is very rocky 

 along the whole distance and appears to be a bed of limestone 

 rocks. 



Settlements began in Watertown township on the site of the 

 present city of Watertown in March, 1800, three families having 

 arrived at that time, and these were the only ones remaining 

 during the ensuing winter, although many visited Watertown 

 during the summer of 1800 on prospecting tours, who subse- 

 quently settled there. The precise history of the region began, 

 therefore, in the fullest sense with the nineteenth century. 1 



According to Dr Hough, the name of Watertown township was 

 doubtless suggested by the extraordinary amount and convenience 

 of its water power, for which, Dr Hough says, it will compare 

 favorably with any place in the State. " To this cause may be 

 mainly attributed its early and rapid growth and the superiority 

 in wealth and business which it enjoys far beyond any other place 

 in the county." 



Watertown is the county seat of Jefferson county. According 

 to the census reports the population of the township in 1800 was 

 119 ; in 1810, it was 1841 ; in 1820, 2766 ; in 1830, 4768 ; in 1840, 

 r,027 ; in 1850, 7201 ; in 1860, 7567. In 1869 the city of Water- 

 town was erected from territory taken from the townships of 

 Pamelia and Watertown. In 1870 the population of the city of 

 W^atertown was 9336, the population of the township being in 

 that year 1373; in 1880, the population of the city was 10,697 

 and the township 1264; in 1890, the population of the city was 



1 For early history of settlements on Black river see Hough's History. 



