Why Watertown
A Great Place to Live
Your Home in Watertown
Lakeside recreation. World-class hunting. Bike trails, a zoo and a thriving sports scene. If you’re looking for a community that works for you and your family, opportunities abound in Watertown, South Dakota.
Quality of Life
What We Offer
Can you picture yourself on the Great Plains? Learn more about the Watertown lifestyle.
See MoreThings to Do
Explore More
From art galleries to nature walks, we’ve got a lot going on. See the activities and attractions that make Watertown an unexpected gem.
See MoreVisit Downtown
Close-knit Community
What’s going on downtown? Learn more about improvement projects and downtown happenings.
See MoreWORLD-CLASS
HEALTH CARE
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System is an independent hospital and health system that covers a large region of Northeast South Dakota, serving 10+ counties that all come to Watertown for major services.
EDUCATION
Watertown School District
The Watertown School District serves nearly 4,000 students in its five elementary schools (K-4), one intermediate school (5-6) middle school (7-8) and high school (9-12). Watertown’s excellent schools are among the best in a state that leads the nation in computer and Internet accessibility for students. The low high school dropout rate and achievement on standardized tests consistently beat state and national averages. Watertown boasts a 2:1 computer per student ratio; and a 1:1 ratio of computer laptops in the high school.
EDUCATION
Lake Area Technical College
Watertown’s Lake Area Technical College consistently provides the Watertown community with graduates skilled in the latest manufacturing and computer technologies.
Lake Area Technical Institute (LATI) in Watertown, South Dakota is the winner of the 2017 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s preeminent recognition of high achievement and improvement in America’s community colleges and benchmark for community college reform.
Education
Other Colleges
Mount Marty College and National American University also have satellite campuses in Watertown, and the state’s largest public university, South Dakota State University, is just 50 miles away in the community of Brookings.
LOCATION & TRANSPORTATION
Benefits
The Watertown/Codington County Area is in Northeast South Dakota. Perched on the intersection of Interstate 29 and U.S. 212, Watertown is approximately halfway between Omaha and Winnipeg and about 200 miles from Minneapolis.
This strategic position means local businesses have easy and quick access to major trucking routes in the Midwest and south-central Canada. A series of federal and state highways, including U.S. 81 and S.D. 20, provide rural commerce and a southern connector that get your goods and services to their intended location as efficiently as possible.
Close Proximity
DISTANCE FROM WATERTOWN:
Fargo, ND: 144 miles
Minneapolis, MN: 204 miles
Omaha, NE: 281 miles
Winnipeg, MB: 362 miles
Kansas City, MO: 459 miles
Milwaukee, WI: 539 miles
Chicago, IL: 609 miles
Denver, CO: 755 miles
