Watson, Louisiana

Watson, Louisiana
Census-designated place
Watson is located in Louisiana
Watson
Watson
Location in Louisiana
Watson is located in the United States
Watson
Watson
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 30°34′33″N 90°57′11″W / 30.57583°N 90.95306°W / 30.57583; -90.95306
CountryUnited States
StateLouisiana
ParishLivingston
Area
[1]
 • Total
0.96 sq mi (2.48 km2)
 • Land0.96 sq mi (2.48 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
69 ft (21 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
956
 • Density996.87/sq mi (384.85/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code
70786 (PO Box)
70706 (residences)
Area code225
FIPS code22-80010

Watson is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Livingston Parish, Louisiana, United States.[2] The community is in the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Watson Post Office was established on February 20, 1894, by George A. Watson. The first Live Oak School was built in 1895 on land donated by Rev. Joel Ott. Several buildings were used for classes there, until the present site was purchased and a two-story school built. Published histories of Live Oak Methodist Church state that the first church was built not more than a quarter-mile from the present site prior to the Civil War. It was destroyed by Union soldiers. The church history states that W.C. Newsom, Huff Jones, George Nesom, J.B. Easterly and James Chandler erected a new building shortly after the Civil War fire. In 1893, under the pastorate of J.P. Haney of the Mississippi Conference, the frame church that was used until 1950 was constructed. As of April 2011, there are three churches in Watson, the oldest turned into a thrift store. The newest, finished in late 2010, is by far the tallest.

Since Watson is unincorporated, Watson's ZIP code of 70786 is available only to post office box recipients. All other residences and businesses use a mailing address for Denham Springs.

Geography

Watson is located in northwest Livingston Parish at 30°34′30″N 90°57′10″W / 30.57500°N 90.95278°W / 30.57500; -90.95278 (30.575, -90.953).[3] The village is north of Denham Springs and is situated around the intersection of Range Road (LA 16) and Springfield Road (LA 1019). LA 16 forms the western border of the CDP; the highway leads south 6 miles (10 km) to Denham Springs and northeast 32 miles (51 km) to Amite City. Watson sits at an elevation of 65 feet (20 m).

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Watson CDP has an area of 0.97 square miles (2.5 km2), all of it recorded as land.[4]

Climate

Watson is located in a humid, subtropical region. The mild, short, wet, and somewhat warm winters are followed by long, hot, humid, and fairly wet summers.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
2020956—
U.S. Decennial Census[5]

Education

Watson is within the Livingston Parish Public Schools system and is served by:

  • Live Oak High School
  • Live Oak Junior High School
  • Live Oak Middle School
  • Live Oak Elementary (Watson)
  • North Live Oak Elementary
  • South Live Oak Elementary

References

  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  2. ^ "Total Population: 2010 Census DEC Summary File 1 (P1), Watson CDP, Louisiana". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  3. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  4. ^ "U.S. Gazetteer Files: 2019: Places: Louisiana". U.S. Census Bureau Geography Division. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  5. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.