Watertown, New York

The City of Watertown, with a population of 27,023, is the county seat of Jefferson County, NY. Located on the Black River, Watertown is the nearest city to the 107,265-acre Fort Drum, home to the 10th Mountain Division of the United States Army. Watertown is home to Car-Freshener Corporation, the makers of the Little Trees line of iconic pine-tree-shaped air fresheners. From its days as a favored residence of millionaires, Watertown has a wealth of historic 19th and early 20th century architecture. Watertown was also the home of F. W. Woolworth, founder of the chain of “five-and-dime” stores.

Watertown was settled about 1800 by a group of New Hampshire men with the intent of developing a manufacturing center using the strength of the Black River. The Knowlton Brothers Paper Company was established in 1808, and is still in operation today as Knowlton Technologies, LLC. The Taggert and Davis Paper Mill, founded in 1845, created the multi-wall paper flour sack. The arrival of the railroad in 1851 opened up Watertown to the rest of the state, making further expansion possible. Watertown was incorporated as a city in 1869. In 1868, the Davis Sewing Machine Company began producing sewing machines in a building on Factory Street. In 1892, they also began producing bicycles. They were succeeded by the Huffman Manufacturing Company, which began producing the popular "Huffy" bicycle in 1934, eventually expanding to lawn mowers in 1950. Deindustrialization after World War II led to an economic slump in Watertown, which today has turned towards retail and financial services and tourism to bolster its economic profile.

Watertown's rich legacy of industrial and construction activity put workers at risk for asbestos exposure. We have identified numerous jobsites where asbestos exposure has occurred. Mesothelioma cancer centers in and around Watertown are listed at the bottom of this page. If you were exposed to asbestos in Watertown and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you should also consider contacting an asbestos law firm.

Jobsites in Watertown where Asbestos Exposure Occurred

A number of jobsites in Watertown, NY have been identified as harboring asbestos containing materials. These sites, at one point in their history, were known to have exposed a variety of tradesmen to asbestos. We will be documenting in more detail how asbestos exposure occurred at these sites in the future on this web site.

Mesothelioma Cancer Centers Near Watertown, NY

For your convenience we have compiled a list of mesothelioma cancer centers that are located within a 100 mile radius of Watertown, NY. Please click on a cancer center link to obtain more information about the clinical programs offered, professional designations, areas of expertise and how to contact the center.