Watson Township, Effingham County, Illinois

Watson Township is one of fifteen townships in Effingham County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2020 census, its population was 3,188 and it contained 1,298 housing units.

Geography
According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Watson Township (T7N R6E) has a total area of 35.83 sqmi, all land.

Cities, towns, villages

 * Effingham (south edge)
 * Watson (vast majority)

Unincorporated towns

 * Heartville

Cemeteries
The township contains these five cemeteries: Immanuel Lutheran, Loy Chapel, Old Loy, Rinehart and Watson.

Major highways

 * [[Image:US 45.svg|25px]] US Route 45

Airports and landing strips

 * Effingham County Memorial Airport
 * Percival Airport

Demographics
As of the 2020 census there were 3,188 people, 1,298 households, and 861 families residing in the township. The population density was 88.97 PD/sqmi. There were 1,329 housing units at an average density of 37.09 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 94.51% White, 0.06% African American, 0.00% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 1.10% from other races, and 4.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.54% of the population.

There were 1,298 households, out of which 29.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.70% were married couples living together, 6.70% had a female householder with no spouse present, and 33.67% were non-families. 28.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.97.

The township's age distribution consisted of 22.5% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 32.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 116.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.5 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $62,400, and the median income for a family was $72,601. Males had a median income of $35,625 versus $27,622 for females. The per capita income for the township was $27,108. About 5.9% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.4% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.

School districts

 * Dieterich Community Unit School District 30
 * Effingham Community Unit School District 40
 * Teutopolis Community Unit School District 50

Political districts

 * Illinois' 19th congressional district
 * State House District 102
 * State House District 108
 * State Senate District 51
 * State Senate District 54