Watkins (also called Box Elder) is an unincorporated town and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Arapahoe and Adams counties, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The census-designated place borders Aurora, and the Watkins post office, which lies within the Aurora city limits, has the ZIP Code 80137. At the United States Census 2020, the population of the Watkins CDP was 682.

History

The Watkins post office has been in operation since 1878. The community was named after L. A. Watkins, a cattleman. Long an unincorporated community, Watkins incorporated as a town on June 15, 2004. However, on November 7, 2006, the town voted to revert to being an unincorporated community by a margin of 308-184. Watkins is involved in trying to build the First Park in Adams County, and the Watkins Historical Preservation Society is co-operating with the town on some historical buildings for installation in the park as well. Colorado Air and Space Port is located near Watkins.

Geography

The Watkins CDP has an area of 64.109 km2, including 0.0002 km2 of water.

Demographics

The United States Census Bureau initially defined the Watkins CDP for the United States Census 2010.

Education

Most of the CDP is in Bennett School District 29-J. Some of it is in Adams-Arapahoe School District 28J. The portion of Watkins in Adams-Arapahoe 28J is zoned to: Harmony P-8 School, and Vista PEAK Preparatory School.