Watkins was platted in 1874.[6] The community was named for John Burton Watkins, Supt. of the Iowa Div. of the Chicago & North Western Railway Co. who was killed near there Oct 1873.[7] Watkins was crushed between two cars during an inspection tour when a freight train collided with his train.[8][9]
As of the census of 2020,[11] there were 116 people, 49 households, and 30 families residing in the community. The population density was 280.2 inhabitants per square mile (108.2/km2). There were 54 housing units at an average density of 130.4 per square mile (50.4/km2). The racial makeup of the community was 96.6% White, 0.0% Black or African American, 0.0% Native American, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.0% from other races and 3.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race comprised 2.6% of the population.
Of the 49 households, 12.2% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 4.1% were cohabitating couples, 12.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 30.6% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 38.8% of all households were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals, 22.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.
The median age in the community was 44.4 years. 23.3% of the residents were under the age of 20; 6.9% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 22.4% were from 25 and 44; 25.9% were from 45 and 64; and 21.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the community was 47.4% male and 52.6% female.
