Working list: Tallest spherical water towers* in the USA – UPDATED
Source: rebresearch.com
These are often referred to as a “spheroid,” a “pedesphere” or a “water sphere.” There are slight variations in the engineering design, but for purposes of this post, a spherical water tower is one with a round (or nearly round) tank either set upon top of a single pedestal or on leg(s).
*References to elliptical water towers were removed from this post on 2/26/25. A separate post will be created for them.
Pensacola Beach, FL – Source: en.wikipedia.org Zebulon, NC – Source: buddroadtrips.blogspot.com Akron, OH – Source: si.com
Due to their largely round appearance, spherical water towers are often painted or decorated in a manner that draws attention to them. The most common example is the smiley face, with 18 known examples. Others include beach balls (4), peaches (2), baseballs (5), an eight ball (1), a fishing bobber (1), an egg (1), and golf balls atop of tees (3).
Ocean City, MD – Source: wmdt.com
Below are those for which data has been found to date. When more data is found on other water towers, it will be added. As always, any additions, corrections, or suggestions are most welcome. Peace!
Braman, OK – Source: worldstallestwatersphere.com Union, NJ – Source: worldstallestwatersphere.com
Those shown in italics have been seen by the author.
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- Richfield Water Tower (post 2019): Richfield, OH = 233 feet – added 2/18/25
2. U of A Water Tower (2022): Tuscaloosa, AL = 230 feet – added 2/18/25
3. Braman Water Spheroid (2010), OK = 220.6 feet
4. Harnett County Water Tower: Erwin, NC = 219.75 feet
5. Water Spheroid (1986): Edmond, OK = 218 feet
6. Union Watersphere (1964): Union, NJ = 212 feet
7-9. Albert Lea Water Tower (2023): Albert Lea, MN; Kannapolis Water Tower (2024): Kannapolis, NC; and Nebraska Crossing Water Tower: Gretna, NE = 200 feet – Gretna added 2/18/25
10. Vandals Heights Water Tower (1989): Vandals Heights, MN = 192.5 feet
11. Williston Park Water Tower: Williston Park, NY = 180 feet – added 2/19/25
12. Beach Ball Water Tower (1970s): Pensacola Beach, FL = 176 feet
13-14. Pigeon Forge “Ripken” Baseball Water Tower (2015): Pigeon Forge, TN and Kent Heights Water Tower: East Providence, RI = 175 feet – Kent Heights added 2/18/25
15-16. New Town Water Tower (2023): New Town, ND and Damascus Water Tower, MD = 170 feet – both added 2/18/25
17. Destin Water Tower #6 (2020): Destin, FL = 169 feet
18-19. Bryan “Dum-Dum” Water Tower (1946): Bryan, OH and North Myrtle Beach Water Tower: North Myrtle Beach, SC = 165 feet – North Myrtle Beach added 2/18/25
20-21. Tribute Water Tower (2015): The Colony, TX and Cabela’s Water Tower (2002): Wheeling, WV = 164 feet – Cabela’s added 2/18/25
22-24. Eight Ball Water Tower (1968): Tipton, MO; Kill Devil Hills Water Tower (2020): Kill Devil Hills, NC; and VA Medical Center Water Tower: Marion, IL = 160 feet – Kill Devil Hills added 2/18/25 and Marion added 3/31/25
25. Menlo Park Water Tower: Sioux Falls, SD = 159 feet – added 2/18/25
26. Warrenville Water Tower (2025): Warrenville, IL = 157 feet
27-28. Fort Leonard Wood Water Tower: Fort Leonard Wood, MO and Eastside Water Tower (2010): Fayetteville, AR = 156 feet – Eastside added 2/18/25
29. Village Water Tower (2024): Fairport Harbor, OH = 155 feet
30. Blooming Prairie Water Tower (2024): Blooming Prairie, MN = 154 feet
31-38. Golf Ball Water Tank: Rock Springs, WY; Smiley Face Water Tower: Adair, IA; Angola West Water Tower (2013): Angola, IN; Lisbon Water Tower (2024): Lisbon, OH; Creativity Water Tower (2013): Mt. Vernon, IL; Gages Water Tower (2025): Grayslake, IL = 150 feet; and Golf Ball Water Tower: Silvis, IL and Boomers Water Tower (1978): Schaumburg, IL ~ 150 feet – Angola, Lisbon, and Mt. Vernon added 2/18/25 and Silvis added 4/1/25
39-40. Abbotsford Water Tower (1997): Abbotsford, WI – added 2/16/25 and Bobcat Water Tower (2003): Blue Hill, NE = 146 feet – added 2/29/25
41-42. Beach Ball Water Tower: Lake Worth Beach, FL and Litchfield Water Tower (1995): Litchfield, MN = 145 feet – Litchfield added 3/29/25
43. Golf Ball & Tee Water Tower: Rend Lake, IL = 141 feet
44-45. Duluth Heights Water Tower (2012): Duluth, MN and Aqua NC Water Tower (2024): Beau Rivage, NC = 140 feet – Aqua NC added 2/29/25
46-47. East Bay Water Tower (2017): Traverse City, MI and Meridian “Onion” Water Tower: Meridian, ID = 138 feet – Meridian added 2/29/25
48-52. Peachoid Water Tower (1981): Gaffney, SC; Water Spheroid (1954): Northbrook, IL; Woodfield Mall Water Tower (1971): Schaumburg, IL; Hollywood Water Tower (2016): Hollywood, MD; and Reservoir Water Tower (2025): Mt. Vernon, IL = 135 feet – Hollywood added 2/19/25 and Mt. Vernon added 3/31/25
53. New Smyrna Water Tower (2023): New Smyrna, DE = 133 feet – added 2/19/25
54. Rensselaer Water Tower (2023): Rensselaer, IN = 132 feet – added 2/19/25
55. Senator Paul Simon “Smiley Face” Water Tower (1973): Makanda, IL = 131 feet – added 4/1/25
56-61. Poteet Water Tower: Poteet, TX ~ 130 feet; Strawberry Water Tower: Plant City, FL; Lucy Water Tower (1985): Margate, NJ; Moog Water Tower (late 1950s): East Aurora, NY; Greenwood Park Water Tower: Greenwood, IN; and Courtland Water Tower (2020): Courtland, MN = 130 feet – Greenwood Park and Courtland added 2/19/25
62. Cedarburg Water Tower (2021): Cedarburg, WI = 129 feet
63-68. Gonzales Water Tank: Gonzales, CA; Smiley Face Water Tower (1960s): Longport, NJ; Firestone Country Club Water Tower (1959): Akron, OH; Almont Water Tower: Almont, MI; and East End Water Tower: Ocean Isle Beach, NC; Sears Water Tower (1950s): Lansing, MI = 125 feet – Almont and Ocean Isle Beach added 2/19/25; Lansing added 3/31/25
69-70. Beach Ball Water Tower (2016): Ocean City, MD and Smiley Face Water Tower (1956): Ashley, IN = 123 feet – Ashley added 3/31/25
71. Tanglen Water Tower: Minnetonka, MN = 122 feet – added 2/19/25
72. Sheldon Water Tower (2023): Sheldon, IA = 121.5 feet
73. Giant Peach Water Tower (1992): Clanton, AL = 120 feet
74. Wahoo Water Tower (1975): Wahoo, NE = 118 feet – added 2/19/25
75. Hardin’s Landing Water Tower: Spring Hill, TN = 117 feet – added 2/19/25
76. VA Medical Center Water Tower (2024): Louisville, KY = 112 feet – added 2/19/25
77-78. Apple Basket Water Tower (early 1990s): Mt. Jackson, VA and Shipbuilder’s Village Water Tower (late 1980s): Milton, DE = 110 feet – Milton added 2/19.25
79. Paul Bunyan’s Bobber (1960): Pequot Lakes, MN = 106 feet
80-84. Earthoid Water Tank: Germantown, MD and Grimm Road Water Tower (1974): Evansville, IN = 100 feet; Killbourn Spheroid Water Tower: Oak Forest, IL; and Lockwood Spheroid Water Tower: Oak Forest, IL = 100 feet and Baseball Water Tower: Fort Mill, SC ~ 100 feet – two in Oak Forest added 2/19/25
85. Upper Mt. Vernon Water Tower (1971): Evansville, IN = 95 feet
86. Giant City Water Tank/Observation Tower (1970): Giant City State Park, IL = 82 feet
87. Tigerhawk Water Tower (2018): Iowa City, IA = 70 feet
Paul Bunyan’s Bobber: Pequot Lakes, MN – Source: mnbucketlist.com
More information needed:
- Country Club of Indianapolis Water Tower
- Centerville Water Tower: Centerville, TX
- Smiley Face Water Tower: Aroma Park, IL
- Smiley Face Water Tower: Atlanta, IL
- Smiley Face Water Tower (1960s): Calumet City, IL x 2 (yellow and pink)
- Smiley Face Water Tower: Thomasboro, IL
- Smiley Face Water Tower: Wasetka, IL
- Smiley Face Water Tower: Fruitport, MI
- Smiley Face Water Tower: Ironwood, MI
- Smiley Face Water Tower: Millington, MI
- Smiley Face Water Tower: Wells Township, MI
- Smiley Face Water Tower: West Branch, MI
- Smiley Face Water Tower: Spring Park, MN
- Smiley Face Water Tower (1970): Waite Park, MN – face was painted over in 2018
- Smiley Face Water Tower: Eagle, WI
- Smiley Face Water Tower: Oconto Falls, WI
- Rose Water Tower (1982): Rosemont, IL
- Baseball Water Tower: Grove City, OH
- Baseball Water Tower: Arlington, MN
- Baseball Water Tower: Ellsworth, IL
- Highlands “Golf Ball” Water Tower: Hutchinson, KS
- Duke Power “Atom” Water Tower: Seneca, SC
- Battle Mountain, NV
- Newberry “Egg” Water Tower: Newberry, NC
- Venice, FL
- Aroma Park, IL #2
- Ashkum, IL
- Atterberry, IL
- Bloomington, IL
- Centralia, IL
- Chicago, IL
- Collinsville, IL
- Elk Grove Village (2024), IL
- Fairbury, IL
- Fairview Heights, IL
- Frankfort, IL
- Germantown Hills, IL
- Grayville, IL
- Havana, Il
- Lewiston, IL
- Lyons, IL
- Mid-America Airport, IL
- Monee, IL
- Morton Grove, IL
- Nashville, IL
- Norridge, IL
- Orland Park, IL
- Palos Heights, IL
- Winfield, AL
- Mobile, AL
- Peoria Heights, IL #2
- Wellton, AZ
- Yuma, AZ
- Destin Water Tower #1 (1964)
- Flagler Beach, FL
- Daytona Beach, FL
- Florida City, FL
- Hollywood, FL
- Miccosukee Reservation, FL
- Navarre, FL
- Navarre Beach, IL
- Fort Walton Beach/Okaloosa County, FL
- Punta Gorda, FL
- Venice, FL
- Canongate, GA
- Carmel Water Tower: Carmel, IN
- Gas City, IN
- Waterloo, IN
- Rensselaer, IN
- Anita, IA
- Klemme, IA
- Stuart, IA
- Mandeville, LA
- Morgan City, LA
- Annapolis, MD
- Ann Arbor, MI
- Saline, MI x 2
- Scio Township, MI
- Becker, MN
- Brooklyn Park #3, MN
- Center City, MN
- Black Water Tower: Oakes, MN
- Clara City, MN
- Clear Lake, MN
- Lindstrom #2, MN
- Dexter, MN
- Otter Tail, MN
- Red Wing, MN x 2
- Sebeka, MN
- South St. Paul #1, MN
- Truman, MN
- Northeast Water Tower (2016): Woodbury, MN
- Clinton, MS x 2
- Boonville, MO
- Higginsville, MO
- Lake St. Louis, MO
- Atlantic City, NJ
- Brigantine , NJ
- Margate, NJ
- Harvey Cedars Water Tower, NJ
- Strathmere, NJ
- Little Egg Township, NJ
- Long Beach Township, NJ
- Villas, NJ
- Beach Haven Terrace, NJ
- Hatteras, NC
- Kill Devil Hills, NC
- Meadow Ridge Water Tower: West Fargo, ND
- Grafton, OH – added 2/19/25
- Huron, OH
- Vermillion, OH
- Lake City, SC
- Myrtle Beach, SC
- Beach Ball Water Tower (2010): Marion County, SC
- Chester, SD – added 2/19/25
- Dell Rapids, SD x2 – added 2/13/25
- Carrollton, TX
- Harker Heights, TX (2013)
- Houston, TX
- Salado, TX
- Sealy, TX
- Victoria, TX
- Chesapeake, VA
- Wytheville, VA
- Barron, WI
- Bloomer, WI
- Mauston, WI
- New Lisbon, WI
- Pleasant Prairie, WI
- Plover, WI
- Portage, WI
- St. Croix Falls, WI x 2
- Tomah, WI
- Turtle Lake, WI
- Plus many others across the country
SOURCES:
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