Putnam County, Georgia
Putnam County is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 22,047.[1] The county seat is Eatonton.[2]
Since the early 21st century, the county has had a housing boom. It has proximity to Lake Oconee, Lake Sinclair, and the Oconee River, all of which are recreation sites, as well as to major employment centers such as Atlanta, Athens, and Macon.
History
[edit | edit source]Putnam County is named in honor of Israel Putnam, a hero of the French and Indian War and a general in the American Revolutionary War. It was settled by European Americans after the war, as migrants moved down from the Upper South. The county was created on December 10, 1807, by an act of the Georgia General Assembly.[3]
Following the invention of the cotton gin, which could profitably process short-staple cotton, the county was developed for cotton cultivation of that type. It thrived in the upland areas, where plantations were developed and worked by the field labor of thousands of African-American slaves.
During the 1919 Red Summer there were many incidents of racial violence including an arson attack where almost a dozen black community buildings were burnt down in late May 1919.[4] The Wheeling Intelligencer claimed the buildings were burnt down because of a "minor racial clash at Dennis Station."[5] During this time armed black and white mobs patrolled the area in fear of each other.[4]
In the first half of the 20th century, thousands of blacks left the state during the Great Migration from 1920 to 1960. The county population dropped by more than half during this period following mechanization of agriculture and as rural workers moved into cities. Since the late 20th century, population has increased. The white population of the county has grown since the turn of the 21st century: in 2010 African Americans comprised 26 percent of the county population, a drop from nearly 42% in 2000.[citation needed]
In the 21st century, dairy farming is more important to Putnam County than cotton. It annually holds the nationally known Dairy Festival.
Geography
[edit | edit source]According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 361 square miles (930 km2), of which 345 square miles (890 km2) is land and 16 square miles (41 km2) (4.4%) is water.[6] The entirety of Putnam County is located in the Upper Oconee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin.[7] The county is located in the Piedmont region of the state, with rolling hills, farms, and lakes covering a majority of the county.
Major highways
[edit | edit source]- File:US 129.svg U.S. Route 129
- File:Business plate.svg
File:US 129.svg U.S. Route 129 Business - Error creating thumbnail: U.S. Route 441
- File:Business plate.svg
Error creating thumbnail: U.S. Route 441 Business - File:Georgia 16.svg State Route 16
- File:Georgia 24.svg State Route 24
- File:Georgia 24 Business.svg State Route 24 Business
- File:Georgia 44.svg State Route 44
- File:Georgia 142.svg State Route 142
- File:Georgia 212.svg State Route 212
Adjacent counties
[edit | edit source]- Morgan County (north)
- Greene County (northeast)
- Hancock County (east)
- Baldwin County (southeast)
- Jones County (southwest)
- Jasper County (west)
National protected area
[edit | edit source]- Oconee National Forest (part)
Communities
[edit | edit source]City
[edit | edit source]Census-designated place
[edit | edit source]Unincorporated community
[edit | edit source]- Willard
- Kinderhook
- Rockville
- Dennis Station
Demographics
[edit | edit source]Racial and ethnic composition
[edit | edit source]| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[8] | Pop 1990[9] | Pop 2000[10] | Pop 2010[11] | Pop 2020[12] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 5,984 | 9,253 | 12,471 | 14,024 | 14,316 | 58.13% | 65.45% | 66.29% | 66.09% | 64.93% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 4,236 | 4,719 | 5,603 | 5,497 | 5,385 | 41.15% | 33.38% | 29.78% | 25.91% | 24.43% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 4 | 21 | 36 | 27 | 33 | 0.04% | 0.15% | 0.19% | 0.13% | 0.15% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 16 | 42 | 125 | 107 | 108 | 0.16% | 0.30% | 0.66% | 0.50% | 0.49% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [13] | x [14] | 8 | 9 | 1 | x | x | 0.04% | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 3 | 5 | 13 | 23 | 40 | 0.03% | 0.04% | 0.07% | 0.11% | 0.18% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [15] | x [16] | 149 | 184 | 607 | x | x | 0.79% | 0.87% | 2.75% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 52 | 97 | 407 | 1,347 | 1,557 | 0.51% | 0.69% | 2.16% | 6.35% | 7.06% |
| Total | 10,295 | 14,137 | 18,812 | 21,218 | 22,047 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020 census
[edit | edit source]As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 22,047. The median age was 48.9 years. 19.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 25.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.4 males age 18 and over. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[17][18][19]
The census recorded 6,282 families residing in the county.[18]
The racial makeup of the county was 66.5% White, 24.6% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.8% from some other race, and 5.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 7.1% of the population.[19]
There were 9,181 households in the county, of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 27.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[18]
There were 13,032 housing units, of which 29.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.3% were owner-occupied and 26.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.6%.[18]
Education
[edit | edit source]The Putnam County Charter School System and Gatewood Schools Inc. serve the community.
Politics
[edit | edit source]As of the 2020s, Putnam County is a strongly Republican voting county, voting 71% for Donald Trump in 2024. For elections to the United States House of Representatives, Putnam County is part of Georgia's 10th congressional district, currently represented by Mike Collins. For elections to the Georgia State Senate, Putnam County is part of District 25.[20] For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, Putnam County is part of district District 124.[21]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 7 | 1.49% | 460 | 97.66% | 4 | 0.85% |
| 1916 | 0 | 0.00% | 462 | 98.30% | 8 | 1.70% |
| 1920 | 5 | 1.18% | 420 | 98.82% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 7 | 1.50% | 457 | 97.65% | 4 | 0.85% |
| 1928 | 57 | 7.71% | 682 | 92.29% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 33 | 4.09% | 770 | 95.53% | 3 | 0.37% |
| 1936 | 51 | 6.75% | 703 | 93.11% | 1 | 0.13% |
| 1940 | 61 | 7.70% | 730 | 92.17% | 1 | 0.13% |
| 1944 | 74 | 9.55% | 701 | 90.45% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 110 | 12.88% | 609 | 71.31% | 135 | 15.81% |
| 1952 | 250 | 16.66% | 1,251 | 83.34% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 268 | 19.69% | 1,093 | 80.31% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 305 | 21.65% | 1,104 | 78.35% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 1,196 | 54.02% | 1,018 | 45.98% | 0 | 0.00% |
| "text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/American Independent |1968 | 594 | 21.66% | 972 | 35.44% | 1,177 | 42.91% |
| 1972 | 1,963 | 76.47% | 604 | 23.53% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 835 | 29.04% | 2,040 | 70.96% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 1,166 | 36.70% | 1,951 | 61.41% | 60 | 1.89% |
| 1984 | 1,830 | 57.80% | 1,336 | 42.20% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1988 | 2,111 | 57.74% | 1,532 | 41.90% | 13 | 0.36% |
| 1992 | 1,756 | 37.41% | 2,149 | 45.78% | 789 | 16.81% |
| 1996 | 2,306 | 44.81% | 2,340 | 45.47% | 500 | 9.72% |
| 2000 | 3,596 | 57.09% | 2,612 | 41.47% | 91 | 1.44% |
| 2004 | 5,188 | 63.91% | 2,880 | 35.48% | 50 | 0.62% |
| 2008 | 5,966 | 65.28% | 3,102 | 33.94% | 71 | 0.78% |
| 2012 | 6,215 | 67.34% | 2,926 | 31.70% | 88 | 0.95% |
| 2016 | 6,544 | 68.68% | 2,758 | 28.95% | 226 | 2.37% |
| 2020 | 8,291 | 69.92% | 3,448 | 29.08% | 118 | 1.00% |
| 2024 | 9,136 | 70.95% | 3,696 | 28.70% | 45 | 0.35% |
| 2016 | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% |
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See also
[edit | edit source]- National Register of Historic Places listings in Putnam County, Georgia
- Tama-Re
- Rock Eagle Effigy Mound
- Rock Hawk Effigy Mound
- 2017 Georgia prison escape
- List of counties in Georgia
- Putnam County, New York
Bibliography
[edit | edit source]- Notes
- ↑ "Census - Geography Profile: Putnam County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ↑ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 182. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 McWhirter 2011, p. 53.
- ↑ The Wheeling Intelligencer 1919, p. 14.
- ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ↑ "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Archived from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- ↑ "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Georgia - Table 58 - Race by Sex: 1980 and Table 59 - Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 12-52. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 18, 2026 – via Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia: Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 15-65. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 1, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Putnam County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Putnam County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Putnam County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
- ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
- ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
- ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
- ↑ "Georgia General Assembly". www.legis.ga.gov. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
- ↑ "Georgia General Assembly". www.legis.ga.gov. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
- ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
- ↑ "2022 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Georgia by county. November 5, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
- References
- McWhirter, Cameron (2011). Red Summer: The Summer of 1919 and the Awakening of Black America. Henry Holt and Company. ISBN 9781429972932. - Total pages: 368
- The Wheeling Intelligencer (May 31, 1919). "Georgia White Burn Five Negro Churches". The Wheeling Intelligencer. Wheeling, West Virginia: Intelligencer Pub. Co. pp. 1–24. OCLC 13502337. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
External links
[edit | edit source]- LostWorlds.org | Rock Eagle Archived June 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
Template:Putnam County, Georgia Template:Georgia (U.S. state)