Putnam County, Missouri
Putnam County is a county in north central Missouri. At the 2020 census, the population was 4,681.[1] Its county seat is Unionville.[2] The county was organized February 28, 1845, and named for Israel Putnam, a hero in the French and Indian War and a general in the American Revolutionary War.[3]
Putnam County was established February 28, 1845, from parts of Adair and Sullivan counties. The following year a portion of Putnam was removed to form Dodge County. Both Putnam and Dodge extended nearly nine miles further north until an 1851 ruling by the Supreme Court on a border dispute with Iowa assigned the contested land to Iowa. Both counties were left with less than the statutory minimum area for a county as set by the state legislature, so Dodge County was dissolved and its area added to Putnam.[4]
In its early years, the county seat changed frequently, often with contentious debate. Putnamville, Bryant Station (both no longer in existence), and Hartford all served until a central location called Harmony, later renamed Unionville, was chosen.[5]
In the 1860 U.S. Census Putnam County had 9,240 residents, with eighteen sawmills and three flour mills.[6] Coal had been an abundant since its earliest settlement. Following the arrival of the Burlington & Southwestern Railway in 1873, coal mining became a major industry, especially in the east of the county. At one time three railroads crossed Putnam county: the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul; the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy; and the Iowa and St. Louis.[7] Putnam County lost over two-thirds of its population between 1900 and 2000 (see census data below), when the United States changed from a rural to an urban country.
Geography
[edit | edit source]According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 520 square miles (1,300 km2), of which 517 square miles (1,340 km2) is land and 2.3 square miles (6.0 km2) (0.4%) is water.[8]
Adjacent counties
[edit | edit source]- Wayne County, Iowa (northwest)
- Appanoose County, Iowa (northeast)
- Schuyler County (east)
- Adair County (southeast)
- Sullivan County (south)
- Mercer County (west)
Major highways
[edit | edit source]- File:US 136.svg U.S. Route 136
- File:MO-5.svg Route 5
- File:MO-129.svg Route 129
- File:MO-139.svg Route 139
- File:MO-149.svg Route 149
Demographics
[edit | edit source]2020 census
[edit | edit source]As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 4,681. The median age was 45.7 years, with 21.9% of residents under the age of 18 and 25.6% aged 65 or older. For every 100 females there were 104.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.2 males age 18 and over.[9]
There were 2,034 households in the county, of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[9]
The county had 2,835 housing units, of which 28.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.2% were owner-occupied and 23.8% were renter-occupied, with homeowner and rental vacancy rates of 2.4% and 9.9%, respectively.[9]
The racial makeup of the county was 95.6% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.8% from some other race, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.4% of the population.[10]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[11]
Racial and ethnic composition
[edit | edit source]| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[12] | Pop 1990[13] | Pop 2000[14] | Pop 2010[15] | Pop 2020[16] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 6,038 | 5,042 | 5,155 | 4,865 | 4,446 | 99.11% | 99.27% | 98.70% | 97.71% | 94.98% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 0 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.06% | 0.18% | 0.23% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 12 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 0.20% | 0.16% | 0.10% | 0.14% | 0.11% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 3 | 4 | 7 | 22 | 0 | 0.05% | 0.08% | 0.13% | 0.44% | 0.00% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [17] | x [18] | 0 | 1 | 0 | x | x | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.02% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [19] | x [20] | 21 | 39 | 107 | x | x | 0.40% | 0.78% | 2.29% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 38 | 24 | 32 | 36 | 112 | 0.62% | 0.47% | 0.61% | 0.72% | 2.39% |
| Total | 6,092 | 5,079 | 5,223 | 4,979 | 4,681 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2010 census
[edit | edit source]As of the census[21] of 2010, there were 4,979 people, 2,228 households, and 1,517 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile (3.9 people/km2). There were 2,914 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 99.14% White, 0.06% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.10% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races. Approximately 0.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,228 households, out of which 27.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.20% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.90% were non-families. 28.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.00% under the age of 18, 6.20% from 18 to 24, 24.00% from 25 to 44, 25.10% from 45 to 64, and 20.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $26,282, and the median income for a family was $32,031. Males had a median income of $22,957 versus $18,884 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,647. About 13.20% of families and 16.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.60% of those under age 18 and 12.80% of those age 65 or over.
Education
[edit | edit source]School districts which cover portions of the county include:[22]
- Putnam County R-I School District
- Newtown-Harris R-III School District
- Schuyler County R-I School District
Public schools
[edit | edit source]All of these schools are operated by Putnam County R-I School District:
- Putnam County Elementary School (PK-05)
- Putnam County Middle School (06-08)
- Putnam County High School (09-12)
Public libraries
[edit | edit source]- Putnam County Public Library[23]
Communities
[edit | edit source]City
[edit | edit source]- Unionville (county seat)
Villages
[edit | edit source]Unincorporated communities
[edit | edit source]Townships
[edit | edit source]Politics
[edit | edit source]Local
[edit | edit source]The Republican Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Putnam County. Republicans hold all but one of the elected positions in the county.
Template:Missouri county elected officials
State
[edit | edit source]| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 85.18% 1,988 | 12.68% 296 | 2.14% 50 |
| 2020 | 85.15% 1,984 | 13.86% 323 | 0.99% 23 |
| 2016 | 73.84% 1,691 | 23.89% 547 | 2.27% 52 |
| 2012 | 65.53% 1,485 | 32.04% 726 | 2.43% 55 |
| 2008 | 64.43% 1,467 | 32.85% 748 | 2.72% 62 |
| 2004 | 72.75% 1,757 | 25.84% 624 | 1.41% 34 |
| 2000 | 66.42% 1,531 | 32.62% 752 | 0.95% 22 |
| 1996 | 41.71% 898 | 56.71% 1,332 | 1.58% 34 |
All of Putnam County is a part of Missouri's 3rd District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by Nate Walker (R-Kirksville). Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end
All of Putnam County is a part of Missouri's 12th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Dan Hegeman (R-Cosby). Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end
Federal
[edit | edit source]Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end All of Putnam County is included in Missouri's 6th Congressional District and is currently represented by Sam Graves (R-Tarkio) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end Template:Election box begin Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box candidate with party link Template:Election box end
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 1,985 | 63.95% | 1,045 | 33.67% | 74 | 2.38% |
| 1892 | 2,027 | 62.24% | 1,131 | 34.73% | 99 | 3.04% |
| 1896 | 2,363 | 62.93% | 1,376 | 36.64% | 16 | 0.43% |
| 1900 | 2,337 | 65.46% | 1,159 | 32.46% | 74 | 2.07% |
| 1904 | 2,226 | 68.45% | 822 | 25.28% | 204 | 6.27% |
| 1908 | 2,233 | 65.77% | 1,056 | 31.10% | 106 | 3.12% |
| 1912 | 1,859 | 55.71% | 933 | 27.96% | 545 | 16.33% |
| 1916 | 2,106 | 64.84% | 1,035 | 31.87% | 107 | 3.29% |
| 1920 | 3,880 | 72.92% | 1,315 | 24.71% | 126 | 2.37% |
| 1924 | 3,340 | 65.39% | 1,495 | 29.27% | 273 | 5.34% |
| 1928 | 3,498 | 73.56% | 1,247 | 26.23% | 10 | 0.21% |
| 1932 | 2,180 | 50.52% | 1,987 | 46.05% | 148 | 3.43% |
| 1936 | 3,458 | 64.01% | 1,902 | 35.21% | 42 | 0.78% |
| 1940 | 3,828 | 68.84% | 1,708 | 30.71% | 25 | 0.45% |
| 1944 | 3,106 | 72.55% | 1,168 | 27.28% | 7 | 0.16% |
| 1948 | 2,499 | 62.84% | 1,463 | 36.79% | 15 | 0.38% |
| 1952 | 3,202 | 73.31% | 1,149 | 26.30% | 17 | 0.39% |
| 1956 | 2,674 | 70.57% | 1,115 | 29.43% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 2,711 | 71.89% | 1,060 | 28.11% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 1,547 | 51.04% | 1,484 | 48.96% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 1,971 | 63.75% | 952 | 30.79% | 169 | 5.47% |
| 1972 | 2,112 | 78.72% | 571 | 21.28% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 1,444 | 56.63% | 1,097 | 43.02% | 9 | 0.35% |
| 1980 | 1,722 | 64.86% | 871 | 32.81% | 62 | 2.34% |
| 1984 | 1,540 | 65.90% | 797 | 34.10% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1988 | 1,365 | 62.73% | 803 | 36.90% | 8 | 0.37% |
| 1992 | 1,143 | 45.67% | 838 | 33.48% | 522 | 20.85% |
| 1996 | 1,091 | 48.60% | 857 | 38.17% | 297 | 13.23% |
| 2000 | 1,593 | 68.25% | 708 | 30.33% | 33 | 1.41% |
| 2004 | 1,660 | 67.89% | 772 | 31.57% | 13 | 0.53% |
| 2008 | 1,591 | 68.02% | 695 | 29.71% | 53 | 2.27% |
| 2012 | 1,673 | 72.46% | 587 | 25.42% | 49 | 2.12% |
| 2016 | 1,936 | 82.52% | 353 | 15.05% | 57 | 2.43% |
| 2020 | 1,984 | 84.03% | 361 | 15.29% | 16 | 0.68% |
| 2024 | 2,021 | 84.92% | 347 | 14.58% | 12 | 0.50% |
| 2016 | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% |
See also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ↑ Eaton, David Wolfe (1917). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. pp. 343.
- ↑ Missouri State Historical Society marker, 1958
- ↑ "A Directory of Towns, Villages, and Hamlets of Missouri". thelibrary.org. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
- ↑ The Missouri Handbook by P.M. Pinckard. Published 1865
- ↑ A History of Northeast Missouri, Vol.1 Chapter 25. Published 1913.
- ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
- ↑ "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Missouri- Table 16 - Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. pp. 20–25.
- ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Missouri: Table 5 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. pp. 13–63.
- ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Putnam County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Putnam County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Putnam County, Missouri". 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
- ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Putnam County, MO" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 8, 2025. - Text list
- ↑ Breeding, Marshall. "Putnam County Public Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
- ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
External links
[edit | edit source]- Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Putnam County Archived August 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books