Putnam, Connecticut facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Putnam, Connecticut
Town
Town of Putnam
The center of Putnam
Seal
Windham County and Connecticut  Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region and Connecticut
Country	United States
U.S. state	Connecticut
County	Windham
Region	Northeastern CT
Incorporated	1855
Government
• Type	Selectman-Town Meeting
Area
• Total	20.4 sq mi (52.8 km2)
• Land	20.3 sq mi (52.6 km2)
• Water	0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)
Elevation	410 ft (125 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	9,224
• Density	454/sq mi (175.4/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP code	06260
Area code(s)	860/959
FIPS code	09-62710
GNIS feature ID	0213494
Major highways
Website	http://www.putnamct.us/

Putnam is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, USA. It's part of the Northeastern Connecticut area. In 2020, about 9,224 people lived there.

Putnam's History

Oak Hill around 1911

Putnam was first known as Aspinock. It was part of Killingly before becoming its own town in 1855. The town was created from parts of Killingly, Pomfret, and Thompson. It was named after Israel Putnam, a hero from the Revolutionary War.

Putnam was very important during the American Civil War. Many mills in town made clothes and other items for soldiers. A train also ran through Putnam, helping to move these goods.

The Great Flood of 1955

On August 19, 1955, Putnam faced a huge flood. This happened because two hurricanes hit Connecticut within a week. First, Hurricane Connie brought a lot of rain on August 13. Then, Hurricane Diane poured even more rain on August 18–19.

The Quinebaug River overflowed, causing massive flooding. Homes, businesses, and factories were destroyed. The flood was so strong it even washed away the railroad tracks.

Putnam's Downtown Changes

Later in the 1900s, Putnam's empty mills and old downtown buildings became popular for antique stores. Main Street was full of them! But in the early 2000s, many antique shops closed. In their place, new restaurants, small shops, and art spaces opened up, making the downtown area lively again.

Putnam's Geography

Putnam covers about 20.4 square miles (52.8 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water. The Quinebaug River flows through the middle of town, from north to south. Another river, the Five Mile River, also runs through East Putnam.

Putnam shares borders with Thompson to the north, Rhode Island to the east, Killingly to the south, and Pomfret and Woodstock to the west. Major roads like Interstate 395 and U.S. Route 44 pass through the town.

Main Areas of Putnam

• Putnam District
• Putnam Heights
• East Putnam

Putnam's Population Facts

In 2010, there were 9,584 people living in Putnam. Most people were White (94.1%). About 2.9% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The town had 3,950 households. About 25.9% of these households had children under 18. The average household had 2.33 people. The median age in Putnam was 39.9 years old.

The median income for a household in Putnam was about $51,171. For families, it was $63,030.

Arts and Culture in Putnam

Putnam District (also known as "Historic Downtown") is a lively place for arts and businesses. There are many art-related shops along Main Street.

Since 2010, local business owners have held "First Friday Putnam" events. These monthly art events take place from March to October. Putnam is also home to WINY, a local radio station.

The Bradley Playhouse

The Bradley Playhouse first opened on January 29, 1901. After some fires in 1914, it was rebuilt to show movies, which were becoming very popular. In 1984, a group called the Northeast Repertory Theatre started performing live shows there again.

Schools in Putnam

Israel Putnam School, around 1907

Putnam has both public and private schools:

• Public Schools
  • Putnam Elementary School (Kindergarten to 5th grade)
  • Putnam Middle School (6th to 8th grade)
  • Putnam High School (9th to 12th grade)

• Private Schools
  • Putnam Science Academy (Grades 9–12, focusing on science)
  • Tri-State Christian Academy (Kindergarten to 8th grade)

National Achievements

• Putnam Science Academy won the Connecticut Science Olympiad four years in a row (2004–2008).
• In the mid-1970s, Putnam was featured on a TV game show called "Almost Anything Goes." Teams from small towns competed in fun challenges.

Transportation

Putnam is served by the Northeastern Connecticut Transit District, which helps people get around.

Important Places to See

• Cady-Copp House – A historic home added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.
• Putnam Town Hall – A historic building added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.
• Putnam Railroad Station – A historic train station added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.

Famous People from Putnam

• Bruce Boisclair (born 1952), a baseball player.
• Henry Breault (1900–1941), who received the Medal of Honor.
• Brooke Brodack (born 1986), a comedian famous for her online videos.
• John N. Dempsey (1915–1989), a former Mayor of Putnam and Governor of Connecticut.
• Candy LaChance (1870–1932), a baseball player.
• Rollie Sheldon (born 1936), a baseball pitcher.
• Gertrude Chandler Warner (1890–1979), a children's author.

Images for kids

• 

  School Street around 1910

• 

  Putnam Square, around 1915

• 

  Main Street, looking south, around 1908

• 

  South Main Street around 1906

• 

  "Old" railroad depot, 1906

• 

  "New" train station, around 1906

• 

  The station in 1914

• 

  Main St. around 1915

• 

  Putnam Town Hall bell, now in Rotary Park

See also

In Spanish: Putnam (Connecticut) para niños