Putnam County, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Putnam County
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Putnam County courthouse in Eatonton
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Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
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 Georgia's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Georgia |
| Founded | December 10, 1807 |
| Named for | Israel Putnam |
| Seat | Eatonton |
| Largest city | Eatonton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 361 sq mi (930 km2) |
| • Land | 345 sq mi (890 km2) |
| • Water | 16 sq mi (40 km2) 4.4%% |
| Population | |
| • Estimate
(2018)
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21,809 |
| • Density | 63/sq mi (24/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 10th |
Putnam County is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 21,218. The county seat is Eatonton.
Since the early 21st century, the county has had a housing boom. It has proximity to Lake Oconee, a recreation site, as well as to major employment centers such as Atlanta, Athens, and Macon.
Contents
History
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.
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. African Americans still comprise more than 40 percent of the county population, although thousands left 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.
In the 21st century, dairy farming is more important to Putnam County than cotton. It annually holds the nationally known Dairy Festival.
Geography
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. The entirety of Putnam County is located in the Upper Oconee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin.
Major highways
U.S. Route 129
U.S. Route 129 Business
U.S. Route 441
U.S. Route 441 Business
State Route 16
State Route 24
State Route 24 Business
State Route 44
State Route 142
State Route 212
Adjacent counties
- Morgan County (north)
- Greene County (northeast)
- Hancock County (east)
- Baldwin County (southeast)
- Jones County (southwest)
- Jasper County (west)
National protected area
- Oconee National Forest (part)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1810 | 10,029 | — | |
| 1820 | 15,475 | 54.3% | |
| 1830 | 13,261 | −14.3% | |
| 1840 | 10,260 | −22.6% | |
| 1850 | 10,794 | 5.2% | |
| 1860 | 10,125 | −6.2% | |
| 1870 | 10,461 | 3.3% | |
| 1880 | 14,539 | 39.0% | |
| 1890 | 14,842 | 2.1% | |
| 1900 | 13,436 | −9.5% | |
| 1910 | 13,876 | 3.3% | |
| 1920 | 15,151 | 9.2% | |
| 1930 | 8,367 | −44.8% | |
| 1940 | 8,514 | 1.8% | |
| 1950 | 7,731 | −9.2% | |
| 1960 | 7,798 | 0.9% | |
| 1970 | 8,394 | 7.6% | |
| 1980 | 10,295 | 22.6% | |
| 1990 | 14,137 | 37.3% | |
| 2000 | 18,812 | 33.1% | |
| 2010 | 21,218 | 12.8% | |
| 2018 (est.) | 21,809 | 2.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013 |
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2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 21,218 people, 8,601 households, and 6,075 families living in the county. The population density was 61.6 inhabitants per square mile (23.8/km2). There were 12,804 housing units at an average density of 37.2 per square mile (14.4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 67.9% white, 26.0% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 4.1% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 6.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 27.2% were American, 26.0% African American, 10.7% were Irish, 9.9% were English, and 5.9% were German.
Of the 8,601 households, 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.8% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.4% were non-families, and 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.88. The median age was 43.5 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $41,529 and the median income for a family was $49,814. Males had a median income of $31,915 versus $30,857 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,576. About 9.3% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.0% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.
2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 14,316 | 64.93% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 5,385 | 24.43% |
| Native American | 33 | 0.15% |
| Asian | 108 | 0.49% |
| Pacific Islander | 1 | 0.0% |
| Other/Mixed | 647 | 2.93% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,557 | 7.06% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 22,047 people, 8,937 households, and 6,282 families residing in the county.
Communities
City
Census-designated place
Other unincorporated communities
- Harmony
- Willard
Education
The Putnam County Charter School System serves the community.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Putnam (Georgia) para niños
