Putnam County is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,047.[1] The county seat is Eatonton.[2]
Putnam County | |
|---|---|
 Putnam County courthouse in Eatonton | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Georgia | |
 Georgia's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 33°19′N 83°22′W / 33.32°N 83.37°W | |
| 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 (2020) | |
| • Total | 22,047 |
| • Density | 64/sq mi (25/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 10th |
| Website | www |
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
editPutnam 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
editAccording 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
Adjacent counties
edit- Morgan County (north)
- Greene County (northeast)
- Hancock County (east)
- Baldwin County (southeast)
- Jones County (southwest)
- Jasper County (west)
National protected area
edit- Oconee National Forest (part)
Communities
editCity
editCensus-designated place
editUnincorporated community
editDemographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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% | |
| 2020 | 22,047 | 3.9% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 23,129 | [8] | 4.9% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790-1880[10] 1890-1910[11] 1920-1930[12] 1930-1940[13] 1940-1950[14] 1960-1980[15] 1980-2000[16] 2010[17] | |||
| 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.
Education
editThe Putnam County Charter School System serves the community.
Politics
edit| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 8,291 | 69.92% | 3,448 | 29.08% | 118 | 1.00% |
| 2016 | 6,544 | 68.68% | 2,758 | 28.95% | 226 | 2.37% |
| 2012 | 6,215 | 67.34% | 2,926 | 31.70% | 88 | 0.95% |
| 2008 | 5,966 | 65.28% | 3,102 | 33.94% | 71 | 0.78% |
| 2004 | 5,188 | 63.91% | 2,880 | 35.48% | 50 | 0.62% |
| 2000 | 3,596 | 57.09% | 2,612 | 41.47% | 91 | 1.44% |
| 1996 | 2,306 | 44.81% | 2,340 | 45.47% | 500 | 9.72% |
| 1992 | 1,756 | 37.41% | 2,149 | 45.78% | 789 | 16.81% |
| 1988 | 2,111 | 57.74% | 1,532 | 41.90% | 13 | 0.36% |
| 1984 | 1,830 | 57.80% | 1,336 | 42.20% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 1,166 | 36.70% | 1,951 | 61.41% | 60 | 1.89% |
| 1976 | 835 | 29.04% | 2,040 | 70.96% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1972 | 1,963 | 76.47% | 604 | 23.53% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 594 | 21.66% | 972 | 35.44% | 1,177 | 42.91% |
| 1964 | 1,196 | 54.02% | 1,018 | 45.98% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 305 | 21.65% | 1,104 | 78.35% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 268 | 19.69% | 1,093 | 80.31% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 250 | 16.66% | 1,251 | 83.34% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 110 | 12.88% | 609 | 71.31% | 135 | 15.81% |
| 1944 | 74 | 9.55% | 701 | 90.45% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 61 | 7.70% | 730 | 92.17% | 1 | 0.13% |
| 1936 | 51 | 6.75% | 703 | 93.11% | 1 | 0.13% |
| 1932 | 33 | 4.09% | 770 | 95.53% | 3 | 0.37% |
| 1928 | 57 | 7.71% | 682 | 92.29% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 7 | 1.50% | 457 | 97.65% | 4 | 0.85% |
| 1920 | 5 | 1.18% | 420 | 98.82% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1916 | 0 | 0.00% | 462 | 98.30% | 8 | 1.70% |
| 1912 | 7 | 1.49% | 460 | 97.66% | 4 | 0.85% |
See also
edit
Bibliography
edit- 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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
- ^ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1910.
- ^ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930.
- ^ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
- ^ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1950.
- ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
- ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000.
- ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on December 9, 2015. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
- 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- LostWorlds.org | Rock Eagle Archived June 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine