Putnam County, Georgia

Putnam County
U.S. 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 / 33.32; -83.37
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)	21,809[1]
• Density	63/sq mi (24/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	10th
Website	www.putnamcountyga.us

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.^[2] The county seat is Eatonton.^[3]

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.

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.^[4]

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.^[5] The Wheeling Intelligencer claimed the buildings were burnt down because of a "minor racial clash at Dennis Station."^[6] During this time armed black and white mobs patrolled the area in fear of each other. ^[5]

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[]

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.^[7] The entirety of Putnam County is located in the Upper Oconee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin.^[8] 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[]

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	[9]	2.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12] 1990-2000[13] 2010-2013[2]

2000 census[]

As of the census^[14] of 2000, there were 18,812 people, 7,402 households, and 5,477 families living in the county. The population density was 55 people per square mile (21/km²). There were 10,319 housing units at an average density of 30 per square mile (12/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 51.45% White, 41.90% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.82% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. 2.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,402 households, out of which 28.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.80% were married couples living together, 12.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.00% were non-families. 22.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.20% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 28.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,956, and the median income for a family was $43,262. Males had a median income of $30,900 versus $21,823 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,161. About 10.50% of families and 14.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.80% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.

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.^[15] 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).^[16] 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.^[15] In terms of ancestry, 27.2% were American, 26.0% African, 10.7% were Irish, 9.9% were English, and 5.9% were German.^[17]

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.^[15]

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.^[18]

Communities[]

City[]

• Eatonton

Census-designated place[]

• Crooked Creek

Other unincorporated communities[]

• Willard
• Warfield

Education[]

The Putnam County Charter School System serves the community.

Politics[]

See also[]

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Putnam County, Georgia
• Tama-Re
• Rock Eagle Effigy Mound
• Rock Hawk Effigy Mound
• 2017 Georgia prison escape

Bibliography[]

Notes

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[]

• LostWorlds.org | Rock Eagle

Coordinates: 33°19′N 83°22′W / 33.32°N 83.37°W / 33.32; -83.37