Putnam County, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Putnam County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Georgia
. As of 2000, the population was 18,812. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 21,251. The county seat
is Eatonton
.
In the past few years the county has seen a housing boom due to its proximity to Lake Oconee as well as major employment centers such as Atlanta, Athens, and Macon.
, who was a hero in the French and Indian War
and a general in the American Revolutionary War
. The County was created on December 10, 1807 by an act of the Georgia General Assembly
.
Putnam County is also home to the Nationally known Dairy Festival.
of 2000, there were 18,812 people, 7,402 households, and 5,477 families residing 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.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. As of 2000, the population was 18,812. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 21,251. The county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Eatonton
Eatonton, Georgia
Eatonton is a city in Putnam County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 6,480. The city is the county seat of Putnam County. It was named after William Eaton, an officer and diplomat involved in the First Barbary War...
.
In the past few years the county has seen a housing boom due to its proximity to Lake Oconee as well as major employment centers such as Atlanta, Athens, and Macon.
History
Putnam County is named in honor of Israel PutnamIsrael Putnam
Israel Putnam was an American army general and Freemason who fought with distinction at the Battle of Bunker Hill during the American Revolutionary War...
, who was a hero in the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
and a general in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. The County was created on December 10, 1807 by an act of the Georgia General Assembly
Georgia General Assembly
The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, being composed of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate....
.
Putnam County is also home to the Nationally known Dairy Festival.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 360.63 square miles (934 km²), of which 344.53 square miles (892.3 km²) (or 95.54%) is land and 16.1 square miles (41.7 km²) (or 4.46%) is water.Major highways
U.S. Highway 129
U.S. Highway 441
Georgia State Route 16Georgia State Route 16State Route 16 begins at SR 100 in Haralson County, just south of I-20, and ends at U.S. 278 in Warrenton.-Major junctions:...
Georgia State Route 24
Georgia State Route 44Georgia State Route 44State Route 44 is a north–south state route located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The route travels from State Route 22 in Gray northeast to State Route 79 northwest of Lincolnton.-Route description:...
Georgia State Route 142Georgia State Route 142Georgia State Route 142 runs in a southerly direction with a northern starting point at Georgia State Route 81 in Newton County, Georgia, just north of Covington then through eastern Jasper County and ends in Putnam County at Georgia State Route 16 just west of Eatonton. It is locally known as the...
Georgia State Route 212Georgia State Route 212State Route 212 is a state route in the U.S. state of Georgia that runs from Snapfinger southeast to Milledgeville. It falls about halfway between I-75 and I-20....
Adjacent counties
- Morgan CountyMorgan County, GeorgiaMorgan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 15,457. The 2005 Census Estimate shows a population of 17,492. The county seat is Madison, Georgia.-Geography:...
(north) - Greene CountyGreene County, GeorgiaGreene County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on February 3, 1786. As of 2000, the population is 14,406. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 15,662. The county seat is Greensboro...
(northeast) - Hancock CountyHancock County, Georgia-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 10,076 people, 3,237 households, and 2,311 families residing in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile . There were 4,287 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile...
(east) - Baldwin CountyBaldwin County, GeorgiaBaldwin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2010, the population was 46,337. The county seat is Milledgeville.Baldwin County is part of the Milledgeville Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes neighboring Hancock County....
(southeast) - Jones CountyJones County, GeorgiaJones County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 10, 1807. As of 2010, the population was 27,740 . The county seat is Gray.-History:The county is named after U.S...
(southwest) - Jasper CountyJasper County, GeorgiaJasper County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 11,426. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 13,660...
(west)
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 18,812 people, 7,402 households, and 5,477 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 41.90% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.20% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.66% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.04% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.82% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.92% from two or more races. 2.16% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Putnam County, Georgia
- Tama-ReTama-ReThe Tama-Re compound in Putnam County, Georgia was an Egyptian-themed set of buildings and monuments established near Eatonton, Georgia by Nuwaubians in 1993 that was mostly demolished after being sold under government forfeiture in 2005.-History:On 15 January, 1993, Dwight York bought the...
- Rock Eagle Effigy MoundRock Eagle Effigy MoundRock Eagle Effigy Mound is an archaeological site in Putnam County, Georgia, U.S.A. estimated to have been constructed 1,000 to 3,000 years ago. The earthwork was built up of thousands of pieces of quartzite laid in the mounded shape of a large bird...
- Rock Hawk Effigy MoundRock Hawk Effigy MoundRock Hawk Effigy Mound is an archaeological site in Putnam County, Georgia, U.S.A. It consists of thousands of pieces of quartzite laid in the shape of a large bird. Although it is most often referred to as a hawk, scholars do not know exactly what type of bird the original builders intended to...