Putnam

Formed February 25, 1845 (93^rd county)

Putnam County (4,680), Unionville (1,729)                

A masonry Classical Revival courthouse was built in 1923 on a square at Main, 16^th, Grant and 17^th streets.  Main Street is United States Highway 136 in the town.  The building designer was John G. Braecklein.  Putnamville (1845), Winchester (1848), Fairplay (1851), and Unionville (1854) all served as county seats.  Putnam County was founded on February 25, 1845 from Native American Territory as the 93^rd county.  The county is named for Revolutionary War General Israel Putnam.  The county seat is named for the concept of unity among the many towns who sought the county seat position.  It is also the source for the county seat of Franklin County. 

Putnam County government consists of a sheriff, an administrator, an attorney, a collector, a coroner, an assessor and a clerk (executive).  It has 3 Commissioners (legislative.)  One Circuit Court Judge serves Putnam, Grundy, Harrison, and Mercer counties and One County Court Judge and a court clerk serve Putnam County (judicial.)  The county is on the northern border with Iowa.  Des Moines, Iowa is northwest and Saint Louis, Missouri is southeast of the county.  The county center is 1.4 miles East of Unionville.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Iowa and Schuyler, Adair, Sullivan, and Mercer counties. 

The area of the county is 518 square miles.  It is 76 out of 115 in the state.  It ranks 110 out of 115 in population in the state.  It has a density of 9.0 persons per square mile making it 110 out of 115 in the state.  Putnam County has 41.5% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 136 goes east to west in the county from Schuyler County to Mercer County.  The county looks like a faucet.  Unionville is near center in the county.  Unionville is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 36.9% of the county population.