Putnam

Formed April 1, 1820 (65^th county)

Putnam County (34,448), Ottawa (4,456)

The masonry Neo-Classical and Second Renaissance courthouse was constructed in 1913.  The courthouse is on Main, Court, 3^rd, and Hickory streets.  Main Street is United States Highway 224 in the town.  Frank L. Packard and Ralph Snyder provided the designs.  The structure has a tiled roof and the grounds feature a firefighter statue and veteran memorials.  There was also an 1867 version of the facility also in Ottawa, the only county seat.  The county was founded on April 1, 1820 from Shelby County as the 65^th county.  The county is named for American Revolutionary War General Israel Putnam.  Ottawa is named for the Native American tribe.  They are also the source name for Ottawa County. 

The area of the county is 483.9 square miles.  It is 31 out of 88 in the state.  It ranks 70 out of 88 in population in the state.  It has a density of 71.2 persons per square mile making it 71 out of 88 in the state.  Putnam County has 46.4% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 30 clips the southwest corner of the county from Van Wert County, west, to Allen County, south.  United States Highway 224 passes east to west from Hancock County to Van Wert County.  The county is shaped like the State of Louisiana lying on its east side.  Ottawa is located in the eastern third of the county.  Ottawa is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 12.9% of the county population. 

Putnam County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Commissioners.  Three Common Pleas Court Judges serve Putnam County.  Putnam County is in the northwest part of the state.  Toledo, Ohio is northeast and Columbus, Ohio is southeast of the county.  The county center is 3.7 miles West of Ottawa nearer Glandorf.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Henry, Wood, Hancock, Allen, Van Wert, Paulding, and Defiance counties.