Putnam

Formed January 18, 1849 (28^th county)

Putnam County (73,327), Palatka (10,451)

An old columned light tan brick Classical Revival courthouse stands out in this community.  Located at the corner of St. Johns and 4^th streets, this structure was built in 1909.  United States Highway 17 is one block north of the courthouse.  Robinson and Reidy are the building designers.  The courthouse was enlarged in 1968.  Veteran memorials are on the grounds.  An old shopping center now houses the Government Complex.  Palatka has been the only county seat.  The county was named for Florida legislator Benjamin A. Putnam.  The county seat’s name is Native American for “boat crossing.”  St. Johns, Alachua, Orange, Duval and Marion counties provided land for Putnam County on January 18, 1849 as the 28^th county. 

Putnam County government consists of a manager, sheriff, and appraiser (executive).  It has 5 Commissioners (legislative.)  Twenty-five Circuit Court Judges serve Putnam, Flagler, Saint Johns, and Volusia counties and Two County Court Judges, clerk, and county attorney serve Putnam County (judicial.) Putnam County is located in northeast Florida.  Jacksonville, Florida is north and Orlando, Florida is south of the county.  The center of the county is 9.7 miles West of Palatka nearer Interlachen.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Clay, St. Johns, Flagler, Volusia, Marion, Alachua, and Bradford counties.  The St. Johns River forms most of the eastern border. 

The area of the county is 722 square miles.  It is 32 out of 67 counties in the state.  It ranks 40 out of 67 in population in the state.  It has a density of 101.6 persons per square mile making it 37 out of 67 in the state.  Putnam County has 20.5% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 17 travels north to south through the county from Clay County to Volusia County.  The county looks like a parrot’s head.  Palatka is in the northeast quarter of the county.  Palatka is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 14.3% of the county population.  The county seat is pronounced PA-LAT-KA.  This county is in the Palatka Micropolitan Statistical Area.