Putnam County, Missouri

Putnam County is a county located in North Central Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the population was 4,979.[1] Its county seat is Unionville.[2] The county was organized February 28, 1845 and named for Israel Putnam, a hero in the French and Indian War and a general in the American Revolutionary War.[3]

Putnam County
U.S. county
Putnam County Courthouse in Unionville
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°29′N 93°01′W
Country United States
State Missouri
FoundedFebruary 28, 1845
Named forIsrael Putnam
SeatUnionville
Largest cityUnionville
Area
 • Total520 sq mi (1,300 km2)
 • Land517 sq mi (1,340 km2)
 • Water2.3 sq mi (6 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total4,979
 • Estimate 
(2018)
4,757
 • Density9.6/sq mi (3.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitenemr.net/~putco/

Putnam County was established February 28, 1845 from parts of Adair and Sullivan counties. The following year a portion of Putnam was removed to form of Dodge County. Both Putnam and Dodge extended nearly nine miles further north until an 1851 ruling by the Supreme Court on a border dispute with Iowa assigned the contested land to Iowa. Both counties were left with less than the statutory minimum area for a county as set by the state legislature, so Dodge County was dissolved and its area added to Putnam.[4]

In its early years, the county seat changed frequently, often with contentious debate. Putnamville, Bryant Station (both no longer in existence), and Hartford all served until a central location called Harmony, later renamed Unionville, was chosen.[5]

In the 1860 U.S. Census Putnam County had 9,240 residents, with eighteen sawmills and three flour mills.[6] Coal had been an abundant since its earliest settlement. Following the arrival of the Burlington & Southwestern Railway in 1873, coal mining became a major industry, especially in the east of the county. At one time three railroads crossed Putnam county: the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul; the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy; and the Iowa and St. Louis.[7] Putnam County lost over two-thirds of its population between the years 1900 and 2000 (see census data below), when the United States changed from a rural to an urban country.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 520 square miles (1,300 km2), of which 517 square miles (1,340 km2) is land and 2.3 square miles (6.0 km2) (0.4%) is water.[8]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18501,636—
18609,207462.8%
187011,21721.8%
188013,55520.8%
189015,36513.4%
190016,6688.5%
191014,308−14.2%
192013,115−8.3%
193011,503−12.3%
194011,327−1.5%
19509,166−19.1%
19606,999−23.6%
19705,916−15.5%
19806,0923.0%
19905,079−16.6%
20005,2232.8%
20104,979−4.7%
2018 (est.)4,757[9]−4.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2015[1]

As of the census[14] of 2010, there were 4,979 people, 2,228 households, and 1,517 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile (4/km2). There were 2,914 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 99.14% White, 0.06% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.10% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races. Approximately 0.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,228 households, out of which 27.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.20% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.90% were non-families. 28.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.00% under the age of 18, 6.20% from 18 to 24, 24.00% from 25 to 44, 25.10% from 45 to 64, and 20.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,282, and the median income for a family was $32,031. Males had a median income of $22,957 versus $18,884 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,647. About 13.20% of families and 16.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.60% of those under age 18 and 12.80% of those age 65 or over.

  • Pre-1900 data from A History of Northeast Missouri, Published 1913

Education

Public schools

Public libraries
  • Putnam County Public Library[15]

Politics

Local

The Republican Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Putnam County. Republicans hold all but one of the elected positions in the county.

Putnam County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Paul L. Rouse Republican
Circuit Clerk Mitzi D. Shipley Republican
County Clerk Chrystal Perkins Republican
Collector Sharon Thompson Parks Republican
Commissioner
(Presiding)		 Randy Sands Republican
Commissioner
(District 1)		 Shane Bradshaw Republican
Commissioner
(District 2)		 Gerald Owings Republican
Coroner Jennifer Gilworth Democratic
Prosecuting Attorney Tom Keedy Republican
Public Administrator Nancy Mikels Republican
Recorder Jeneen Roof Republican
Sheriff Jason Knight Republican
Surveyor J. Scott Cline Republican
Treasurer Sharon Thompson Parks Republican

State
Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 73.84% 1,691 23.89% 547 2.27% 52
2012 65.53% 1,485 32.04% 726 2.43% 55
2008 64.43% 1,467 32.85% 748 2.72% 62
2004 72.75% 1,757 25.84% 624 1.41% 34
2000 66.42% 1,531 32.62% 752 0.95% 22
1996 41.71% 898 56.71% 1,332 1.58% 34

All of Putnam County is a part of Missouri's 3rd District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by Nate Walker (R-Kirksville).

Missouri House of Representatives — District 3 — Putnam County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Nate Walker 2,067 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 3 — Putnam County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Nate Walker 1,059 100.00% +30.20
Missouri House of Representatives — District 3 — Putnam County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Nate Walker 1,597 69.80%
Democratic Rebecca McClanahan 691 30.20%

All of Putnam County is a part of Missouri's 12th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Dan Hegeman (R-Cosby).

Missouri Senate — District 12 — Putnam County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Dan Hegeman 1,036 100.00%

Federal
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Putnam County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Roy Blunt 1,708 74.88% +18.11
Democratic Jason Kander 486 21.31% -17.89
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 46 2.02% -2.01
Green Johnathan McFarland 24 1.05% +1.05
Constitution Fred Ryman 17 0.74% +0.74
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Putnam County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Todd Akin 1,296 56.77%
Democratic Claire McCaskill 895 39.20%
Libertarian Jonathan Dine 92 4.03%

All of Putnam County is included in Missouri's 6th Congressional District and is currently represented by Sam Graves (R-Tarkio) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Putnam County (2016)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sam Graves 1,897 84.01% +0.52
Democratic David M. Blackwell 315 13.95% -0.84
Libertarian Russ Lee Monchil 32 1.42% -1.98
Green Mike Diel 14 0.62% +0.62
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 6th Congressional District — Putnam County (2014)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sam Graves 1,032 83.49% +3.36
Democratic Bill Hedge 162 13.11% -4.22
Libertarian Russ Lee Monchil 42 3.40% +0.86
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Putnam County (2012)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sam Graves 1,799 80.13%
Democratic Kyle Yarber 389 17.33%
Libertarian Russ Lee Monchil 57 2.54%
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 84.0% 1,984 15.3% 361 0.7% 16
2016 82.5% 1,936 15.1% 353 2.4% 57
2012 72.5% 1,673 25.4% 587 2.1% 49
2008 68.0% 1,591 29.7% 695 2.3% 53
2004 67.9% 1,660 31.6% 772 0.5% 13
2000 68.3% 1,593 30.3% 708 1.4% 33
1996 48.6% 1,091 38.2% 857 13.2% 297
1992 45.7% 1,143 33.5% 838 20.9% 522
1988 62.7% 1,365 36.9% 803 0.4% 8
1984 65.9% 1,540 34.1% 797
1980 64.9% 1,722 32.8% 871 2.3% 62
1976 56.6% 1,444 43.0% 1,097 0.4% 9
1972 78.7% 2,112 21.3% 571
1968 63.8% 1,971 30.8% 952 5.5% 169
1964 51.0% 1,547 49.0% 1,484
1960 71.9% 2,711 28.1% 1,060
1956 70.6% 2,674 29.4% 1,115
1952 73.3% 3,202 26.3% 1,149 0.4% 17
1948 62.8% 2,499 36.8% 1,463 0.4% 15
1944 72.6% 3,106 27.3% 1,168 0.2% 7
1940 68.8% 3,828 30.7% 1,708 0.5% 25
1936 64.0% 3,458 35.2% 1,902 0.8% 42
1932 50.5% 2,180 46.1% 1,987 3.4% 148
1928 73.6% 3,498 26.2% 1,247 0.2% 10
1924 65.4% 3,340 29.3% 1,495 5.3% 273
1920 72.9% 3,880 24.7% 1,315 2.4% 126
1916 64.8% 2,106 31.9% 1,035 3.3% 107
1912 55.7% 1,859 28.0% 933 16.3% 545
1908 65.8% 2,233 31.1% 1,056 3.1% 106
1904 68.5% 2,226 25.3% 822 6.3% 204
1900 65.5% 2,337 32.5% 1,159 2.1% 74
1896 62.9% 2,363 36.6% 1,376 0.4% 16
1892 62.2% 2,027 34.7% 1,131 3.0% 99
1888 64.0% 1,985 33.7% 1,045 2.4% 74

Communities

City

Villages

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

See also
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Putnam County, Missouri

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on December 30, 2015. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Eaton, David Wolfe (1917). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. pp. 343.
  4. Missouri State Historical Society marker, 1958
  5. "A Directory of Towns, Villages, and Hamlets of Missouri". thelibrary.org. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
  6. The Missouri Handbook by P.M. Pinckard. Published 1865
  7. A History of Northeast Missouri, Vol.1 Chapter 25. Published 1913.
  8. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  9. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  12. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  15. Breeding, Marshall. "Putnam County Public Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  16. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-26.

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