Putnam County, Ohio

Last updated

Putnam County
Putnam County Courthouse - panoramio (1).jpg
Putnam County Courthouse
Flag of Putnam County, Ohio.png
Seal of Putnam County Ohio.svg
Map of Ohio highlighting Putnam County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Ohio
Ohio in United States.svg
Ohio's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°01′N84°08′W / 41.02°N 84.13°W / 41.02; -84.13
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Ohio.svg  Ohio
FoundedJanuary 3, 1834
Named for Israel Putnam
Seat Ottawa
Largest villageOttawa
Area
  Total
484 sq mi (1,250 km2)
  Land483 sq mi (1,250 km2)
  Water1.8 sq mi (5 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
34,451 Decrease2.svg
  Density71/sq mi (27/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
  Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 5th
Website www.putnamcountyohio.gov

Putnam County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 34,451. [1] Its county seat is Ottawa. [2] The county was created in 1820 and later organized in 1834. [3] Its name is in honor of Israel Putnam, a colonial officer in the French and Indian War, who served as a general in the American Revolutionary War. [4] The Blanchard River, which passes through the county, was a key transportation route for early European-American settlers.

Contents

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 484 square miles (1,250 km2), of which 483 square miles (1,250 km2) is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2) (0.4%) is water. The Blanchard River passes through the county. [5]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1830 230
1840 5,1892,156.1%
1850 7,22139.2%
1860 12,80877.4%
1870 17,08133.4%
1880 23,71338.8%
1890 30,18827.3%
1900 32,5257.7%
1910 29,972−7.8%
1920 27,751−7.4%
1930 25,074−9.6%
1940 25,016−0.2%
1950 25,2480.9%
1960 28,33112.2%
1970 31,1349.9%
1980 32,9916.0%
1990 33,8192.5%
2000 34,7262.7%
2010 34,499−0.7%
2020 34,451−0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census [6]
1790-1960 [7] 1900-1990 [8]
1990-2000 [9] 2020 [1]

2000 census

As of the census [10] of 2000, there were 34,726 people, 12,200 households, and 9,308 families living in the county. The population density was 72 people per square mile (28 people/km2). There were 12,753 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile (10/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.26% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.51% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. 4.38% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 12,200 households, out of which 39.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.90% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.70% were non-families. 21.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.29.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.70% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 20.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,426, and the median income for a family was $52,859. Males had a median income of $36,548 versus $23,963 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,680. About 4.00% of families and 5.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.40% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 34,499 people, 12,872 households, and 9,556 families living in the county. [11] The population density was 71.5 inhabitants per square mile (27.6/km2). There were 13,731 housing units at an average density of 28.5 per square mile (11.0/km2). [12] The racial makeup of the county was 95.7% white, 0.3% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 2.7% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.5% of the population. [11] In terms of ancestry, 65.6% identified as German, 7.8% were Irish, 7.3% were American, 4.7% were English, 2.4% were French, 1.8% were Swiss, 1.7% were Dutch, 1.6% were Italian, 1.4% were Scottish, 1.0% were Welsh, 0.8% were Hungarian and 0.8% were Polish. [13]

Of the 12,872 households, 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 25.8% were non-families, and 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.13. The median age was 39.0 years. [11]

The median income for a household in the county was $56,573 and the median income for a family was $65,882. Males had a median income of $44,417 versus $33,200 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,023. About 5.8% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.8% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over. [14]

Politics

Prior to 1940, Putnam County was a Democratic Party county stronghold presidential elections, with James M. Cox in 1920 being the only Democrat to lose it before that year. But starting with the 1940 election, it has become a Republican stronghold. The only 2 Democrats to win the county since then are Harry S. Truman in 1948 and Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

Putnam County is known for its strong social conservatism. In November 2023, it gave only 17% of the vote to Ohio Issue 1, which legalized abortion, and 31% to Ohio Issue 2, which legalized recreational marijuana. In both referendums, this was the lowest percentage for any county in Ohio. [15]

United States presidential election results for Putnam County, Ohio [16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
2024 16,57683.55%2,99615.10%2681.35%
2020 16,41282.28%3,19516.02%3401.70%
2016 14,96179.34%2,92215.50%9745.17%
2012 13,72174.57%4,31823.47%3611.96%
2008 13,07269.98%5,28128.27%3271.75%
2004 14,37076.24%4,39223.30%870.46%
2000 12,83774.01%4,06323.43%4442.56%
1996 9,29457.52%4,97230.77%1,89211.71%
1992 9,33854.92%3,96223.30%3,70421.78%
1988 11,18373.09%4,00426.17%1140.75%
1984 11,93678.26%3,19420.94%1210.79%
1980 9,75268.71%3,74226.37%6994.92%
1976 7,33257.69%5,03539.61%3432.70%
1972 8,18566.32%3,72930.21%4283.47%
1968 7,18859.38%3,53029.16%1,38711.46%
1964 5,22142.67%7,01457.33%00.00%
1960 6,83453.09%6,03946.91%00.00%
1956 8,40870.38%3,53829.62%00.00%
1952 8,39868.85%3,79931.15%00.00%
1948 5,00649.33%5,11450.39%280.28%
1944 8,00471.79%3,14528.21%00.00%
1940 8,94670.99%3,65529.01%00.00%
1936 4,15133.16%5,78646.23%2,58020.61%
1932 3,64630.69%8,07868.00%1551.30%
1928 5,53749.20%5,66750.36%500.44%
1924 4,37741.83%4,79545.82%1,29312.36%
1920 5,15752.10%4,67347.21%690.70%
1916 2,24333.84%4,29464.79%911.37%
1912 1,00015.60%4,00062.40%1,41022.00%
1908 2,48333.17%4,83664.61%1662.22%
1904 2,85339.48%4,14557.36%2283.16%
1900 2,81735.89%4,94362.98%881.12%
1896 2,72833.68%5,30365.48%680.84%
1892 2,31433.73%4,17760.89%3695.38%
1888 2,35534.61%4,26162.62%1892.78%
1884 2,19435.11%4,00964.15%460.74%
1880 1,85134.94%3,41764.50%300.57%
1876 1,60633.56%3,17466.33%50.10%
1872 1,27537.22%2,13162.20%200.58%
1868 1,18437.15%2,00362.85%00.00%
1864 1,12039.53%1,71360.47%00.00%
1860 1,01040.48%1,47859.24%70.28%
1856 79041.36%1,11658.43%40.21%

Education

The Putnam County Board of Education operates nine separate school districts county-wide.

Other villages across the county are served by one or more of these districts above in the district's zone area.

Communities

Map of Putnam County, Ohio with municipal and township labels Map of Putnam County Ohio With Municipal and Township Labels.PNG
Map of Putnam County, Ohio with municipal and township labels

Villages

Townships

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

See also

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 2020 census
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Ohio: Individual County Chronologies". Ohio Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. Archived from the original on April 6, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
  4. Warren, Robert (May 31, 1953). "Blanchard River Brought Pioneers To Putnam". Toledo Blade. p. 3. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  8. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  11. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  12. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  13. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  14. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  15. https://liveresults.ohiosos.gov/ [ bare URL ]
  16. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 3, 2018.

Further reading

41°01′N84°08′W / 41.02°N 84.13°W / 41.02; -84.13