Putnam County, Illinois

Last updated

Putnam County
County
Putnam County Courthouse, Hennepin.jpg
Putnam County Courthouse, Hennepin
Map of Illinois highlighting Putnam County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Illinois in United States.svg
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°12′N89°17′W / 41.2°N 89.28°W / 41.2; -89.28
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Illinois.svg Illinois
Founded1825
Named after Israel Putnam
Seat Hennepin
Largest village Granville
Area
 • Total
172 sq mi (450 km2)
 • Land160 sq mi (400 km2)
 • Water12 sq mi (30 km2)  7.0%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
5,637
 • Estimate 
(2024)
5,633 Decrease2.svg [1]
 • Density33/sq mi (13/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts 14th, 16th
Website www.co.putnam.il.us

Putnam County is the least extensive county in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 United States census, it had a population of 5,637. [2] The county seat is Hennepin. [3] The county was formed in 1825 out of Fulton County and named after Israel Putnam, [4] who was a general in the American Revolution. Putnam County is part of the Ottawa, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Contents

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 172 square miles (450 km2), of which 160 square miles (410 km2) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (7.0%) is water. [5] It is the smallest county in Illinois by area.

Climate and weather

Hennepin, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
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Source: The Weather Channel [6]
Metric conversion
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In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Hennepin have ranged from a low of 13 °F (−11 °C) in January to a high of 86 °F (30 °C) in July, although a record low of −30 °F (−34 °C) was recorded in January 1999 and a record high of 104 °F (40 °C) was recorded in June 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.14 inches (29 mm) in January to 4.32 inches (110 mm) in August. [6]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1840 2,131—
1850 3,92484.1%
1860 5,58742.4%
1870 6,28012.4%
1880 5,554−11.6%
1890 4,730−14.8%
1900 4,7460.3%
1910 7,56159.3%
1920 7,5790.2%
1930 5,235−30.9%
1940 5,2891.0%
1950 4,746−10.3%
1960 4,570−3.7%
1970 5,0079.6%
1980 6,08521.5%
1990 5,730−5.8%
2000 6,0866.2%
2010 6,006−1.3%
2020 5,637−6.1%
2023 (est.)5,561 [7] −1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [8]
1790-1960 [9] 1900-1990 [10]
1990-2000 [11] 2010 [12]

2020 census

Putnam County, Illinois – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980 [13] Pop 1990 [14] Pop 2000 [15] Pop 2010 [16] Pop 2020 [17] % 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)6,0395,5695,8175,6545,07399.24%97.19%95.58%94.14%89.99%
Black or African American alone (NH)693731260.10%0.16%0.61%0.52%0.46%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)5614570.08%0.10%0.23%0.08%0.12%
Asian alone (NH)271613180.03%0.12%0.26%0.22%0.32%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x [18] x [19] 014xx0.00%0.02%0.07%
Other race alone (NH)110180.02%0.02%0.00%0.02%0.14%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x [20] x [21] 3149153xx0.51%0.82%2.71%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)321381712523480.53%2.41%2.81%4.20%6.17%
Total6,0855,7306,0866,0065,637 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 6,006 people, 2,509 households, and 1,734 families residing in the county. [22] The population density was 37.5 inhabitants per square mile (14.5/km2). There were 3,074 housing units at an average density of 19.2 per square mile (7.4/km2). [5] The racial makeup of the county was 96.6% white, 0.5% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 1.4% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.2% of the population. [22] In terms of ancestry, 46.5% were German, 16.7% were Irish, 16.3% were Italian, 10.9% were Polish, 10.1% were English, 5.1% were Swedish, and 3.5% were American. [23]

Of the 2,509 households, 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.9% were non-families, and 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age was 45.2 years. [22]

The median income for a household in the county was $56,458 and the median income for a family was $68,875. Males had a median income of $50,205 versus $31,886 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,004. About 6.2% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.8% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over. [24]

Communities

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Putnam County is divided into four townships:

Politics

Prior to 1988, Putnam County was a Republican Party stronghold in presidential elections, backing the Republican candidate in all but three elections from 1892 to 1984. From 1988 to 2012, the county consistently backed Democratic Party presidential candidates, but none fared better than Illinois resident Barack Obama's 56.9% in 2008. However, he failed to win a majority of the county's votes four years later despite winning it overall in his 2012 reelection bid. This foreshadowed what was to come in the 2016 election, as the county swung 21.8 points Republican to back Donald Trump over Illinois-born Hillary Clinton by a margin of 19.9%. [25]

United States presidential election results for Putnam County, Illinois [26]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1892 56149.04%51444.93%696.03%
1896 70658.06%47939.39%312.55%
1900 73860.29%45036.76%362.94%
1904 75365.03%35530.66%504.32%
1908 83462.99%41331.19%775.82%
1912 58339.88%42429.00%45531.12%
1916 1,44462.48%78533.97%823.55%
1920 1,62374.04%36216.51%2079.44%
1924 1,36461.50%26011.72%59426.78%
1928 1,38761.10%86938.28%140.62%
1932 1,05039.61%1,55458.62%471.77%
1936 1,43549.47%1,43749.53%291.00%
1940 1,77859.56%1,19540.03%120.40%
1944 1,52163.48%86536.10%100.42%
1948 1,40560.15%90538.74%261.11%
1952 1,69162.56%1,01037.37%20.07%
1956 1,72465.28%91334.57%40.15%
1960 1,45755.63%1,16044.29%20.08%
1964 1,13145.42%1,35954.58%00.00%
1968 1,35153.93%98839.44%1666.63%
1972 1,66559.74%1,11239.90%100.36%
1976 1,57253.13%1,34445.42%431.45%
1980 1,95957.38%1,15833.92%2978.70%
1984 1,91256.02%1,48743.57%140.41%
1988 1,51648.30%1,60151.00%220.70%
1992 96929.29%1,57447.58%76523.13%
1996 98735.71%1,42551.56%35212.74%
2000 1,43745.20%1,65752.12%852.67%
2004 1,62348.42%1,70450.84%250.75%
2008 1,37841.23%1,90056.85%641.92%
2012 1,50247.79%1,55949.60%822.61%
2016 1,76756.78%1,14736.86%1986.36%
2020 1,99358.70%1,33839.41%641.89%
2024 2,01460.16%1,25437.46%802.39%

Education

K-12 school districts which cover portions of the county include Henry-Senachwine Consolidated Unit School District 5 and Putnam County Community Unit School District 535. Additionally, two small portions are in the Princeton Elementary School District 115 and the Princeton High School District 500. [27]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020–2024". United States Census Bureau. U.S. Department of Commerce. March 2025. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Putnam County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ "About Putnam County". Putnam County, Illinois. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
  5. 1 2 "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Monthly Averages for Hennepin, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  12. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  13. ↑ "1980 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Illinois- Table 14 - Persons by Race and Table 16 (p. 18-28) - Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race (p. 29-39)" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  14. ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Illinois - Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Orogin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  15. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Putnam County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau .
  16. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Putnam County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau .
  17. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Putnam County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau .
  18. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  19. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  20. ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
  21. ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
  22. 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 July 12, 2015.
  23. ↑ "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 July 12, 2015.
  24. ↑ "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 July 12, 2015.
  25. ↑ "Here's a map of the US counties that flipped to Trump from Democrats". www.cnbc.com. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
  26. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  27. ↑ Geography Division (December 22, 2020). 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Putnam County, IL (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved June 17, 2025. - Text list

41°12′N89°17′W / 41.20°N 89.28°W / 41.20; -89.28

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