Illinois

Putnam

5,637
2020 population
1830
first census record
20
census records

About Putnam

Putnam, Illinois, first appears in the United States federal census in 1830, when it recorded a population of 1,310. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 5,637.

Its recorded population peaked at 7,579 in 1920, and has since declined by roughly 26 percent.

On the ground today, 4 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20205,637
20106,006
20006,086
19905,730
19806,085
19705,007
19604,570
19504,746
19405,289
19305,235
19207,579
19107,561
19004,746
18904,730
18805,554
18706,280
18605,587
18503,924
18402,131
18301,310
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Putnam

National Register of Historic Places listings in Putnam, Illinois.

Pulsifer, Edward, House
Hennepin
Putnam County Courthouse
Hennepin
Condit, Cortland, House
Putman
Clear Creek Meeting House
McNabb

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Everything a full report reveals about Putnam County, Illinois

This page charts the census history of Putnam County, Illinois. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Explore Illinois records

Illinoishistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Illinois›

Frequently asked about Putnam

When does Putnam first appear in the US census?
Putnam, Illinois first appears in the federal census in 1830, with a recorded population of 1,310.
What is the population of Putnam?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Putnam had a recorded population of 5,637.
When did Putnam's population peak?
Putnam's recorded population peaked at 7,579 in 1920.
How many historic places are in Putnam?
4 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Putnam, Illinois.
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