Indiana

Putnam

36,726
2020 population
1830
first census record
20
census records

About Putnam

Putnam, Indiana, first appears in the United States federal census in 1830, when it recorded a population of 8,262. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 36,726.

Its recorded population peaked at 37,963 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 3 percent.

On the ground today, 34 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202036,726
201037,963
200036,019
199030,315
198029,163
197026,932
196024,927
195022,950
194020,839
193020,448
192019,880
191020,520
190021,478
189022,335
188022,501
187021,514
186020,681
185018,615
184016,843
18308,262
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, Indiana.

Delta Kappa Epilson Fraternity House
Greencastle
Hirt, Alfred, House
Greencastle
Putnam County Bridge No. 159
Reelsville
Forest Hill Cemetery
Greencastle
Boulders, The
Greencastle
Van Arsdel, William C., House
Greencastle
McHaffie, Melville F., Farm
Stilesville
Brick Chapel United Methodist Church
Greencastle
Eastern Enlargement Historic District
Greencastle
Old Greencastle Historic District
Greencastle
Courthouse Square Historic District
Greencastle
Hazelett, Richard M., House
Greencastle
McKim Observatory, DePauw University
Greencastle
Browse all Indianahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Indiana

Explore census history and historic records for more Indiana counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Putnam County, Indiana

This page charts the census history of Putnam County, Indiana. 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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Frequently asked about Putnam

When does Putnam first appear in the US census?
Putnam, Indiana first appears in the federal census in 1830, with a recorded population of 8,262.
What is the population of Putnam?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Putnam had a recorded population of 36,726.
When did Putnam's population peak?
Putnam's recorded population peaked at 37,963 in 2010.
How many historic places are in Putnam?
34 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Putnam, Indiana.
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