Tennessee

Putnam

79,854
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Putnam

Putnam, Tennessee, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 8,558. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 79,854.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 15 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202079,854
201072,321
200062,315
199051,373
198047,690
197035,487
196029,236
195029,869
194026,250
193023,759
192022,231
191020,023
190016,890
189013,683
188011,501
18708,698
18608,558
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, Tennessee.

Algood Methodist Church
Algood
First Presbyterian Church
Cookeville
White Plains
Cookeville
Arcade, The
Cookeville
West End Church of Christ Silver Point
Silver Point
Cookeville Railroad Depot
Cookeville
Browse all Tennesseehistoric sites ›

Other counties in Tennessee

Explore census history and historic records for more Tennessee counties.

CrockettCumberlandDavidsonDecaturDeKalbDicksonDyerFayetteFentressFranklinGibsonGilesGraingerGreeneGrundyHamblenHamiltonHancockHardemanHardin
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Everything a full report reveals about Putnam County, Tennessee

This page charts the census history of Putnam County, Tennessee. 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, Tennessee first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 8,558.
What is the population of Putnam?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Putnam had a recorded population of 79,854.
How many historic places are in Putnam?
15 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Putnam, Tennessee.
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