West Virginia

Putnam

57,440
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Putnam

Putnam, West Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 5,335. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 57,440.

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

On the ground today, 11 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Scary Creek, Engagement at Scary Creek, Action at Buffalo (Putnam County), and 7 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202057,440
201055,486
200051,589
199042,835
198038,181
197027,625
196023,561
195021,021
194019,511
193016,737
192017,531
191018,587
190017,330
189014,342
188011,375
18707,794
18606,301
18505,335
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Putnam

Military engagements that took place in Putnam, West Virginia.

Battle of Scary Creek
1861
Engagement at Scary Creek
1861
Action at Buffalo (Putnam County)
1861
Battle of Scary Creek West Virginia (July 1861)
1861
Engagement at Scary Creek West Virginia
1861
Skirmish on Poca River (1862)
1862
Skirmish at Winfield
1862
Battle of Hurricane Bridge
1862
Jenkins' Hurricane Bridge Skirmish
1862
Skirmish at Buffalo, Putnam County (1862)
1862
Skirmish at Winfield, Putnam County (1864)
1864

Historic places in Putnam

National Register of Historic Places listings in Putnam, West Virginia.

Winfield Toll Bridge
Winfield
Buffalo Town Square Historic District
Buffalo
Buffalo Indian Village Site
Buffalo
Hoge, James W., House
Winfield
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Other counties in West Virginia

Explore census history and historic records for more West Virginia counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Putnam County, West Virginia

This page charts the census history of Putnam County, West Virginia. 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, West Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 5,335.
What is the population of Putnam?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Putnam had a recorded population of 57,440.
Were any battles fought in Putnam?
11 documented military engagements took place in Putnam, including Battle of Scary Creek, Engagement at Scary Creek, Action at Buffalo (Putnam County).
How many historic places are in Putnam?
7 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Putnam, West Virginia.
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