# Putnam County, Ohio

Putnam County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 34,451. Its county seat is Ottawa. The county was created in 1820 and later organized in 1834. Its name is in honor of Israel Putnam, a colonial officer in the French and Indian War, who served as a general in the American Revolutionary War. The Blanchard River, which passes through the county, was a key transportation route for early European-American settlers.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 484 square miles (1,250 km$^2$), of which 483 square miles (1,250 km$^2$) is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km$^2$) (0.4%) is water. The Blanchard River passes through the county.

### Adjacent counties

* Henry County (north)
* Hancock County (east)
* Allen County (south)
* Van Wert County (southwest)
* Paulding County (west)
* Defiance County (northwest)
* Wood County (northeast, at a single point)

## Demographics
### 2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 34,726 people, 12,200 households, and 9,308 families living in the county. The population density was 72 people per square mile (28 people/km$^2$). There were 12,753 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile (10/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 96.26% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.51% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. 4.38% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 12,200 households, out of which 39.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.90% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.70% were non-families. 21.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.70% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 20.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $46,426, and the median income for a family was $52,859. Males had a median income of $36,548 versus $23,963 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,680. About 4.00% of families and 5.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.40% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.

### 2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 34,499 people, 12,872 households, and 9,556 families living in the county. The population density was 71.5 inhabitants per square mile (27.6/km$^2$). There were 13,731 housing units at an average density of 28.5 per square mile (11.0/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 95.7% white, 0.3% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 2.7% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 65.6% identified as German, 7.8% were Irish, 7.3% were American, 4.7% were English, 2.4% were French, 1.8% were Swiss, 1.7% were Dutch, 1.6% were Italian, 1.4% were Scottish, 1.0% were Welsh, 0.8% were Hungarian and 0.8% were Polish.
Of the 12,872 households, 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 25.8% were non-families, and 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.13. The median age was 39.0 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $56,573 and the median income for a family was $65,882. Males had a median income of $44,417 versus $33,200 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,023. About 5.8% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.8% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.

## Politics

Prior to 1940, Putnam County was a Democratic Party county stronghold presidential elections, with James M. Cox in 1920 being the only Democrat to lose it before that year. But starting with the 1940 election, it has become a Republican stronghold. The only 2 Democrats to win the county since then are Harry S. Truman in 1948 and Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.
Putnam County is known for its strong social conservatism. In November 2023, it gave only 17% of the vote to Ohio Issue 1, which legalized abortion, and 31% to Ohio Issue 2, which legalized recreational marijuana. In both referendums, this was the lowest percentage for any county in Ohio.
United States presidential election results for Putnam County, Ohio :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 16,576 | 83.55% | 2,996 | 15.10% | 268 | 1.35% |
| 2020 | 16,412 | 82.28% | 3,195 | 16.02% | 340 | 1.70% |
| 2016 | 14,961 | 79.34% | 2,922 | 15.50% | 974 | 5.17% |
| 2012 | 13,721 | 74.57% | 4,318 | 23.47% | 361 | 1.96% |
| 2008 | 13,072 | 69.98% | 5,281 | 28.27% | 327 | 1.75% |
| 2004 | 14,370 | 76.24% | 4,392 | 23.30% | 87 | 0.46% |
| 2000 | 12,837 | 74.01% | 4,063 | 23.43% | 444 | 2.56% |
| 1996 | 9,294 | 57.52% | 4,972 | 30.77% | 1,892 | 11.71% |
| 1992 | 9,338 | 54.92% | 3,962 | 23.30% | 3,704 | 21.78% |
| 1988 | 11,183 | 73.09% | 4,004 | 26.17% | 114 | 0.75% |
| 1984 | 11,936 | 78.26% | 3,194 | 20.94% | 121 | 0.79% |
| 1980 | 9,752 | 68.71% | 3,742 | 26.37% | 699 | 4.92% |
| 1976 | 7,332 | 57.69% | 5,035 | 39.61% | 343 | 2.70% |
| 1972 | 8,185 | 66.32% | 3,729 | 30.21% | 428 | 3.47% |
| 1968 | 7,188 | 59.38% | 3,530 | 29.16% | 1,387 | 11.46% |
| 1964 | 5,221 | 42.67% | 7,014 | 57.33% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 6,834 | 53.09% | 6,039 | 46.91% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 8,408 | 70.38% | 3,538 | 29.62% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 8,398 | 68.85% | 3,799 | 31.15% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 5,006 | 49.33% | 5,114 | 50.39% | 28 | 0.28% |
| 1944 | 8,004 | 71.79% | 3,145 | 28.21% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 8,946 | 70.99% | 3,655 | 29.01% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 4,151 | 33.16% | 5,786 | 46.23% | 2,580 | 20.61% |
| 1932 | 3,646 | 30.69% | 8,078 | 68.00% | 155 | 1.30% |
| 1928 | 5,537 | 49.20% | 5,667 | 50.36% | 50 | 0.44% |
| 1924 | 4,377 | 41.83% | 4,795 | 45.82% | 1,293 | 12.36% |
| 1920 | 5,157 | 52.10% | 4,673 | 47.21% | 69 | 0.70% |
| 1916 | 2,243 | 33.84% | 4,294 | 64.79% | 91 | 1.37% |
| 1912 | 1,000 | 15.60% | 4,000 | 62.40% | 1,410 | 22.00% |
| 1908 | 2,483 | 33.17% | 4,836 | 64.61% | 166 | 2.22% |
| 1904 | 2,853 | 39.48% | 4,145 | 57.36% | 228 | 3.16% |
| 1900 | 2,817 | 35.89% | 4,943 | 62.98% | 88 | 1.12% |
| 1896 | 2,728 | 33.68% | 5,303 | 65.48% | 68 | 0.84% |
| 1892 | 2,314 | 33.73% | 4,177 | 60.89% | 369 | 5.38% |
| 1888 | 2,355 | 34.61% | 4,261 | 62.62% | 189 | 2.78% |
| 1884 | 2,194 | 35.11% | 4,009 | 64.15% | 46 | 0.74% |
| 1880 | 1,851 | 34.94% | 3,417 | 64.50% | 30 | 0.57% |
| 1876 | 1,606 | 33.56% | 3,174 | 66.33% | 5 | 0.10% |
| 1872 | 1,275 | 37.22% | 2,131 | 62.20% | 20 | 0.58% |
| 1868 | 1,184 | 37.15% | 2,003 | 62.85% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1864 | 1,120 | 39.53% | 1,713 | 60.47% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1860 | 1,010 | 40.48% | 1,478 | 59.24% | 7 | 0.28% |
| 1856 | 790 | 41.36% | 1,116 | 58.43% | 4 | 0.21% |

## Education

The Putnam County Board of Education operates nine separate school districts county-wide.
* Columbus Grove Local School, Putnam County, Ohio
** St. Anthony's Elementary
* Continental Local School, Putnam County, Ohio
* Fort Jennings Local School District, Putnam County, Ohio
* Kalida Local School District, Putnam County, Ohio
* Leipsic Local School District, Putnam County, Ohio
** Leipsic St. Mary's Elementary
* McComb Local School District, Hancock County, Ohio (mostly in Hancock County)
* Miller City-New Cleveland Local School District, Putnam County, Ohio
* Ottawa-Glandorf Local School District, Putnam County, Ohio
** St. Peter and Paul Elementary
** Loving Care Daycare and Preschool
** Ottawa-Glandorf Alternative School
* Ottoville Local School District, Putnam County, Ohio
* Pandora-Gilboa Local School, Putnam County, Ohio
Other villages across the county are served by one or more of these districts above in the district's zone area.

## Communities
### Villages

* Belmore
* Cloverdale
* Columbus Grove
* Continental
* Dupont
* Fort Jennings
* Gilboa
* Glandorf
* Kalida
* Leipsic
* Miller City
* Ottawa (county seat)
* Ottoville
* Pandora
* West Leipsic

### Townships

* Blanchard
* Greensburg
* Jackson
* Jennings
* Liberty
* Monroe
* Monterey
* Ottawa
* Palmer
* Perry
* Pleasant
* Riley
* Sugar Creek
* Union
* Van Buren

### Census-designated place

* Vaughnsville

### Unincorporated communities

* Avis
* Cascade
* Crosswell
* Cuba
* Dorninton
* Douglas
* Elm Center
* Hartsburg
* Hector
* Jones City
* Kieferville
* Muntanna
* New Cleveland
* North Creek
* Prentiss
* Rice
* Rimer
* Rushmore
* Townwood
* Wisterman