Putnam County's History

After its original formation in 1842 was declared unconstitutional, Putnam County was firmly established February 11, 1854 when Richard Fielding Cooke's bill, with amendments, cleared the Tennessee House. Putnam County was again a reality. It is named in honor of General Israel Putnam, who rose to prominence in the American Revolutionary War and fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775. Putnam County was first established on February 2, 1842 when the twenty-fourth General Assembly enacted a measure creating Putnam County from portions of Jackson, Overton, Fentress, and White Counties. Isaac Buck, Burton Marchbanks, Henry L. McDaniel, Lawson Clark, Carr Terry, Richard F. Cooke, H. D. Marchbanks, Craven Maddox and Elijah Con, all of Jackson County, were named by the Act to superintend the surveying of the new county.

Population 83,473

Area 403 square miles

Government Mayor Randy Porter, (931) 526-2161 

Public Safety Volunteer Fire Dept.: (931) 528-1200

Sheriff’s Dept.: (931)528-8484

*Information courtesy THE CITY OF COOKEVILLE