Putnam County was laid out from Baldwin County in 1807.  The new county was named for General Israel Putnam of Connecticut, Massachusetts, one of the most noted patriots of the Revolutionary War.  The new county lay in the heart of Georgia’s Piedmont region and was part of the lands ceded by the Creek Indians in 1802 and 1805.  The new county filled quickly with land-hungry settlers, and had a total population of 15,475 by 1820---the total population of Putnam County in 2000 was 18,812.

Eatonton was founded as the seat of Putnam County in 1808 and was incorporated the following year.

Putnam County is the birthplace of Joel Chandler Harris (1848).  Joel Chandler Harris created the world famous “Uncle Remus” folklore tales.   These folklore tales were his most famous masterpieces.  Who can forget those wonderful characters like Br’er Rabbit and Br’er Fox.

1983 Pulitzer Prize winning author Alice Walker, was also born in Putnam County.  Her novel “The Color Purple” was later made into a hit movie starring Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey.

This is the official home page of the Putnam County GAGenWeb Project.  I am part of a group of volunteers working together to provide internet websites for genealogical research in every county in the State of Georgia. This Project is non-commercial and fully committed to free access for everyone.  GAGenWeb members are located through the world, not just in Georgia.  We rely on the resources of the Internet and on volunteers who are able to transcribe primary documents to assist us in getting information on line.

If you have information that you are willing to share, such as cemetery, census, marriage, deeds, or wills  please let me know and I'll  put them here on the Putnam County site.  If you have a website relating to ancestors from Putnam County, please submit that as well.  Other items of interest that I could use are any old photographs, family histories or other information of interest to someone researching their family. 

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with the GaGenWeb project email State Coordinator:
Vivian Price Saffold or Assistant State Coordinator: Linda Blum Barton