Parcel Chartplaces Open the free map

County · code 47141

Putnam CountyTennessee

Putnam County is a county in Tennessee, with its seat in Cookeville. It was first created in 1842 from Fentress, Jackson, Overton, and White counties, named after Israel Putnam.

  • Founded1842
  • County seatCookeville
  • Named forIsrael Putnam
  • Land area401 sq mi + 1.5 sq mi water
  • Population79,854 2020 Census
  • Parcels mapped38,555 checked 15 October 2026
Open the free map Click any parcel in Putnam County: acreage, parcel id, address and who publishes the map. No sign-in.

Updated

WhiteJacksonOvertonDeKalbSmithCumberlandFentress Cookeville Census outline · seat marked

Where it is

Putnam on the map of Tennessee

Tennessee has 95 counties and county equivalents, each with its own records office. Shapes with a page are links.

Anderson CountyBedford CountyBenton CountyBledsoe CountyBlount CountyBradley CountyCampbell CountyCannon CountyCarroll CountyCarter CountyCheatham CountyChester CountyClaiborne CountyClay CountyCocke CountyCoffee CountyCrockett CountyCumberland CountyDavidson CountyDecatur CountyDeKalb CountyDickson CountyDyer CountyFayette CountyFentress CountyFranklin CountyGibson CountyGiles CountyGrainger CountyGreene CountyGrundy CountyHamblen CountyHamilton CountyHancock CountyHardeman CountyHardin CountyHawkins CountyHaywood CountyHenderson CountyHenry CountyHickman CountyHouston CountyHumphreys CountyJackson CountyJefferson CountyJohnson CountyKnox CountyLake CountyLauderdale CountyLawrence CountyLewis CountyLincoln CountyLoudon CountyMcMinn CountyMcNairy CountyMacon CountyMadison CountyMarion CountyMarshall CountyMaury CountyMeigs CountyMonroe CountyMontgomery CountyMoore CountyMorgan CountyObion CountyOverton CountyPerry CountyPickett CountyPolk CountyRhea CountyRoane CountyRobertson CountyRutherford CountyScott CountySequatchie CountySevier CountyShelby CountySmith CountyStewart CountySullivan CountySumner CountyTipton CountyTrousdale CountyUnicoi CountyUnion CountyVan Buren CountyWarren CountyWashington CountyWayne CountyWeakley CountyWhite CountyWilliamson CountyWilson CountyPutnam County Putnam
Counties of Tennessee · Putnam highlighted

History

Formed in 1842 from Fentress County, Jackson County, Overton County and White County

An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.

Putnam County was created on February 2, 1842, from Fentress, Jackson, Overton, and White counties. The county was eliminated in 1845 when Overton Chancery Court declared its establishment unconstitutional. It was re-created on February 11, 1854, from Dekalb, Fentress, Jackson, Overton, Smith, and White counties, with slightly different boundaries. Over the following years, Putnam County lost territory to the creation of Cumberland County and to adjustments with Dekalb, Jackson, Smith, and White counties.

Boundary changes from the Newberry Library, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries; the 5 that matter most are shown first.

  1. 1842
    Putnam County created Putnam created from Fentress, Jackson, Overton, and White.
    from Fentressfrom Jacksonfrom Overtonfrom White
    · Tenn. Acts 1841, 24th assy., 1st sess., ch. 169, sec. 1/p. 186
  2. 1845
    Eliminated Putnam eliminated when Overton Chancery Court declared Putnam to have been unconstitutionally established.
    into Overton
    · DeLozier, 21; McBride, 11; Tenn. Acts 1845, 26th assy., ch. 75/p. 141
  3. 1854
    Putnam County created Putnam re-created from Dekalb, Fentress, Jackson, Overton, Smith, and White; boundaries were slightly different from 1842 county.
    from Dekalbfrom Fentressfrom Jacksonfrom Overtonfrom Smithfrom White
    · Tenn. Acts 1853, 30th assy., ch. 320, secs. 1-2, 10, 21, 24-25/pp. 744-754
  4. 1855
    Lost territory Putnam lost to creation of Cumberland.
    to Cumberland
    · Tenn. Acts 1855, 31st assy., ch. 6, sec. 1/p. 9
  5. 1855
    Lost territory Putnam lost to Dekalb.
    to Dekalb
    · Tenn. Acts 1855, 31st assy., ch. 27/p. 29
Show all 83 changes (78 more, mostly small adjustments)
  1. 1842
    Putnam County created Putnam created from Fentress, Jackson, Overton, and White.
    from Fentressfrom Jacksonfrom Overtonfrom White
    · Tenn. Acts 1841, 24th assy., 1st sess., ch. 169, sec. 1/p. 186
  2. 1845
    Eliminated Putnam eliminated when Overton Chancery Court declared Putnam to have been unconstitutionally established.
    into Overton
    · DeLozier, 21; McBride, 11; Tenn. Acts 1845, 26th assy., ch. 75/p. 141
  3. 1854
    Putnam County created Putnam re-created from Dekalb, Fentress, Jackson, Overton, Smith, and White; boundaries were slightly different from 1842 county.
    from Dekalbfrom Fentressfrom Jacksonfrom Overtonfrom Smithfrom White
    · Tenn. Acts 1853, 30th assy., ch. 320, secs. 1-2, 10, 21, 24-25/pp. 744-754
  4. 1855
    Lost territory Putnam lost to creation of Cumberland.
    to Cumberland
    · Tenn. Acts 1855, 31st assy., ch. 6, sec. 1/p. 9
  5. 1855
    Lost territory Putnam lost to Dekalb.
    to Dekalb
    · Tenn. Acts 1855, 31st assy., ch. 27/p. 29
  6. 1856
    Lost territory Putnam lost to Dekalb to accommodate local residents.
    to Dekalb
    · Tenn. Acts 1855, 31st assy., ch. 165/p. 256
  7. 1856
    Lost territory Putnam lost to White to accommodate local residents.
    to White
    · Tenn. Acts 1855, 31st assy., ch. 173, secs. 1-5, 8-9/pp. 264-266
  8. 1858
    Lost territory Putnam lost to Dekalb to accommodate local resident.
    to Dekalb
    · Tenn. Acts 1857, 32d assy., pub., ch. 36/p. 44
  9. 1858
    Lost territory Putnam lost to Dekalb.
    to Dekalb
    · Tenn. Acts 1857, 32d assy., priv., ch. 129/p. 324
  10. 1860
    Lost territory Putnam lost to Jackson to accommodate local resident.
    to Jackson
    · Tenn. Acts 1859, 33d assy., 1st sess., priv., ch. 100, secs. 1-14/pp. 368-370
  11. 1860
    Lost territory Putnam lost to White to accommodate local resident (later repealed).
    to White
    · Tenn. Acts 1859, 33d assy., 1st sess., priv., ch. 135, secs. 1-13/pp. 438-440
  12. 1860
    Lost territory Putnam lost to Smith.
    to Smith
    · Tenn. Acts 1859, 33d assy., 1st sess., priv., ch. 196, secs. 1-11/pp. 575-577
  13. 1867
    Lost territory Putnam lost to Smith to accommodate local resident.
    to Smith
    · Tenn. Acts 1867, 35th assy., 1st sess., pub., ch. 23/p. 24
  14. 1868
    Lost territory Putnam lost to Dekalb to accommodate local resident; Putnam lost to Smith.
    to Dekalbto Smith
    · Tenn. Acts 1867, 35th assy., 1st sess., pub., ch. 82/p. 108
  15. 1869
    Lost territory Putnam lost to Smith to accommodate local resident.
    to Smith
    · Tenn. Acts 1868, 35th assy., 2d sess., pub., ch. 20/p. 20
  16. 1869
    Gained territory Putnam gained from Overton to accommodate local resident.
    from Overton
    · Tenn. Acts 1868, 35th assy., 2d sess., pub., ch. 36/p. 48
  17. 1869
    Lost territory Putnam lost to Smith to accommodate local residents.
    to Smith
    · Tenn. Acts 1868, 35th assy., 2d sess., pub., ch. 43/p. 64
  18. 1870
    Lost territory Putnam lost to Smith to accommodate local resident.
    to Smith
    · Tenn. Acts 1869, 36th assy., 1st sess., pub., ch. 48/p. 62
  19. 1870
    Gained territory Putnam gained from Overton to accommodate local resident.
    from Overton
    · Tenn. Acts 1870, 36th assy., 2d sess., ch. 49/p. 85
  20. 1870
    Exchanged territory Putnam exchanged small areas with Smith (later overturned).
    with Smith
    · Tenn. Acts 1870, 36th assy., 2d sess., ch. 84/p. 133
  21. 1871
    Gained territory Putnam gained from Overton to accommodate local resident.
    from Overton
    · Tenn. Acts 1870, 36th assy., 3d sess., ch. 111/p. 131
  22. 1871
    Gained territory Putnam gained from White to accommodate local resident (later repealed).
    from White
    · Tenn. Acts 1871, 37th assy., 1st sess., ch. 74/p. 67
  23. 1871
    Gained territory Putnam gained from Cumberland to accommodate local resident.
    from Cumberland
    · Tenn. Acts 1871, 37th assy., 1st sess., ch. 104/p. 117
  24. 1873
    Gained territory Putnam gained from Jackson to accommodate local residents; Putnam gained from Overton. Putnam lost to Smith to accommodate local resident (later overturned).
    from Jacksonfrom Overtonfrom Smith
    · Tenn. Acts 1873, 38th assy., ch. 76/p. 110; ch. 66/p. 101
  25. 1877
    Lost territory Putnam lost to Smith to accommodate local resident (later overturned).
    to Smith
    · Tenn. Acts 1877, 40th assy., 1st sess., ch. 115/p. 138
  26. 1877
    Gained territory Putnam gained from Jackson to accommodate local residents.
    from Jackson
    · Tenn. Acts 1877, 40th assy., 1st sess., ch. 148/p. 175
  27. 1881
    Lost territory Putnam lost to Smith to accommodate local residents (later overturned).
    to Smith
    · Tenn. Acts 1881, 42d assy., 1st sess., ch. 142/p. 191
  28. 1883
    Gained territory Putnam gained from Jackson to accommodate local residents.
    from Jackson
    · Tenn. Acts 1883, 43d assy., ch. 42/p. 47
  29. 1883
    Exchanged territory Putnam exchanged with Smith to accommodate local residents (later overturned).
    with Smith
    · Tenn. Acts 1883, 43d assy., ch. 99/p. 97
  30. 1883
    Gained territory Putnam gained from Cumberland to accommodate local residents.
    from Cumberlandfrom Putnam-Cumberland
    · Tenn. Acts 1883, 43d assy., ch. 109/p. 137
  31. 1883
    Lost territory Putnam lost to Jackson to accommodate local resident.
    to Jackson
    · Tenn. Acts 1883, 43d assy., ch. 175/p. 250
  32. 1887
    Lost territory Putnam lost to Dekalb to accommodate local resident.
    to Dekalb
    · Tenn. Acts 1887, 45th assy., ch. 192/p. 324
  33. 1887
    Gained territory Putnam gained small area from White; Putnam exchanged with Overton to accommodate local residents.
    from Whitefrom Overton
    · Tenn. Acts 1887, 45th assy., ch. 203/p. 334; ch. 212/p. 343; ch. 195/p. 327
  34. 1889
    Gained territory Putnam gained from Overton to accommodate local resident.
    from Overton
    · Tenn. Acts 1889, 46th assy., 1st sess., ch. 60/p. 90
  35. 1889
    Gained territory Putnam gained from Overton to accommodate local resident; Putnam exchanged with Jackson to accommodate local residents; Putnam lost to White to accommodate local residents.
    from Overtonfrom Jacksonfrom White
    · Tenn. Acts 1889, 46th assy., 1st sess., ch. 116/p. 220; ch. 109/p. 214; ch. 113/p. 217
  36. 1889
    Gained territory Putnam gained from Dekalb to accommodate local residents.
    from Dekalb
    · Tenn. Acts 1889, 46th assy., 1st sess., ch. 141/p. 279
  37. 1891
    Lost territory Putnam lost to Overton to accommodate local resident.
    to Overton
    · Tenn. Acts 1891, 47th assy., ch. 260/p. 495
  38. 1893
    Gained territory Putnam gained from Jackson to accommodate local resident.
    from Jackson
    · Tenn. Acts 1893, 48th assy., ch. 102/p. 209
  39. 1895
    Lost territory Putnam lost to Smith to accommodate local resident (later overturned).
    to Smith
    · Tenn. Acts 1895, 49th assy., ch. 98/p. 162
  40. 1895
    Gained territory Putnam gained from Jackson to accommodate local resident.
    from Jackson
    · Tenn. Acts 1895, 49th assy., ch. 116/p. 187
  41. 1897
    Exchanged territory Putnam exchanged with White to accommodate local residents; Putnam lost to Smith to accommodate local resident (later overturned).
    with Whitewith Smith
    · Tenn. Acts 1897, 50th assy., ch. 306/p. 646; ch. 148/p. 335
  42. 1901
    Gained territory Putnam gained from Jackson and Overton to accommodate local resident.
    from Jacksonfrom Overton
    · Tenn. Acts 1901, 52d assy., ch. 262/p. 573
  43. 1902
    Changed Putnam undertook an official survey of its boundary with White and laid claim to and took control of the Ravenscroft area.
    White
    · "Putnam County v. White County" in Tenn. Rpts., 140:23
  44. 1903
    Gained territory Putnam gained from Jackson to accommodate local resident.
    from Jackson
    · Tenn. Acts 1903, 53d assy., ch. 23/p. 51
  45. 1903
    Lost territory Putnam lost to Overton to accommodate local resident.
    to Overton
    · Tenn. Acts 1903, 53d assy., ch. 56/p. 96
  46. 1903
    Lost territory Putnam lost to Overton to accommodate local resident.
    to Overton
    · Tenn. Acts 1903, 53d assy., ch. 223/p. 492
  47. 1903
    Gained territory Putnam gained from Overton to accommodate local residents.
    from Overton
    · Tenn. Acts 1903, 53d assy., ch. 523/p. 1401
  48. 1903
    Gained territory Putnam gained from Overton to accommodate local resident.
    from Overton
    · Tenn. Acts 1903, 53d assy., ch. 425/p. 1222
  49. 1905
    Gained territory Putnam gained from Dekalb and Overton to accommodate local resident.
    from Dekalbfrom Overton
    · Tenn. Acts 1905, 54th assy., ch. 36/p. 82; ch. 38/p. 83
  50. 1905
    Gained territory Putnam gained from Jackson to accommodate local resident.
    from Jackson
    · Tenn. Acts 1905, 54th assy., ch. 9/p. 21
  51. 1905
    Lost territory Putnam lost to Dekalb to accommodate local resident.
    to Dekalb
    · Tenn. Acts 1905, 54th assy., ch. 156/p. 345
  52. 1905
    Gained territory Putnam gained from Jackson to accommodate local residents; Putnam lost to Overton to accommodate local resident.
    from Jacksonfrom Overton
    · Tenn. Acts 1905, 54th assy., ch. 199/p. 417; ch. 218/p. 451; ch. 197/p. 415; ch. 198/p. 416
  53. 1905
    Exchanged territory Putnam exchanged with Jackson to accommodate local residents.
    with Jackson
    · Tenn. Acts 1905, 54th assy., ch. 238/p. 512; ch. 239/p. 513
  54. 1905
    Lost territory Putnam lost to Smith to accommodate local resident (later overturned).
    to Smith
    · Tenn. Acts 1905, 54th assy., ch. 370/p. 776
  55. 1905
    Gained territory Putnam gained from Overton to accommodate local resident.
    from Overton
    · Tenn. Acts 1905, 54th assy., ch. 538/p. 1231
  56. 1907
    Lost territory Putnam lost to Dekalb to accommodate local resident.
    to Dekalb
    · Tenn. Acts 1907, 55th assy., ch. 503/p. 1686
  57. 1909
    Gained territory Putnam gained from Overton to accommodate local resident.
    from Overton
    · Tenn. Acts 1909, 56th assy., ch. 493/p. 1797
  58. 1911
    Gained territory Putnam gained small area from Overton.
    from Overton
    · Tenn. Acts 1911, 57th assy., priv., ch. 537/p. 1619
  59. 1913
    Exchanged territory Putnam exchanged with Smith when Tennessee Supreme Court overturned acts of 7 July 1870, 24 March 1873, 24 March 1877, 6 April 1881, 19 March 1883, 8 April 1895, 29 April 1897, and 13 April 1905.
    with Smithwith Putnam-Smith
    · "Putnam County v. Smith County" in Tenn. Rpts., 129:394-397
  60. 1915
    Lost territory Putnam lost to Dekalb to accommodate local resident. Putnam exchanged with White in order to restore the Ravenscroft area to White. Legislature authorized White to gain from Putnam to accommodate local residents (later overturned).
    to Dekalbto White
    · Tenn. Acts 1915, 59th assy., priv., ch. 541/p. 1735; ch. 477/p. 1560; ch. 656/p. 2137
  61. 1917
    Changed Tennessee Supreme Court upheld act of 17 May 1915 (ch. 477) and ruled that the Ravenscroft area, which was transferred from Putnam to White by said act, had actually always been part of White, thus invalidating the 1902 boundary survey. Supreme Court also upheld ruling of Putnam Chancery Court which overturned act of 17 May 1915 (ch. 656).
    White
    · "Putnam County v. White County" in Tenn. Rpts., 140:19-33
  62. 1925
    Gained territory Putnam gained small area from White.
    from White
    · Tenn. Acts 1925, 64th assy., priv., ch. 698/p. 2567
  63. 1929
    Gained territory Putnam gained small area from Dekalb to accommodate local resident.
    from Dekalb
    · Tenn. Acts 1929, 66th assy., priv., ch. 412/p. 1074
  64. 1931
    Gained territory Putnam gained from Overton to accommodate local resident.
    from Overton
    · Tenn. Acts 1931, 67th assy., priv., ch. 391/p. 977
  65. 1931
    Lost territory Putnam lost to Overton to accommodate local resident. Map depicts net changes in Putnam-Overton line 1887-1931.
    to Overtonto Putnam-Overton
    · Tenn. Acts 1931, 67th assy., priv., ch. 450/p. 1194
  66. 1933
    Lost territory Putnam lost to Overton to accommodate local resident.
    to Overton
    · Tenn. Acts 1933, 68th assy., priv., ch. 214/p. 523
  67. 1933
    Exchanged territory Putnam exchanged with Jackson to accommodate local resident; Putnam lost to White to accommodate local resident (later repealed).
    with Jacksonwith White
    · Tenn. Acts 1933, 68th assy., priv., ch. 711/p. 1672; ch. 712/p. 1673; ch. 562/p. 1366
  68. 1939
    Lost territory Putnam lost to Jackson to accommodate local resident.
    to Jackson
    · Tenn. Acts 1939, 71st assy., priv., ch. 152/p. 430
  69. 1941
    Gained territory Putnam gained from White to accommodate local resident (later repealed).
    from White
    · Tenn. Acts 1941, 72d assy., priv., ch. 62/p. 232
  70. 1941
    Gained territory Putnam gained from Dekalb to accommodate local resident; Putnam lost to Dekalb to accommodate local resident.
    from Dekalb
    · Tenn. Acts 1941, 72d assy., priv., ch. 434/p. 1502; ch. 426/p. 1487
  71. 1946
    Lost territory Putnam lost small area to Overton to accommodate local resident.
    to Overton
    · Tenn. Acts 1945, 74th assy., priv., ch. 265/p. 873
  72. 1949
    Gained territory Putnam gained from Overton to accommodate local resident; Putnam lost to Jackson to accommodate local resident.
    from Overtonfrom Jackson
    · Tenn. Acts 1949, 76th assy., priv., ch. 730/p. 2241; ch. 710/p. 2119
  73. 1951
    Lost territory Putnam lost to Jackson to accommodate local resident (later repealed).
    to Jackson
    · Tenn. Acts 1951, 77th assy., priv., ch. 522/p. 1596
  74. 1955
    Changed Legislature authorized Putnam to gain from Jackson to accommodate local residents.
    Jackson
    · Tenn. Acts 1955, 79th assy., priv., ch. 414, sec. 1/p. 1433
  75. 1957
    Gained territory Putnam gained from Jackson to accommodate local resident (later repealed).
    from Jackson
    · Tenn. Acts 1957, 80th assy., priv., ch. 225/p. 636
  76. 1961
    Lost territory Putnam lost to White.
    to White
    · Tenn. Acts 1961, 82d assy., priv., ch. 220/p. 752
  77. 1961
    Gained territory Putnam gained from Overton to accommodate local resident.
    from Overtonfrom Putnam-Overton
    · Tenn. Acts 1961, 82d assy., priv., ch. 364/p. 1263
  78. 1963
    Gained territory Putnam gained from Jackson to accommodate local residents.
    from Jackson
    · Tenn. Acts 1963, 83d assy., priv., ch. 131/p. 434
  79. 1965
    Gained territory Putnam gained from Overton to accommodate local resident.
    from Overton
    · Tenn. Acts 1965, 84th assy., priv., ch. 113, secs. 1-2/pp. 419-420
  80. 1972
    Gained territory Putnam gained small area from Cumberland.
    from Cumberland
    · Tenn. Acts 1972, 87th assy., 2d reg. sess., pub., ch. 554/p. 315
  81. 1987
    Gained territory Putnam gained from Jackson to accommodate local resident.
    from Jacksonfrom Putnam-Jackson
    · Tenn. Acts 1987, 95th assy., 1st reg. sess., pub., ch. 103/p. 136
  82. 1988
    Gained territory Putnam gained small area from Cumberland.
    from Cumberland
    · Tenn. Acts 1988, 95th assy., 2d reg. sess., pub., ch. 852/p. 675
  83. 1989
    Lost territory Putnam lost small area to Overton.
    to Overton
    · Tenn. Acts 1989, 96th assy., 1st reg. sess., pub., ch. 456/p. 793

Land and parcels

What the maps cover in Putnam

Who publishes each layer, how good it is, and when we last checked.

Official
from the office that keeps the record
Good enough
a reliable statewide or national copy
Fallback
a guide only; check the official record
Missing
nothing public found yet

People and land

Putnam by the Census

Population
79,854 2020 Census count
Housing units
35,295 2020 Census count
Land area
401 square miles
Water area
1.5 square miles
People per sq mi
199 population ÷ land area

Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Census; US Census Bureau, 2020 Gazetteer Files. Not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Rules and offices

Who to ask before you build, dig or sell

Official county pages only. We link to them; we do not copy them, because they change.

Inside a city or town, permits usually come from that city rather than the county.

Permits

Zoning and code

County government

See your own lot on these maps

Open Putnam County on Parcel Chart's free map and click your parcel. Save it with a free account; the full record of your place (site map, projects, documents) is Pro, in early access.

Open the free map no sign-in Pro early access

Questions

Common questions about Putnam County

When was Putnam County founded?
Putnam County was founded in 1842, formed from Fentress County, Jackson County, Overton County and White County, and named after Israel Putnam.
What is the county seat of Putnam County?
The county seat of Putnam County is Cookeville.
Is there an online parcel map for Putnam County?
Yes. A public source publishes a parcel map of 38,555 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
Has Putnam County's boundary or name changed?
Putnam County was created in 1842 from Fentress County, Jackson County, Overton County and White County. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 82 later changes, most of them small boundary adjustments, chiefly involving Overton County, Jackson County and Smith County.
Who issues septic and well permits in Putnam County?
The county's page on septic systems and wells: Health department: septic and well.
Is my lot in a flood zone?
We do not have flood maps for Putnam County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.

Nearby

Counties next door