When was Putnam County founded?

Putnam County was founded in 1848, formed from Cabell County, Kanawha County and Mason County, and named after Israel Putnam.

What is the county seat of Putnam County?

The county seat of Putnam County is Winfield.

Is there an online parcel map for Putnam County?

Yes. West Virginia University GIS Technical Center publishes a parcel map of 35,627 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 1848 from Cabell County, Kanawha County and Mason County. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 4 later changes, chiefly involving Lincoln County, Cabell County and Kanawha County.

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.

County · code 54079

Putnam CountyWest Virginia

Putnam County is a county in West Virginia with its seat in Winfield. The county was formed on March 11, 1848, from Cabell, Kanawha, and Mason counties in Virginia.

Founded1848
County seatWinfield
Named forIsrael Putnam
Land area346 sq mi + 4.7 sq mi water
Population57,440 2020 Census
Parcels mapped35,627 checked 16 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 20 October 2026

Census outline · seat marked

History

Formed in 1848 from Cabell County, Kanawha County and Mason County

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

Putnam County was created by Virginia from Cabell, Kanawha, and Mason on March 11, 1848, and was named after Israel Putnam. The county gained additional territory from Cabell and Kanawha in 1850. When West Virginia separated from Virginia on June 20, 1863, Putnam County became part of the new state. In 1867 Putnam lost territory to the creation of Lincoln County but regained it the following year.

Boundary changes from the Newberry Library, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

1848
Putnam County created Putnam created by Virginia from Cabell, Kanawha, and Mason.
from Cabell from Kanawha from Mason
11 March 1848 · Va. Acts 1847-1848, ch. 59, sec. 1/pp. 34-38
1850
Gained territory Putnam gained from Cabell and Kanawha.
from Cabell from Kanawha
12 March 1850 · Va. Acts 1849-1850, Dec. reg. sess., ch. 26, sec. 1/pp. 24-25
1863
Became part of West Virginia Putnam separated from Virginia and became a county in the state of West Virginia. 20 June 1863 · Swindler, 10:363
1867
Lost territory Putnam lost to creation of Lincoln.
to Lincoln
23 February 1867 · W. Va. Acts 1867, 5th sess., ch. 61, sec. 1/pp. 76-79
1868
Gained territory Putnam gained from Lincoln.
from Lincoln
3 March 1868 · W. Va. Acts 1868, 6th sess., ch. 119, secs. 1-2/pp. 108-109
1955
Boundary clarified Boundary between Putnam and Kanawha redefined (no change).
with Kanawhano change
8 March 1955 · W. Va. Acts 1955, 52d sess., ch. 186, sec. 1/pp. 536-539

Land and parcels

What the maps cover in Putnam

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

Parcels Good enough

Lot lines and tax-map numbers for 35,627 parcels from West Virginia University GIS Technical Center. Drawn for tax purposes: usually within a few feet of a survey, but not a survey.
checked 16 October 2026
Address points Official

One point per address, 28,006 in all from WV GIS Technical Center (WVGISTC, West Virginia University — the state's GIS clearinghouse) serving WV Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (WVDHSEM) SAMS-II address points.
checked 13 October 2026
Buildings Reference

Roof outlines traced from aerial imagery from FEMA Response Geospatial Office with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Good for seeing what is on a lot; not accurate enough to set a fence from.
checked 18 October 2026

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

57,440 2020 Census count

Housing units

24,795 2020 Census count

Land area

346 square miles

Water area

4.7 square miles

People per sq mi

166 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

Putnam County's official site

We have found the county's site but not its offices yet; start there.

County government

County government
The official website of Putnam County.
putnamcounty.org

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 1848, formed from Cabell County, Kanawha County and Mason County, and named after Israel Putnam.
What is the county seat of Putnam County?: The county seat of Putnam County is Winfield.
Is there an online parcel map for Putnam County?: Yes. West Virginia University GIS Technical Center publishes a parcel map of 35,627 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 1848 from Cabell County, Kanawha County and Mason County. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 4 later changes, chiefly involving Lincoln County, Cabell County and Kanawha County.
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