Putnam County Public RecordsMissouri

Putnam County, MO, has approximately 3,400 registered voters as of 2024. Elections include local, state, and federal races, with general, primary, and municipal elections held at 6 polling locations, including the Unionville Courthouse. In recent general elections, turnout averaged 60%. The county leans Republican, with the GOP receiving over 70% of votes in the 2020 presidential race. Election administration is managed by the county clerk. Local issues include school funding and infrastructure. Both Democratic and Republican parties have local committees, though Republican registrations outnumber Democrats roughly 3 to 1.

Putnam County, MO, is served primarily by the Putnam County R-I School District, featuring one elementary, one middle, and one high school. The high school graduation rate is around 94%. Approximately 18% of adults hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. The district’s average standardized test scores are near the state average, and school safety is rated above average, with fewer than 2 incidents per 100 students yearly. Educational programs include vocational training and dual credit courses with local colleges. Gifted and special education services are also available to support diverse student needs.

As of 2022, Putnam County, MO, had an employment rate of approximately 54.2%, with around 2,380 residents employed. The largest industries are Health Care & Social Assistance (16.1%), Educational Services (14.7%), and Retail Trade (12.9%). Leading occupations include Management (12.1%), Office & Administrative Support (10.8%), and Sales (9.6%). About 77.3% of workers commute by car, with a mean travel time of 23.4 minutes; most are employed within the county, but around 25% commute to neighboring counties like Sullivan and Adair for work.

Putnam County, MO has a high homeownership rate of about 82%, with median home values around $80,000. The median gross rent is approximately $570 per month. The housing market remains stable, with property values appreciating slowly over recent years. Detached single-family homes dominate, especially in towns like Unionville. Most neighborhoods are rural with spacious lots. Property tax rates average 0.91% of a home’s value, lower than the national average, making housing relatively affordable for residents in the county.

Putnam County, MO, maintains a relatively low crime rate compared to state averages. According to recent FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data, the county reported fewer than 50 total crimes in 2022, with violent crimes (including assault and robbery) accounting for under 10 incidents. Property crime, such as theft and burglary, totaled approximately 35 cases. The crime rate stands at around 11 per 1,000 residents, significantly below the Missouri average of 32 per 1,000. Overall, Putnam County is considered a safe community, with the Sheriff’s Office actively monitoring and reporting crime statistics annually.

As of the 2020 Census, Putnam County, Missouri had a population of 4,704. The median age was 44.5 years, with 22.2% under 18 and 22.1% aged 65 or older. The gender distribution was 49.5% male and 50.5% female. Racially, the population was predominantly White (95.5%), with 0.3% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 2.9% identifying as two or more races; Hispanic or Latino residents comprised 1.7% of the population.