Celebrating Putnam County’s 175th Anniversary
Photos are such a big part of recording and remembering our history, and Putnam is no different…we will be gathering and sharing as many historically significant photos as possible throughout the year as we celebrate Putnam County’s 175th Anniversary. You can find these photos on this website, on our Putnam County, Tennessee Facebook page and, a little later this year, on the walls of our courthouse!
Putnam County was established Feb. 2, 1842, making this year our county’s 175th anniversary. To celebrate, several events have been scheduled to help honor those who have played such a big role in Putnam’s foundation. Also, we’re taking this opportunity to promote the history behind making our great county the amazing home it is today.
Watch The 175th Kickoff Ceremony From The Cookeville Square!
Help Us Preserve Our History!
Simply click the photo submission button below, agree to the submission terms and then upload your memories of the past that have helped shape our future. Thank you for your contribution honoring such a huge milestone for our County.
More About Putnam’s 175th Anniversary
Putnam County History
- Putnam County first established on February 2, 1842
- Overton County filed suit in Overton Chancery Court saying the county boundary was unconstitutional; they thought it took too much of their land.
- 1844 Putnam County was dissolved due to the ruling of the Overton Co. Judge
- For the next 10 years, Putnam did not exist. Registrar books were taken to Jackson County
- The TN Supreme Court later ruled that Overton’s court did not have the authority to rule.
- Richard Cooke was elected Senator from Double Springs, and he made it a priority to re-establish Putnam
- The first two times, Cooke’s effort failed in the legislature, but in 1854, on February 11th, his bill passed both houses, re-establishing Putnam
- The original County Seat was called “Monticello”
- Monticello Times, first newspaper published in 1852
- Cookeville incorporated in 1856
- In 1878, Cookeville’s charter is revoked; no longer incorporated
- First train arrived in 1890
- Monterey’s name changed from Standing Stone and was incorporated in 1893
- 1899 Putnam County Courthouse burns; many important records lost
- 1900 New brick Courthouse built
- Algood was incorporated in 1901, abolished in 1902, and again established in 1903
- 1902 Name change: Mine Lick to Baxter
- 1903 Cookeville re-incorporated
- 1903 Putnam County Herald newspaper began
- Cookeville pumped its own water in 1905
- Depot built 1909
- 1909 Imperial Hotel Opens in Monterey
- 1910 Baxter Seminary Founded
- 1911 Dixie College Founded
- 1915 Holladay School becomes the first consolidated school
- 1915 Baxter Incorporated
- 1915 Cookeville Post Office and Federal Court House Built
- Tennessee Polytechnic Institute in 1915; later changed to TTU
- 1923 first hospital opens – Howard Hospital
- 1934 Cookeville Airport Opens
- 1935 Princess Theater Opens
- 1940 First radio station WHUB
- 1945 Chamber of Commerce started
- 1947 Dipsy Doodle opens
- 1952 Putnam County Drive-In Theater opens
- 1955 Passenger Train Service discontinues
- 1956 Putnam County Fairgrounds burns on 4th and Maple
- 1957 Putnam County Fairgrounds opens on S. Jefferson Ave.
- 1962 Courthouse renovated
- 1962 I- 40 opened between Cookeville and Carthage
- 1965 TPI becomes Tennessee Technological University
- 1966 Interstate 40 opened
- 1969 Herald – Citizen became first daily newspaper in the Upper Cumberland
- 1972 Cookeville started receiving their water from Center Hill
- 1974 Putnam County Library built
- 1978 Princess Theater torn down; replaced by Citizens Bank
- 1993 Justice Center opens
- 2008 Putnam County Archives and Putnam County Veterans Hall Established
- 2009 EMS, Election Commission, Health Dept. opens in new buildings off S. Willow
Media Center
Check out our YouTube channel here for original Putnam County footage!