About a month ago in one of my articles I wrote about Greene County. 

Today, I would like to tell you about our beautiful Putnam County.

Putnam county has become an important center of industry and recreation in Georgia.  No longer is it the land of cotton, large plantations and great wealth, a different look is now taking hold in the county with establishment of golf resorts, gated communities, and new businesses. Putnam county covers 345 square miles, located seventy-five miles southeast of Atlanta.  

HISTORY:

• Putnam County was created in 1807 after being sectioned off from neighboring Baldwin County. Following the Revolutionary War, Eatonton was founded in 1808 as the seat of newly formed Putnam County. A great number of imposing residences were erected during the decade leading up to the Civil War. Thankfully, Sherman spared these dwellings on his march to the sea.   Putnam County experienced difficulty recovering from the war, until Benjamin Hunt established the dairy industry, which soon became the dairy capital of Georgia. Dairy today continues to play a part in the county’s economy. 
• Putnam county is named in honor of Israel Putnam, a hero of the French and Indian War and a general in the American Revolutionary War. It was settled by European Americans after the war, as migrants moved down from the upper south. The county was created on Dec. 10, 1807, by an act of the Georgia General Assembly.  
• Population of the county as of the 2010 census was 21,218.  
• In 1953 Lake Sinclair came into existence, and in 1979 Lake Oconee was created. The Lakes gave birth to the tourism industry. Boating, fishing, hiking, camping all introduced when the lakes came into existence. Several golf communities have been created including the beautiful Cuscowilla Golf Club, a Ben Crenshaw design, and Great Waters Golf course at Reynolds designed by Jack Nicklaus.
• Two sites unique to this county is Rock Eagle Effigy Mound and rock Hawk Effigy Mound built by Native Americans more than 1,000 years ago. These are the only two effigy mounds in the United States.

 

NOTABLE PEOPLE:

• Vincent Hancock, Olympic gold medalist in men’s skeet shooting at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics and Gatewood School graduate, resides in Eatonton. 
• Dwight York, American cult leader and founder of the Nuwaubian Nation, currently imprisoned at ADX Florence. (not necessarily notable just interesting)
• Birthplace of several noted writers, such as Joel Chandler Harris (journalist and author of the Uncle Remus stories).
• 19^th century poet Louise Prudden Hunt (Mrs. B. W. Hunt).
• Grady Weaver, author of the Mainspring of Human Progress.
• Alice Walker 1983 Pulitzer Prize-winning author. Her novel “The Color Purple” was later made into a hit movie starring Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey.
• S. Truett Cathy. Truett Cathy was the founder, Chairman, and CEO of Chick-fil-A Inc.  Truett Cathy opened his first Chick-fil-A restaurant in 1967.

          Tourist Attractions:

• Alice Walker Driving Tour: Showcases Alice Walker young life
• Antebellum Trail: 100 mile trail showcases history as well as architecture that was spared from Sherman’s march to the sea.
• Butterflies & Blooms: Volunteers have created a pollinator habitat to support and encourage native butterfly reproduction.
• The Artisans Village: Selection of paintings, carved wood, gourd art, pottery, glass, jewelry and more created by local artists.  Classes offered.
• Historic Walking Tour: Eatonton
• Georgia Writers Museum: Focuses on promoting the rich, literary heritage of the state.
• The Plaza Arts Center: Shows & Concerts throughout the year.
• Oconee Springs Park: New amenities for family fun
• Rock Eagle Effigy: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Uncle Remus Museum: Tails of Brer Rabbit and the life and writing of Joes Chandler Harris.

Putnam County emerged from its agricultural past to one of the most notable historic counties in Georgia. A County with lakes, dairy farms and culture, and Lake Oconee & Lake Sinclair are all part of its beauty.  What a great place to live.

Emily Holt, coordinator, Marketing & Tourism Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce, provided me with a lot of my information and can assist you with any information you would like provided. Thank you, Emily.  

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Kindness is a language the dumb can speak and the deaf can understand.