Putnam County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. Its county seat is Palatka. Putnam County was created in 1849 and was named for Benjamin A. Putnam, a soldier in Seminole War, a lawyer, Florida legislator, and the first president of the Florida Historic Society. Putnam died in the county seat of Palatka in 1869. Putnam County has a total area of approximately 827 square miles of which 87% is land and 13% water. As of the 2000 census, there were 70,423 people, 27,839 households, and 19,459 families residing in Putnam County, FL.