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Putnam County, Illinois

47 topographic sheets cover 13 settlements here, and 3 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

3 National Register listings published here · the county-history sources tell 2 stories.

Sources: the county history on the Internet Archive · the National Register database, National Park Service

Illinois within the United States
Putnam County within Illinois

What the record shows

  • 201 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 3 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 3 buildings.
  • 2 of the 3 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 13 populated places in this county; 13 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.
  • 1 public-domain county history, 1877, supplies 4,030 words of narrative reproduced here.

What happened here

2 accounts

Among them: Alarm; Death Of Phillips. These passages come from the identified county-history source books. Each inset names its own source and opens the exact section it comes from.

From History of Putnam County from Its Earliest Settlement to the Year 1876, published 1877 - Senachwine Township

Alarm

The alarm spread, homes were abandoned, the plow was left in the furrow, all kinds of property was forsaken, the people fleeing from the murderous rifle and tomahawk. All the inhabitants on the west side of the Illinois crossed over to the east side where they fixed the frontier and made a stand.

Read the rest of this passage

From History of Putnam County from Its Earliest Settlement to the Year 1876, published 1877 - Senachwine Township

Death Of Phillips

A party of men going from Hennepin to Dover, 16 miles distant, to secure tlieir cattle were followed and watched all night by Indians,and in the morning one man named Pliillips was shot as lie cauie out of the cabin in which they had passed the night. The Indians then fled, a boy named Dimmick rode to Hennepin and gave the alarm.

Read the rest of this passage

Places on the National Register

3

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Cortland Condit Housebuilding198383000335
Edward Pulsifer Housebuilding197979000864
Putnam County Courthousebuilding197575000672

Wildfire, 2008 to 2014

11 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 11 of them, burning about 99 acres. None started naturally and none was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined7
Debris and open burning3
Smoking1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
28 March 2010Missing data/not specified/undetermined60 acresIllinois Division of Forestry Resources1046
30 March 2010Debris and open burning30 acresIllinois Division of Forestry Resources1051
1 May 2013Smoking5.0 acresIllinois Division of Forestry ResourcesSTAND3
17 November 2008Missing data/not specified/undetermined2.0 acresIllinois Division of Forestry Resources008-130
26 March 2008Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresIllinois Division of Forestry Resources008-032
20 June 2013Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreIllinois Division of Forestry ResourcesSTAND5
30 March 2014Debris and open burningunder an acreIllinois Division of Forestry ResourcesSTAND6
30 March 2014Debris and open burningunder an acreIllinois Division of Forestry Resources014-025

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1965 to 2026

60 of 187 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 187 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 6 injuries and about $14,081,520 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind93
Hail64
Tornado12
Flash Flood11
Flood3
Heavy Rain2
Funnel Cloud2

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
April 2004Tornado (F2)Florid5 hurt, $8,000,000Rated very high end F2
April 1967Tornado (F2)not stated1 hurt, $2,500no account filed
April 2003Thunderstorm WindPutnam$3,000,000Bow echo
June 2010Tornado (EF2)Putnam$1,000,000Between approximately 810 pm and 835 pm on June 5, an EF2 tornado moved across areas from about 2.75 miles east northeast of Henry, IL, through Magnolia, IL, into western La Salle County about 3 miles east of Magnolia, IL. Wind speeds were estimated to be 135 mph. The tornado touched down at the shore of Sawmill Lake with a width of about 0.5 miles. Numerous trees were snapped off and shredded, laying in scattered directions. Extensive tree damage and some structural damage was observed toward Taylor Rd. Along County Road 150 N and Highway 18 west of Magnolia, several farm outbuildings including a large barn and steel shed were destroyed. A 400 to 450 foot tall cell phone tower was completely destroyed. |In Magnolia, IL, the tornado caused extensive tree damage across the northern two thirds of town with minor damage to numerous residences. On the north side of town, the tornado ripped the roofs completely off of four structures. The tornado weakened to an EF0 rating as it approached and crossed into La Salle County, where the NWS Chicago Storm Survey Team indicated it lifted about 1.23 miles east of the county line just south of Highway 18.
April 2003Thunderstorm WindStandard$1,000,000no account filed
April 2003Thunderstorm WindPutnam$500,000Tree down & truck rolled over
November 1965Tornado (F2)not stated$250,000no account filed
July 2008Flash FloodHennepin$50,000Torrential rains eroded several roads south and west of McNabb, IL and in the vicinity of Florid, IL during the morning of July 12.
June 1994Thunderstorm WindHennipin$50,000A construction trailer was overturned and another was moved off its foundation.
May 2000Thunderstorm WindMt Palatine$30,000no account filed
April 1981Tornado (F0)not stated$25,000no account filed
September 1974Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
March 2006HailCountywide$20,000An intense thunderstorm moved across the southern part of Putnam County producing hail of 1.00 to 1.50 inches. Hail was reported between Magnolia and Mc Nabb in the 1615-1625 CST time period by several spotters. Additional spotters reported large hail on Illinois 18 west of Magnolia.
October 2004Thunderstorm WindStandard$20,000The same storm that produced a downburst 10 minutes earlier produced another around the town of Standard, Illinois. Numerous trees and powerlines were downed with a brand new 20x16 shed destroyed. The debris from the shed was scattered up to 400 yards away. The sheriff stated that the strongest winds only lasted 20 to 30 seconds.
April 2006HailCountywide$15,000Lake Thunderbird to Magnolia; radar would indicate a near continuous hail swath. Based on the reports received from spotters, the hail likely varied from nickel to golfball size.
May 2004Flash FloodCountywide$10,000Numerous creeks out of their banks with many roads closed in the western part of the county
June 1998Thunderstorm WindCountywide$10,000Widespread damage was reported across the county after thunderstorm winds downed trees and power lines. The cities of Hennepin, Granville, and Standard suffered power outages. And numerous trees were blown down in Mc Nabb, Mark, and Magnolia.
April 2006HailMagnolia$10,000no account filed
April 2006HailPutnam$10,000no account filed
June 2005HailMc Nabb$7,000no account filed
May 2011Thunderstorm WindGranville$5,000Wind gusts estimated to be 75 mph blew down some trees and power lines in Granville, IL at 1140 am CDT May 29.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindGranville$5,000Wind gusts estimated to be 65 mph blew down some power lines in the Granville, IL area at 337 pm June 18. Heavy rain and lightning was also reported.
August 2007Thunderstorm WindMagnolia$5,000Winds estimated to be 70 mph blew down some power lines near Magnolia, IL.
March 2006HailMagnolia$5,000multiple reports
July 2006Thunderstorm WindHennepin$5,000Tree down on car. Time estimated based on radar.
October 2004Thunderstorm WindFlorid$5,000Location is near the junction of Illinois 18 and 26, along King's Curve, or 1.2 miles ESE of Henry, Illinois near the Putnam/Marshall County line. Numerous trees were downed in a downburst, some rotted but other fully solid. Several cars ran off into the roadside ditches in an attempt to avoid the trees across the road.
September 2005HailGranville$5,000no account filed
August 2000Thunderstorm WindPutnam$5,000no account filed
May 2006Thunderstorm WindGranville$2,000Trees down across IL 89
July 2006Thunderstorm WindGranville$2,0006 inch diameter tree down
June 2005Thunderstorm WindHennepin$2,000A few trees down in Hennepin. South of town several 12 to 16 inch diameter trees (mainly rotted) were also downed.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindStandard$5003 to 4 inch diameter limbs down
July 2006Thunderstorm WindMc Nabb$5004 inch diameter limbs down on Meridian Rd along the Putnam/La Salle line.
May 1998Thunderstorm WindMagnolia$20Strong thunderstorm winds downed trees and power lines.
April 2026Thunderstorm WindHennepin-Public measured wind equipement.
April 2026Thunderstorm WindGranville-Putnam County emergency management reported a power line blown down. Time estimated from radar data.
April 2026Thunderstorm WindHennepin-Garage door blown in on a home, with multiple 3 inch diameter tree branched down. Time estimated from radar data.
April 2026Thunderstorm WindHennepin-Multiple small trees up to 8 inches in diameter snapped at base or uprooted. Time estimated from radar data.
April 2026Thunderstorm WindHennepin-Measured winds of 58 mph.
March 2025Thunderstorm WindHennepin-Numerous trees blown down, blocking roads south of Hennepin.
March 2025Thunderstorm WindHennepin-Several power poles were snapped off between Hennepin and Mark. 1400 power customers are without power.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindFlorid-The Emergency Manager reported a 2 inch diameter tree limbs down.
February 2024Tornado (EF1)Magnolia-A tornado touched down just east of Hwy 26 south of Henry, in northern Marshall County, at 440 pm CST. It crossed into Putnam county about 300 yards southeast of IL Highway 18, around 4:44 pm CST, and later overturned a semi on Hwy 18. Several large trees were uprooted or snapped along the path. In addition, some damage to a few outbuildings was observed. The tornado then dissipated in an open field that was seen by a chaser. Estimated peak winds reached 110 mph.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindFlorid-Reported 12 inch diameter tree limb reported down across Highway 26. The time was estimated from radar data.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindFlorid-A large 8 to 10 inch tree limb was reported down on a remote rural road. The time was estimated from radar data.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindHennepin-An 8 inch diameter tree limb down. The time was estimated from radar data.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindFlorid-The Fire Department reported a thunderstorm wind gusts of 64 MPH as the gust front hit.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindPutnam-A trained spotter reported that a tree was down and blocking Illinois 18 just east of the Illinois River bridge. The time of the event was estimated using radar.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindMark-The Emergency Manager reported that a large tree blown down on a car.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindMc Nabb-The Emergency Manager reported large tree down on a portion of a house damaging the roof and gutters.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindMc Nabb-The Emergency Manager reported damage to a grain bin and trees.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindMc Nabb-Law Enforcement reported large branches of 1 foot plus in diameter downed.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindMoronts-Law Enforcement reported a couple of trees down in the Wolf Hollow area. The time of the event was estimated using radar.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindMc Nabb-A 3 inch diameter tree branch blown down in a yard.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindHennepin-Eight inch diameter tree snapped near the sheriff's office, with branches downed around town.
May 2023Thunderstorm WindFlorid-Estimated winds around 65 mph, with trees down throughout the county. Time was estimated by radar.
May 2022HailGranville-Hail up to quarter sized, relayed through social media.
August 2022Thunderstorm WindHennepin-The COOP Observer reported a large tree knocked down in their yard. The time of the event was estimated using radar.
August 2022HailMc Nabb-A trained spotter reports estimated penny to quarter size hail.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindMc Nabb-A trained spotter reported a garage door damaged along with a few trees down on property. There is also erratic corn damage in fields near residence.

Mines and quarries

12 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 12 workings inside this county. 4 still produce and 8 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction12

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Bonucci Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Chiado Gravel Co.Sand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Crowder PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Edward Hunt PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Gedraitis PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Hennepin PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Hope Township PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Jones PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Magnolia PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Morine PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Newbaum PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Ossola PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer

The townships, in 1877

4,030 words

History of Putnam County from Its Earliest Settlement to the Year 1876 devotes a chapter to each township: its boundaries and streams, who settled it and when, the mills, the schools and the churches. All 2 are reproduced here in full. Each row shows the township's own shape and where it lies in the county, drawn from the Census Bureau's boundary. Which settlements belong to which township is computed from that same boundary, not taken from the book.

Shape and position in the county TownshipSettlements in it LengthSections
Magnolia TownshipCaledonia, Magnolia, McNabb203 words1
Senachwine TownshipIndian Spring, Putnam, Undercliff, Walnut Grove3,827 words19

Every populated place in the county

13

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

The vanished settlements of Putnam County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.