Putnam County is named for Israel Putnam, who was a hero in the French and Indians War and a general in the American Revolutionary War.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
E – Hendricks County and Morgan County
S – Owen County and Clay County
W – Clay County and Parke County
Created: December 31, 1821 
County Seat:
Greencastle 1823 – present
County Courthouse – Greencastle
Location: 1 Courthouse Square / West Washington Street
Built: 1903 – 1905
Style: Neo-Classical
Architect: John W Gaddis of Vincennes
Contractor: Caldwell & Drake of Columbus
Description: The building faces south and is a three story limestone and concrete structure. The building is located on the landscaped grounds of the Courthouse Square in the center of Greencastle. The building is constructed with Indiana limestone. The south portico has three rectangular opening on the first story and four Corinthian columns rise from the second to third story with a wide pediment containing a clock. The first story is cut stone. A wide cornice runs along the flat roof line. At the center of the roof is the dome of the skylight. In the interior is a central rotunda with skylight. The building houses the County Circuit Court and the County Superior Court of the 19th Judicial District. To the west is the Old County Jail at Washington Street and North Market Street.
See: The architect, John W Gaddis of Vincennes designed courthouses in Clay County and Huntington County.
See: The contractor, Caldwell & Drake Construction of Columbus, Indiana also constructed courthouses in Boone County, Monroe County and Starke County; in Ohio in Mahoning County and Ottawa County; in Pennsylvania in Somerset County, and in West Virginia in Wetzel County and Wood County.
See: The 19th Judicial District includes Clay County, Sullivan County and Vigo County.
History: The county was created in 1821 and Greencastle was selected as the county seat in 1823. The first court was held in a private home in 1824. The first courthouse was a brick structure built by Amos Robertson in 1827 to 1829. Arthur McGaughey was hired to complete construction in 1829. The second courthouse was built in 1847 to 1848 at a cost of $6,327. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1903 to 1905 at a cost of $175,730.
County Courthouse – Greencastle
Photos taken 2008