Putnam

History

Putnam, originally known as Aspinock, then part of Killingly, is a New England mill town incorporated in 1855. Created from sections of Killingly, Pomfret, and Thompson, the town was named in honor of Revolutionary War General Israel Putnam. Putnam was a key contributor in providing clothing and other goods to the Civil War soldiers. There were numerous mills and a train ran through the town, providing transportation for the goods being produced. On August 19, 1955, Putnam was devastated by floods from torrential downpours caused by two hurricanes, which hit Connecticut within the span of a week. Hurricane Connie affected Connecticut on August 13, dropping between four and six inches (152 mm) of rain across the state. Hurricane Diane soaked the state with of rain on August 18–19. The result was flooding in many of the state's rivers, including the Quinebaug River. The resulting torrent of water destroyed homes, businesses and factories. Floating magnesium barrels burst, lighting up the night. The railroad bed was washed away. Toward the end of the twentieth century, the town took advantage of the empty mills and underutilized downtown commercial buildings to develop a large antique center. Antique shops lined Main Street and other areas in town. Beginning in the early 2000s, many of the antique stores begun to close and were replaced by restaurants, small shops, and a vibrant arts community. Putnam was also the unlikely base of operations for the All-Russian Fascist Organization, a pre-war Russian emigre group that advocated fascism for the country under Anastasy Vonsiatsky.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 20.4 square miles (52.8 km), of which, 20.3 square miles (52.6 km) are land and 0.1 square mile (0.3 km) (0.54%) is water. The town is drained by the Quinebaug River, which runs north and south through the center of town. A tributary of the Quinebaug, the Five Mile River, runs north and south through East Putnam. Putnam has common boundaries with Thompson on the north (approx. 6 mi.), with Rhode Island on the east (approx. 2 mi.), with Killingly on the south (approx. 7 mi.) and with Pomfret and Woodstock on the west (approx. 4 mi.). The town is crossed by Interstate 395, U.S. Route 44, Connecticut Route 12, Connecticut Route 21 and Connecticut Route 171.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• The Woodstock Academy
  High · Woodstock · 1,041 students · 15.1:1 ratio
• Killingly High School
  High · Dayville · 788 students · 11.9:1 ratio
• H. H. Ellis Technical High School
  High · Danielson · 668 students · 13.1:1 ratio
• Killingly Intermediate School
  Middle · Dayville · 667 students · 11.3:1 ratio
• Putnam Elementary School
  Elementary · Putnam · 571 students · 13.6:1 ratio
• Brooklyn Elementary School
  Elementary · Brooklyn · 532 students · 14:1 ratio
• Killingly Memorial School
  Elementary · Danielson · 532 students · 13.3:1 ratio
• Woodstock Elementary School
  Elementary · Woodstock · 427 students · 14.2:1 ratio