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Florida · North-Central Florida · #759
Putnam County, Florida
On the St. Johns River in north-central Florida, Putnam County's Palatka is the azalea capital of Florida - its Ravine Gardens State Park, built by the CCC in a dramatic river ravine where azaleas bloom in spectacular profusion each February and March, is one of Florida's most undervisited and most beautiful state parks.
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Office: Putnam County Emergency Management – (386) 329-0330 | putnamcountyfl.gov
Alert System: Florida FDEM; CodeRED; NOAA Weather Radio
Shelter Info: Palatka school facilities; Putnam County Fairgrounds; contact OEM
FEMA Region: Region 4
Notes: Northeastern Florida St. Johns River county; Palatka is county seat; hurricane risk (Irma 2017 caused significant damage in Putnam County via the St. Johns River corridor; flooding); flooding (St. Johns River – the river flows through Putnam County; Palatka is on the St. Johns and experiences flooding; Crescent Lake; Dunns Creek); severe thunderstorms; wildfire risk; rural agricultural county with some growth as a Jacksonville exurb; Ravine Gardens State Park (Palatka)
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Roads: Putnam County Public Works – (386) 329-0340
Transit: Very limited; primarily auto-dependent
Notes: US-17 (north-south through Palatka – the historic North Florida highway connecting to St. Augustine area east and Gainesville area south-west); SR-20 (east-west to Hawthorne and I-75); SR-100 (east-west to Flagler County); Palatka is about 50 miles south of Jacksonville via US-17; about 30 miles west of St. Augustine via SR-206; the St. Johns River is both an asset and a flooding risk; the Shands Bridge (US-17) is the primary St. Johns crossing in Palatka
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Putnam County Growth Management – (386) 329-0307
Services: County permits; Palatka (separate), Crescent City, Interlachen, Pomona Park, San Mateo, East Palatka, Welaka, Satsuma, Hollister separate
Notes: Limited development; some Jacksonville exurban residential growth; agricultural structures; fishing camp and river access development; limited commercial activity
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Putnam County Veterans Services – (386) 329-0330
VA Medical: VA Jacksonville CBOC (about 50 miles north via US-17); Malcom Randall VAMC (Gainesville – about 50 miles west)
Services: Benefits claims; two VA facilities accessible; small rural veteran population
Notes: Both Jacksonville and Gainesville VA accessible from Palatka; small but active veteran community; St. Johns River farming and fishing community
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Putnam County Library System – (386) 329-0318 | putnam.lib.fl.us; 5 branches
Branches: Palatka, Crescent City, Interlachen, Hawthorne, Welaka
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, children’s programs; St. Johns River heritage; Ravine Gardens heritage; north Florida agricultural and fishing heritage
Notes: Library system serves a rural river county; Palatka’s heritage as a 19th century city on the St. Johns (it was a popular winter destination for wealthy Northern tourists who arrived by steamboat on the St. Johns River in the late 1800s) is locally significant
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
State Parks: Ravine Gardens State Park (Palatka – one of Florida’s most unusual and beautiful parks; the Ravine Gardens were created during the Depression by the CCC in the deep ravines cut by underground springs into the sandy hills above the St. Johns River; the ravines are planted with thousands of azaleas that create an extraordinary explosion of color in February-March; the park’s design (winding paths descending into the cool ravines; suspension bridges; the central ornamental pond) is elegant CCC landscape architecture; one of Florida’s most distinctive and lovely parks); Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park (see Clay County – accessible); Dunns Creek State Park (Pomona Park – St. Johns River tributary park; excellent canoeing and birding)
Regional: St. Johns River (Putnam County has excellent river access for fishing and boating; the river is wide and navigable through the county; Welaka is a charming fishing village on the river; the Welaka National Fish Hatchery is one of the Southeast’s significant aquatic resources management facilities); Crescent Lake (large natural lake; excellent bass fishing); Palatka (the historic downtown with late 19th-early 20th century architecture; the Tilghman Bridge and river views; the St. Johns River fishing culture)
Notes: Ravine Gardens State Park is one of Florida’s most overlooked treasures – the depression-era azalea-planted ravines (an artificial landscape created on natural sand ravine terrain) create one of the most beautiful and unusual botanical landscapes in Florida; the February-March azalea season (when thousands of azaleas in bloom line the ravine paths) is genuinely extraordinary; Putnam County’s St. Johns River access and the historic Palatka (19th century river town heritage) give it a quiet historical depth
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Putnam County GIS; SJRWMD St. Johns River maps; Crescent Lake watershed maps; Ravine Gardens maps
Notes: County GIS; St. Johns River water quality monitoring; Crescent Lake watershed; Dunns Creek watershed
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Putnam County Animal Control – (386) 329-0330
Notes: Rural river county; fishing and agricultural community; St. Johns River wildlife (manatees in season; alligators; wading birds; bass and other sport fish); black bears; gopher tortoises; white-tailed deer; wild turkey
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Putnam County Solid Waste – (386) 329-0306; transfer stations
Environmental: Florida DEP; St. Johns River Water Management District; St. Johns River water quality (one of Florida’s most significant environmental management priorities); Welaka National Fish Hatchery (USFWS)
Notes: The St. Johns River through Putnam County has experienced severe blue-green algal blooms in recent years – the toxic cyanobacterial blooms are fed by excess nutrients from agricultural and urban runoff throughout the river’s enormous watershed; the St. Johns Riverkeeper and SJRWMD coordinate monitoring and restoration efforts; the Welaka National Fish Hatchery raises native fish for stocking Florida waters; Ravine Gardens’ unusual ecological character (the ravine ecosystem has species assemblages more typical of the northern Florida panhandle than the surrounding flatlands) requires active management
About Putnam County
Putnam County’s Ravine Gardens State Park is the county’s specific and genuine heritage distinction: two ravines carved by spring-fed streams into the flat Florida terrain, planted by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s with thousands of azalea plants that bloom in February and March in colors visible across the ravine walls. The park’s suspension bridges, walking paths along the ravine edges, and the sheer improbability of steep terrain in this part of Florida make it a destination that rewards the drive.
Palatka’s St. Johns River waterfront and the annual Blue Crab Festival represent the county’s working-river character. The county faces the economic challenges of inland north Florida – limited industrial base, service economy anchored by healthcare and government, and a population that has not grown significantly. St. Johns River State College provides community college and university education.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Florida assesses property at just value. The homestead exemption reduces assessed value by $50,000. The Save Our Homes cap limits annual homestead increases to 3%. VAB appeals are heard in September. Florida has no estate or inheritance tax.
Courts & Legal
Courts & Legal
Putnam County Probate Division (Circuit Court): 410 St. Johns Avenue, Palatka, FL 32177 | (386) 329-0361. The Probate Division handles estate administration and guardianship.
Senior Services
Putnam County Human Services / Senior Programs
1100 South Highway 19, Palatka, FL 32177
Phone: (386) 329-0318
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK OF COURTS (Records, Marriage Licenses)
410 St. Johns Ave., Palatka, FL 32177
(386) 329-0361
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Putnam County Clerk of Court (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
Putnam County Recorder of Deeds, P.O. Box 758, Palatka, FL.
Local societies
Putnam County Genealogical Society – a member society of the Florida State Genealogical Society.
Putnam County Historical Society, Palatka, FL.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Putnam County Clerk of Court, Probate Division 518 St. Johns Avenue, Palatka, FL 32177 (386) 326-7680 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Putnam County sits in Florida’s 7th Judicial Circuit. Probate Judge: Hon. Joe Boatwright.
IMPORTANT – a major statewide law change just took effect: Florida’s summary administration threshold DOUBLED from $75,000 to $150,000 effective July 1, 2026, under CS/HB 1337 (Chapter 2026-57, Laws of Florida). Confirm which threshold applies based on date of death when helping someone (see
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
2509 Crill Ave., Palatka, FL 32177
(386) 329-0800
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS
2509 Crill Ave., Suite 500, Palatka, FL 32177
(386) 329-0225
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
FL Dept of Health — Putnam
1709 Moseley Ave., Palatka, FL 32177
(386) 326-3100
FL DCF — Putnam
(386) 329-0427
FL Medicaid
(800) 299-4833
HCA Florida Putnam Hospital
putnamhospital.com
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Florida DOH in Putnam County – (386) 329-0311 | putnam.floridahealth.gov
Services: Immunizations, WIC, STI testing, environmental health, vital records; behavioral health; St. Johns River water quality
Hospital: HCA Florida Putnam Hospital (Palatka – (386) 328-5711); Jacksonville and Gainesville hospitals for specialty care
Notes: HCA Putnam serves the county; Jacksonville and Gainesville for specialty care; behavioral health in rural community; the St. Johns River’s water quality (blue-green algal blooms have been a significant issue in Putnam County stretches of the river) creates public health advisories
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Palatka
Population: 73,000
Area: 722 sq mi
Established: 1849
Tier: 3
Inmate Services
Care Packages
Send care packages to inmates in Putnam County facilities via Amazon.
