Putnam County was created on March 11, 1848, from parts of Kanawha, Mason, and Cabell counties. It was named for General Israel Putnam, a hero of the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. The county lies along the Kanawha River, where early settlements developed around agriculture and river trade. Winfield, the county seat, was established in 1848. During the Civil War, Putnam County was divided in loyalty, experiencing skirmishes and troop movements due to its position between Union‑leaning Kanawha County and Confederate‑leaning regions to the west. In the 20th century, the county grew steadily as a residential and commercial corridor between Charleston and Huntington.