ORIGIN: Putnam County was formed in 1848 from Kanawha, Cabell and Mason counties. The county was named for Israel Putnam, a New England patriot, who served as a general in the Revolutionary War.

POPULATION: 55,486 (according to 2010 Census)

AREA IN SQUARE MILES: 350.

CITIES AND TOWNS: Bancroft, Black Betsy, Buffalo, Confidence, Culloden (partially in Cabell County), Eleanor, Fraziers Bottom, Hometown, Hurricane, Lanham, Liberty, Midway, Nitro (partially in Kanawha County), Pliny, Poca, Raymond City, Red House, Scott Depot, Teays, Teays Valley and Winfield.

POLICE/SHERIFF: Putnam County Sheriff's Department 304-586-0256, State Police Winfield Detachment 304-586-2000.

COURTHOUSE: 3389 Winfield Road, Winfield, 304-586-0202.

ELECTED COUNTY OFFICIALS: Sherry Hayes, county assessor; Ronnie Matthews, circuit clerk; J. Robert Leslie and Phillip Stowers, circuit judges; Brian Wood, county clerk; Gary Tillis, Stephen Andes, Joseph Haynes, county commissioners; William Watkins, family law judge; Kylene Dunlap Brown, Kim Blair, Linda Hunt, magistrates; Mark A. Sorsaia, prosecuting attorney; Mark Smith, sheriff.

COUNTY COMMISSION MEETINGS: Generally every other Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the Putnam County Courthouse, 3389 Winfield Road, Winfield, second floor. Phone: 304-586-0201. Meeting dates are subject to change, as agenda items warrant.

SCHOOL DISTRICT: Putnam County Schools, 304-586-0500.

LIBRARY: Putnam County Library, 4219 W.Va. 34, Hurricane, 304-757-7308.

HURRICANE

ORIGIN: Hurricane was incorporated in 1888. It was named after Hurricane Creek (established in 1774) which received its title following the discovery of an area where, many years prior, giant trees had been blown over by the work of a great storm or tornado.

POPULATION: 6,284 (according to 2010 Census)

AREA IN MILES: 2.96

BOUNDARIES: Hurricane is located between Teays Valley and Culloden and is roughly 26 miles west of Charleston and 28 miles east of Huntington, the two largest cities in West Virginia.

MAYOR: Scott Edwards

CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS: Scott Cunningham, Reggie Billups, Brian Ellis, Marshall Ginn and Donna Dunlevy; Linda Gibson, recorder. Dennis Carte, treasurer.

CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS: First Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building at 3255 Teays Valley Road.

CITY HALL: 3255 Teays Valley Road, 304-562-5988

POLICE: Hurricane Police Department, 304-562-9911

FIRE: Hurricane Fire Department 304-562-5663

AMBULANCE: Putnam County Emergency Medical Services

TEAYS VALLEY

Teays Valley includes Scott Depot and nearby incorporated areas of Putnam County

POPULATION: 13,175 (According to 2010 Census)

POLICE: Putnam County Sheriff's Department, 304-586-0214

AMBULANCE SERVICE: Putnam County Ambulance Service, 304- 586-0246

EMERGENCY SERVICES' NUMBER: 911.

FIRE DEPARTMENT: Winfield Volunteer Fire Department; nonemergency 304- 586-3555.

WINFIELD

ORIGIN: Winfield is the county seat of Putnam County. It was named in honor of General Winfield Scott following the Mexican War. Winfield was established in the late 1840s but was not incorporated until 1868.

POPULATION: 2,301 (according to 2010 Census)

MAYOR: Randy Barrett

CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS: Joe Rumbaugh, Charles Keefer, Nathan Fewell, Charles Eshenaur, Dana Campbell and Carolyn "Jackie" Hunter, Recorder

TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS: Second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Winfield Town Hall at 1 Main Street.

TOWN HALL: 1 Main Street, Winfield, 304-586-2122.

POLICE: Winfield Police Department, 304-586-9200; State Police Winfield detachment, 304-586-2000.

FIRE: Winfield Volunteer Fire Department, 304-586-3555.

AMBULANCE: Putnam County Emergency Medical Services.

AREA IN MILES: 2.67 square miles.

BOUNDARIES: Winfield is located between Eleanor and Hometown and is roughly 25 miles west of Charleston and 37 miles east of Huntington, the two largest cities in West Virginia.

BUFFALO

POPULATION: 1,236 (according to the 2010 Census)

AREA IN SQUARE MILES: 1.41.

BOUNDARIES: Custer Ridge to Buffalo Sewer.

ZIP CODE: 25033.

POLICE: Putnam County Sheriff's Department, nonemergency 304- 586-0215, 304- 586-0256.

AMBULANCE SERVICE: Putnam County Emergency Medical Services, 911.

EMERGENCY SERVICES' NUMBER: 911.

FIRE DEPARTMENT: Buffalo Volunteer Fire Department; nonemergency 304- 937-3225.

MAYOR'S OFFICE: 304- 937-2041.

CITY HALL: P.O. Box 307, Buffalo, WV 25033, 304- 937-2041.

CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS: First Monday of each month at 7 p.m.

ELEANOR, W.VA.

ORIGIN: Named after first lady Eleanor Roosevelt for her help in getting the government to finance the building of several houses in the area during the early 1930s. Eleanor is a New Deal-era town, established to put people back to work during the Depression.

POPULATION: 1,518 (according to the 2010 Census)

AREA IN SQUARE MILES: .84.

BOUNDARIES: The Kanawha River to just beyond the hills.

ZIP CODE: 25070.

POLICE: Eleanor Police Department, nonemergency 304- 586-1200.

AMBULANCE SERVICE: County Emergency Medical Services in Winfield, 911.

EMERGENCY SERVICES' NUMBER: 911.

FIRE DEPARTMENT: Eleanor Volunteer Fire Department; nonemergency 304- 586- 9821.

MAYOR'S OFFICE: 304- 586- 2319.

CITY HALL: 401 Roosevelt Blvd. (historical "Red House"). 304-586-2319.

CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS: First and third Thursdays of each month at 7:30 p.m.

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