COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Putnam County: lower-rate fatality band
Putnam County (WV) is in the lower per-capita third: 5.3/100k (#2,186 of 2,328). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 54
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 3
- Latest Year Deaths
- Low count
- 5.3
- Per 100k Residents
- Well below average
- Stable
- Trend
Lower per-capita fatality band
Putnam County ranks #2,186 of 2,328 by deaths per 100,000 residents (5.3/100k) - bottom-third rate among rated U.S. counties.
Putnam County in the lower-rate third
According to NHTSA FARS, Putnam County sits in the lower-rate third at 5.3 per 100k (#2,186 of 2,328), #38 of 40 in WV.
- #2,186 of 2,328
- lower-rate third
- #1,317 of 3,137
- by total FARS fatalities
- #38 of 40
- in WV by rate
- Stable
- fatality trend
FARS milepost strip
Milepost PUTNAM-79-WV · Putnam 5.3/100k · #2,186 of 2,328
Putnam County · 5.3/100k · stable
- AVG 5.3/100k
- YOY #2,186 of 2,328
- RATE 54 book
- RANK Stable
- BOOK 50 crash
- TREND -71.1% vs WV
Stamps derive from this county's NHTSA FARS row (per-100k or book, corpus rank, trend, nationwide peer NAME, vs-state gap), not a trip-risk forecast. PlainRoadSafety is informational only. See our disclaimer. Verify with NHTSA FARS → · Read with methodology → · Understanding road fatality data → · West Virginia state profile →
How does Putnam County compare?
2023 road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Putnam County is 71% safer than the comparison
2023 road deaths from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System over population from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2023). Rates shown for counties with 10,000+ residents and a 2023 FARS record.
Among the 15 rated counties in West Virginia, Putnam County ranks 15 for per-capita risk, below the state's own per-capita average of 18.4 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate puts it among the safest one in ten U.S. counties by that per-capita measure. The gap between Putnam County's rate and the state average is 13.1 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Wyoming County, at 19.7 per 100,000 (a difference of 14.4). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Hampshire County (50.7), Taylor County (36.6), Hardy County (35.1), Summers County (34.5), Boone County (34.0), Monroe County (32.3), Nicholas County (29.0), Grant County (27.5), Logan County (26.0), Mason County (24.2), Wayne County (23.9), Mineral County (22.3), Greenbrier County (21.8), Wyoming County (19.7).
Putnam County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
5 Among the safer counties a lower per-capita rate than 94% of 2,328 rated counties
rated U.S. counties, bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more rated counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NHTSA FARS over U.S. Census Bureau population estimates · 2026-09-03
More road safety data related to Putnam County
Contextual links from this profile to rankings, tools, research, and peer geographies on PlainRoadSafety.
- Putnam County vs other counties by ratePer-100k fatality comparison
- West Virginia statewide fatality dataAll counties in this state
- Deadliest states for drivingContext for WV
- State fatality changesYear-over-year state trends
- Browse all U.S. countiesAlphabetical county index
- All state profiles51 state dashboards
- State vs U.S. safety comparisonRoute-level lookup tool
- National statistics downloadFARS CSV + findings
- How to read FARS fatality dataMethodology primer
- Per-mile vs per-capita road riskRate denominator explained
- Counties starting with PLetter index including WV counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Putnam County, West Virginia?
Putnam County recorded 54 total traffic fatalities across 50 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 3 fatalities. The county averages approximately 6.0 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Putnam County?
Despite a comparatively active crash history (50 recorded crashes), individual cause-code breakdowns are not published for Putnam County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for West Virginia may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Putnam County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Putnam County is stable. Fatality counts have remained relatively consistent over the data period.
What is the fatality rate per capita in Putnam County?
Putnam County has a fatality rate of 5.3 per 100,000 residents, which puts it among the safest one in ten U.S. counties by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
Where does Putnam County rank for road fatality rate?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Putnam County ranks #2,186 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #38 of 40 rated counties in WV, the same sort used on the deadliest-states and county rate listings. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How does Putnam County compare to the rest of West Virginia?
Putnam County's per-capita rate of 5.3 per 100,000 residents is below the West Virginia county average of 18.4. Visit the West Virginia state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for Putnam County come from?
All road fatality data comes from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a census of fatal motor vehicle crashes on public roads in the United States. FARS data covers the period 2016-2023 and includes all crashes resulting in at least one fatality within 30 days.